Injury purposes?Why is it suboptimal? What the fuck is the guy on the roster for if they aren’t going to use him to run, hit or catch?
My thoughts are he likely wants Sandy or Vaz catching important high leverage innings. In regards to running, I had no problem with Swihart running, then Sandy catching, but its possible he wanted a bench player for flexibility in the worst case scenario of extra innings.Why is it suboptimal? What the fuck is the guy on the roster for if they aren’t going to use him to run, hit or catch?
Managing for extra innings when you’re up 6-4 with two runners on seems overcautious, if not paranoid.My thoughts are he likely wants Sandy or Vaz catching important high leverage innings. In regards to running, I had no problem with Swihart running, then Sandy catching, but its possible he wanted a bench player for flexibility in the worst case scenario of extra innings.
That works either way, though. If it's paranoid to conserve your bench with a two-run lead, why is not paranoid to blow a bench player because you don't think 7-4 will be good enough?Managing for extra innings when you’re up 6-4 with two runners on seems overcautious, if not paranoid.
They tried but they couldn’t find enough of his skinny ass to staple. No, Kinsler looks the same at the plate as when he hit really well for the Rangers and Tigers. Maybe Cora thinks it’s just around the corner/next game for him to start hitting again. Keuchel pitching Tuesday, you know it’ll be Ian again.And Kinsler is toast. He should have his ass stapled to the bench.
Managing for extra innings when you’re up 6-4 with two runners on seems overcautious, if not paranoid.
Well, I guess you do the calculation of which is more valuable and likely--having a competent runner on first who will perhaps score an additional run on contact (as Holt or Swihart would have last night) versus the likelihood of coming back 3 runs on Kimbrel. I guess it isn't that big of a difference when I think about it in those terms. if the Moreland runner is going to make a difference, it means that we're already up 7-4. So maybe it really isn't that important, and worth it to keep them available on the bench. Hmmm. I think I just talked myself out of my criticism.That works either way, though. If it's paranoid to conserve your bench with a two-run lead, why is not paranoid to blow a bench player because you don't think 7-4 will be good enough?
Why?Managing for extra innings when you’re up 6-4 with two runners on seems overcautious, if not paranoid.
This would be a tougher decision if Brock Holt wasn't scathing hot for the past month+. As it stands right now, agreed...even if it's a tough LHP it's hard to sit Holt.And Kinsler is toast. He should have his ass stapled to the bench.
Vaz is not slow as molasses by any measure, but particularly for a catcher. Leon is for sure. Vaz is not fast, but he is not in the same category as Leon.I was surprised (again, for the second time in the series) seeing a slow as molasses catcher go in to pinch run.
That works either way, though. If it's paranoid to conserve your bench with a two-run lead, why is not paranoid to blow a bench player because you don't think 7-4 will be good enough?
There's no offensive reason to start Kinsler over Holt, even against Keuchel. Against lefties this year Kinsler's split is .191/.236/.250, Holt's is .292/.395/.323. When you factor how well Holt has been hitting recently and how well he hits on the road in general, it doesn't even seem close. Cora might value Kinsler's defense and Holt's value as a jackknife off the bench more, but Holt is the clearly superior offensive player right now.They tried but they couldn’t find enough of his skinny ass to staple. No, Kinsler looks the same at the plate as when he hit really well for the Rangers and Tigers. Maybe Cora thinks it’s just around the corner/next game for him to start hitting again. Keuchel pitching Tuesday, you know it’ll be Ian again.
Yes. Absolutely. It's the small things that win you championships. I think Cora has made some very questionable moves in this series. Not playing Devers in the first game potentially cost us that game. Continuing to play Kinsler..not keeping Kimbrel sharp with regular work.
Kinsler's complete postseason OPS is now a mediocre .631 after an 0/4 last night, but it's hard to see when exactly Cora should have benched him.And Kinsler is toast. He should have his ass stapled to the bench.
You're preaching to the choir, but, I don't know how Holt is against a finesse lefty like Keuchel. On MLBN, Dan Plesac likened him to Jimmy Key. Here's the batter vs. pitcher history vs, Keuchel. Kinsler has the biggest sample size, of course most of it compiled when he could hit. FWIW.There's no offensive reason to start Kinsler over Holt, even against Keuchel. Against lefties this year Kinsler's split is .191/.236/.250, Holt's is .292/.395/.323. When you factor how well Holt has been hitting recently and how well he hits on the road in general, it doesn't even seem close. Cora might value Kinsler's defense and Holt's value as a jackknife off the bench more, but Holt is the clearly superior offensive player right now.
His bat speed is atrocious. That's why he's striking out a bunch. I'm not particularly concerned with a 6 game sample size to look at stats for comparing the two and Holt isn't exactly a butcher with the glove.Now his 0/4 last night was a drag, and he's been striking out a bunch, but I don't really see why we should be sitting him in favor of Holt — whose most recent game was also an 0/4 — against a lefty, especially if we believe that Kinsler is the better defender.
Thing is, Holt's versatility isn't really lost if he's in the starting lineup. If they need him to cover another position, shifting him there is as simple as inserting Kinsler or Nunez in at 2B. The only reason to keep Holt on the bench is to have him available to pinch hit. And in six games now, he hasn't pinch hit once. The only games he's gotten into are the one's he's started. I can only conclude that Kinsler starting has more to do with Cora wanting him to do so than a desire to have Holt play some sort of utility role.There's no offensive reason to start Kinsler over Holt, even against Keuchel. Against lefties this year Kinsler's split is .191/.236/.250, Holt's is .292/.395/.323. When you factor how well Holt has been hitting recently and how well he hits on the road in general, it doesn't even seem close. Cora might value Kinsler's defense and Holt's value as a jackknife off the bench more, but Holt is the clearly superior offensive player right now.
he threw 16 pitches yesterday as well FWIW...Cora taking Barnes out - I cant see a good reason.
Asking for 6 from Kimbrel, when he doesn’t do that, when he has struggled recently. I can’t see a good reason
Getting Price up and warmed and then not bringing him in when it’s clear Kimbrel has no control. When you’ve already burned him for the next game. I can’t see a good reason.
They won due to a miraculous play by Beni. Cora set them up to lose though.
It's not like his second inning was any worse than his first inningCora taking Barnes out - I cant see a good reason.
Asking for 6 from Kimbrel, when he doesn’t do that, when he has struggled recently. I can’t see a good reason
Getting Price up and warmed and then not bringing him in when it’s clear Kimbrel has no control. When you’ve already burned him for the next game. I can’t see a good reason.
They won due to a miraculous play by Beni. Cora set them up to lose though.
Price is starting tonight.Cora taking Barnes out - I cant see a good reason.
Asking for 6 from Kimbrel, when he doesn’t do that, when he has struggled recently. I can’t see a good reason
Getting Price up and warmed and then not bringing him in when it’s clear Kimbrel has no control. When you’ve already burned him for the next game. I can’t see a good reason.
They won due to a miraculous play by Beni. Cora set them up to lose though.
Oh, come on. Kimbrel had never had a 2 inning save before, and he happens to be in the middle of one of the worst slumps of his career. There is no way this was the moment to ask more of him. Barnes has pitched a total of two innings (combined) in the past two days, and - like everyone else- had a day off before that. Sure three days in a row is asking a lot, but so is asking Kimbrel to do something he's never done before. At least if he went with Barnes he'd be leaning on a pitcher who is actually pitching well...Price is starting tonight.
Barnes has pitched every day.
Those are good reasons, even if you disagree with them. He didn't really have a long list of good options.
It nearly did go 1Cora said that if the lead had gotten to 1 in the 8th or the 9th he would have gone to price.
The playoffs is exactly when you ask that of players.Oh, come on. Kimbrel had never had a 2 inning save before, and he happens to be in the middle of one of the worst slumps of his career. There is no way this was the moment to ask more of him. Barnes has pitched a total of two innings (combined) in the past two days, and - like everyone else- had a day off before that. Sure three days in a row is asking a lot, but so is asking Kimbrel to do something he's never done before. At least if he went with Barnes he'd be leaning on a pitcher who is actually pitching well...
Yep. It was risky. Price would have been risky.It nearly did go 1
9-8 Astros win
I think he looked and saw Bregman altuve springer coming up in the eighth and felt Kimbrel was his best option to get through that inning. You have to get those three first before worrying about the ninth.There is no situation yesterday that would make sense for Kimbrell to pitch 6 outs yesterday. No lead, no deficit, nothing. The only move that would've made less sense would be asking Holt to pitch the 8th.
Kimbrell has been awful this post season. Saying you go to him because "he's your guy" is being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn.
Yeah I agree with this, I didn't like the use of EdRo. At least the Sox won though. Personally I'd have set it up to go EdRo in 5, Price in 6, and Eovaldi in 7, with Sale available out of the pen in any of games 5-7 if the Sox were trying to close out the series.Use of EdRo for only one batter is biggest question mark to me. If EdRo was not used for one batter, he could have been in reserve as Game 5 starter, making it easier to use Price in 9th. Alternatively, he might have given them an inning or two last night. Now both EdRo and Price used a lot of bullets last night without either of them getting a single out.
This is important. He'd never earned a save of more than four outs before last night, but Kimbrel has absolutely gone two innings in one outing many times. It wasn't that outrageous of an ask of him. The fact that he has struggled in his last few outings is the only worthwhile argument against using him to start the 8th. But it's not like Cora has a ton of other options. The 8th has been where he's been using starters to get outs because he's been forced to burn Barnes and Brasier in the 6th and 7th. He had none of those available to him last night. I can't really blame him deciding to ride or die with his big money closer, even if he's had some struggles.The playoffs is exactly when you ask that of players.
Kimbrel has gone 2 innings 2 or 3 times with the Sox. Not this year though.
I mean, you know he did succeed, right? So kind of by definition Cora put him in a position to succeed. These guys aren’t babies. You don’t think Kimbrel wanted the ball?I think Cora has generally been good at putting his player in a situation to succeed this season. But asking Kimbrel to do something that he's never done in his career, in the highest leverage of the season, when he hasn't had his good control, seems like setting him up to fail. Add to that sitting for 20 Orsillos and Price being warm, and still sending him out for the 9th seemed, and still seems, like the wrong move. Nothing that happened in the 9th was particularly surprising. I actually liked Kimbrel in the 8th against the top of the lineup, but I think Price in the 9th was the right move.
You're right. He should have given him 3 innings or maybe 4.I mean, you know he did succeed, right? So kind of by definition Cora put him in a position to succeed. These guys aren’t babies. You don’t think Kimbrel wanted the ball?
Who cares if he wanted the ball. That's why there is a manager to make the decision.I mean, you know he did succeed, right? So kind of by definition Cora put him in a position to succeed. These guys aren’t babies. You don’t think Kimbrel wanted the ball?
The Astros only ended up with one hit, which was Springer hitting a 100mph outside pitch for a double. Bergman’s liner, he was jammed a little. He got Altuve and Gonzalez pretty easily.Price was the emergency option only. They do need him to start today after all. Cora realizes that struggles in a game or two don't necessarily carry over, and Kimbrel is their best reliever. He is certainly capable of getting 6 outs in that situation.
The Astros, like the Sox, can hit relievers. Sometimes it happens.
I think they're concerned he will have to start game 6. Sale last I read as of gametime last night couldn't keep solid food down still so seems like a legitimate concern.Use of EdRo for only one batter is biggest question mark to me. If EdRo was not used for one batter, he could have been in reserve as Game 5 starter, making it easier to use Price in 9th. Alternatively, he might have given them an inning or two last night. Now both EdRo and Price used a lot of bullets last night without either of them getting a single out.
And a 3 run lead last night.I've been thinking about how Cora managed yesterday... And I've been thinking Poker.
He was given a decent hand. But he knows some cards he may need are out of the deck (Sale and Nunez). But he's pot committed. He can't just fold. But... He also knows that this is not a win and go home situation (see Sale, game 4, ALDS).
He had to leave some pitching options for today. But he also wanted to win the game because it gives the team more chances to get one win.
Kimbrel has not been great in the post-season. It's worrisome. I still have zero issue with Cora's decision making process even if it did result in minor heart palpitations across the nation.
Cora has a tough task tonight. I expect all hands to be available (including Eovaldi and Sale) for at least an out.
This gets overlooked a bit too. As tough as the 8th was, he didn't throw 25 pitches to get through it.He threw 35 pitches last night--he's been over 30 pitches 5 other times this season.