A few thoughts on last nites game between Detroit and O's.
Yes, I have a man crush on Buck Showalter. Here's a piece on him.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...pitching-staff
I love a guy with brains. Baseball has been a anti-intelectual establishment for a loooong time. It has gotten better but many managers are so backwards and archaic in decision making.
Ausmus didn't let me down. Love it when somebody comes thru and he came up big in this game. As Paul referenced earlier post he sends runners in motion when Baltimore is on the ropes so to speak with the middle of the order coming up. Yes the line drive double play was lucky and bad luck on his part but it was a dumb move with two of the best hitters in the game coming up.
For me the dumbest move was puling Scherzer at only 94 pitches. He gave up a 1 out double but other wise he had been dominant since the early innings. Unless you have a lock down guy that you like better you ride your horse there. Scherzer was miffed he was pulled. This move along with a booted ball at short opened the flood gates.
Last but not least. When it was still a close game in the 8th he elects to intentionally walk right handed hitting JJ Hardy with 1st base open to load the bases for Ryan Flaherty. I Understand his strategy in setting up a double play but this is a flawed strategy. You go righty on righty and hope for a strikeout or weak contact that doesn't result in scoring the run. Bad move that also blew up on him. In the end it didn't really matter but the strategy is backwards. You don't walk a righty to face a lefty to load bases when you have a righty in. A desperate move. In my analysis these teams both have strengths and weaknesses like any other teams in the playoffs but the gulf between the brain trusts in the dugouts couldn't be any wider. A decisive edge in Baltimore's favor. Did you see how Buck Showalter managed that game in his bull pen? Few managers are in his realm.