Reliever Cla Meredith was supposed to get Tuesday night off. Didn’t happen. Then he was supposed to get Wednesday night off. Didn’t happen.
I can live with the loss. I can even live with Albert Pujols and his ridiculous pose after the home run. It’s cause for celebration when your team avoids getting swept at home in September and breaks a seven-game losing streak. Besides, Pujols will have to stand in against the Padres’ pitchers at some point next year. I don’t sweat that stuff.
But what in the world is Bruce Bochy doing with his young reliever? Meredith has been unhittable most of the season, but there are other guys in the bullpen who can get batters out every once in a while and it’d be nice to see Meredith’s right arm still attached to the rest of his body come the playoffs and beyond.
For the record, here is Meredith’s week:
9/21: 1.1 IP, 14 pitches
9/22: 0.1 IP, 5 pitches
9/23: off
9/24: 2.0 IP, 24 pitches
9/25: 1.1 IP, 17 pitches
9/26: 1.0 IP, 12 pitches
9/27: 0.0 IP, 2 pitches
I defend Bochy a lot — probably moreso than some folks are comfortable with — but this is just plain wrong. It puts unnecessary strain on Meredith’s arm and sends a bad message to the rest of the bullpen.
Seriously, if you’re going to give the guy a day off, just do it. If you have to tell him not to come to the ballpark, do it. Bringing in Meredith even for one batter on Wednesday was irresponsible, and I’d be saying that even if he’d gotten Pujols out.
dprat, seriously considering taking the over on that. not like the bullpens get better as they go deeper
Stunningly, a lead off walk.
Through 5 innings, batters are a collective 24 for 51 with 12 walks.
Ray King Rules…RKR.
CM, “I don’t hang Boch on that one decision…I just tighten the noose” nicely put…
UGH! back-to-back by the Dodgers (stop me if you’ve heard this before) 12-10 Dodgers
The only reason he has a job is that he can get Barry Bonds out.
CM (re: #125), you said:
Kevin…Baseball history is littered with relievers who pitch 80-100 innings in a season and be ultra productive…only to see the following seasons marred by injury and poor performance.
EXACTLY! “…the following seasons marred by injury…” b/c managers abused them…
“….and poor performance.” b/c they were flukes. Cla’s minor league numbers tell us that while there may not be room for improvement, he only allowed 1 minor league HR and consistently baffled hitters. If he stays healthy, he will not be a one-year wonder.
RKR, baby, RKR.
Geoff, is this a record for non-IGD comments?
well at least I’m getting my wish that Rox-hitters are abusing LA too…
Houston is up 3-0 in the 7th on Pittsburgh. And Betemit doubles in two more runs for the Dodgers, and it’s 14-10. Way to go Rockies bullpen.
14-10 LA. What the hell’s going on up there?
Both sides have 14 hits with 8 walks for the Rockies and 5 for the Dodgers. Coors Field back to its old tricks, or is the pitching for both sides just that bad?
Humidor busted.
Sonofatentofourteencan’ttheroxpitch?
#163
I believe Charlie Brown is now pitching for the Rockies…it was a double-switch….Lucy is now playing RF.
10-16
And there’s another homer by Loney. 16-10 Dodgers.
Loney certainly having a day to remember, 9 rbi in the 6th inning, wtf?
Loney, 2nd homer of the day. 16-10 LA (9rbi for Loney)
I wouldn’t worry yet, the Rockies are due to bat around again.
2:1 odds Hendrickson goes deep. takers?
good to see clint hurdle is getting the lefty-lefty matchup going for the pitcher.
Peter, I think you and I are on the same page with Cla. He should not have been used 2 days ago…He absolutely should not have been used yesterday…He should not even show up to the field today.
I wonder if Boch is fined in kangaroo court or even real fines by the front office for his attempted murder of Cla’s right arm.
Game delay while groundskeepers pick up Mesa’s clothes scattered around infield.
Hit the pitcher…Nice job JA!
Loney before game: 8RBI in 98 AB
Loney during game: 17RBI in 102 AB
Loney after game: returns to mother ship
I like the way this is going…the Giants are off…the Dogs are burning up their bullpen in CO….and, Maddox (and Lowe) willl be on short rest. Bonds and the rest of the Giants must be licking their chops.
Maybe we can cut a deal with the D’backs? Keep it competitive, but not too competitive tonight through Saturday, and we’ll field a team that will make Webb look like Cy Young on Sunday.
Good, clean, error-free baseball today in Denver.
Somethings gotta be going on with the umpire or something. Has there ever been 35 walks in a single MLB game?
dodgers this inning hitting .833/.889/2.667 for an OPS of 3.556
Denver Broncos hosting USC (?)
17-10
we’re all such smartasses. I love it.
Can we get 200 non-IGD posts today?
There’s my error. Thank you Garret Atkins. How could his concentration possibly have wandered?
I’m taking Vinny Castilla in today’s first position player to pitch in relief pool.
oh my god, Marlon Anderson is such a scrub!
Vinny’s already been burned as a PH.
I’m going with the Choo man. 1IP, 6H, 6ER 2BB.
Write it down.
Also, not really sure how this is going to hurt the LA bully. Saito, Broxton, Carrera, Tomko, and Dessens are all still available.
Damn, I didn’t check to see whether he was a PH or not before I made my pick, and by the time I fired up gameday the Rox were finally out of the inning.
It’s alright man, you still have some options. Olmedo Saeieanz is still available.
It appears that Penny left the game early with back spasms, so he may be done for the regular season.
17-11 Helton RBI single
So…Frank Robinson is out after the season for the Nats. At least Boch will have options when you all run him out of town.
Whoa! Wait…what just happened?
7 pitches for Affeldt. He’s AWESOME!
Rox need points
Tomko’s in – we got a chance…
crap, there goes Choo.