Comments on: IGD: Padres @ Rockies (23 Jul 07)

By: SDSUBASEBALL

SDSUBASEBALL — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:14:38 +0000

35: You nailed it. If 3,4,5 are batting you dont let Linebrink pitch BP fastballs to them. Let him pitch to the bottom of the order, give Bell the ball for the meat of the order.

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By: The Fathers

The Fathers — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:29:40 +0000

Trevor hasn't gone more than an inning in a pre-September game since aught two. Bud Black, and Bochy before him, are and were smart managers for not pushing Hoffman beyond one inning. I think a good argument could be made for using Linebrink in the 7th last night instead of the 8th. I believe the 7th inning was bottom of the order guys, and you should use your weaker setup reliever in lower leverage situations.

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By: jay

jay — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:41:09 +0000

My biggest gripe was, and I felt it at the time, was why not put Maddux out there in the 7th? He is at 81 pitches and looked very good in the 7th. Yank him as soon as he gives up a base-runner. Maybe he would have given up a base-runner right away and all of this was moot, but I think keeping Maddux on a short leash past the 5th inning makes sense, but why rely on a bullpen that got pushed around by the Phillies?

If Maddux makes it through, you get Bell in the 8th and Hoffman in the 9th and we win.

I think Scott will probably be a good reliever, but just not the dominant one he once was. I don’t think it is fair to keep him in that role if he is not up to it. My order of reliability right now.

Also, when you see Linebrink struggling, why not use Hoffman? Use some imagination. I know the 4 to 5 out save is not Hoffman’s best, but you have to think of leverage. After Linebrink put the two guys on ahead of Holliday, given his recent antics, I say put out your best, most reliable pitcher. That is Hoffman right now. I would rather see Hoffman get out Holliday & co in the 8th and let Cameron pitch the 9th than see what just happened.

Bud is supposed to be a smart manager and to me that means using the best options you have at your disposal at the most critical times, even if it does not fit to conventional norms. He did not do that last night. I hang this one on Bud.

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By: St. Oops

St. Oops — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:46:31 +0000

32: Re-reading that post, I realized that I made it sound like Wells and Maddux being "themselves" was a ridiculously bad thing. I was more just alluding to the whole slow hook story that makes me nervous during both of their starts. Maddux has been gold his last couple of starts, but CY is the only one I trust at the moment to go out there and give a solid game every time.

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By: St. Oops

St. Oops — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:08:41 +0000

16: Trust me, I agree with you there. And Linebrink crossed that point sometime over the last month or so. In April/May 2007 you could write off his bad performances last season as just a slump. Everyone hits a slump every now and then. He seemed to be back on track for a couple months there and then just fell apart. The homers were never really a *huge* problem when he wasn’t letting people get on base, but now that he can’t throw strikes the homeruns are really starting to hurt big time. Two iffy seasons in a row moves him past the slump theory to the “you can’t pitch” theory.

Linebrink shouldn’t be pitching the 8th inning at this point, but in most situations the 7th inning is just as crucial as the 8th.

It’s really depressing how overall the team just can’t perform lately. Peavy’s been off, Wells and Maddux are themselves, Germano’s a joker. The offense has been ridiculous of late (last night notwithstanding). And our bullpen can’t hold any leads the offense manages to get. When no element of your team is looking good, it’s hard to win games.

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By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:44:56 +0000

11: No defense. 1.8 HR/9 IP is unacceptable pitching half your games at PetCo Park. He shouldn't be pitching in high leverage situations any more.

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By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:38:37 +0000

28: An out's an out.

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By: SDSUBASEBALL

SDSUBASEBALL — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:38:05 +0000

27: Bell can't pitch 2 innings? Why do Marcus and Brian love to watch game ending 3rd strikes?

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By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:38:04 +0000

The bullpen is pretty mediocre now. Who do you trust? Bell and Hoffman are pretty much it. 21: I still say Linebrink was pretty good last year but it's getting harder to back him this year. That 16 of 17 scoreless outing stretch is a distant memory.

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By: Ben B.

Ben B. — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:33:46 +0000

25: Bell already pitched in the seventh. If Linebrink threw the seventh, then there wouldn't have been a lead for Bell to protect in the eighth. And Meredith came in and gave up a home run too. Not a whole lot of good options all of a sudden.

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