understand one thing in baseball - does there have to be a designated "closer"? Why can't you go with the hot hand. Brett Myers pitched 6 pitches on Friday night, and like always, good ol' Charlie handed the ball over the the closer of the week, Ryan Madson. Luckily, Madson eventually took care of business. Charlie Manuel has never been a fan of a pitcher coming in the 8th inning and closing out the game the next inning. Why not? Jonathan Papelbon does it all the time. Mariano Rivera very frequently comes in and finishes the 8th and shuts the door in the 9th. Why can't Myers? Madson? Brad Lidge just looks scared to death now when he comes in and looks as if to say, "You want me to do what?"Instead of killing the confidence of Lidge and seemingly now Madson, build the confidence of those who have the hot hand. Brett Myers has had it of late, and even last year, if JC Romero or Madson had a quick, hot hand in the 8th, they never were given the chance to shut the door.
Charlie, ride the hot hand as long as you can because it seems as if you are going to need a wide variety of choices this postseason.
No comments:
Post a Comment