10-21-2004, 10:02 AM
Nobody will ever remember it, and since they won Francona didn't have to answer to it, but bringing in Pedro in the 7th was the worst managerial move I have ever seen. Second guessing is always fun, but at least if I disagree with something I can understand the other side. This made absolutely no sense whatsoever. 8-1 lead, Lowe cruising with 12 groundball outs and only 69 pitches. Part of me wanted them to lose just so I could hear Francona explain the reasoning behind this. There were a ton of questionable decisions all series (Reese not pinch hitting for Bellhorn in extra inning sacrafice situations, Heredia not making an appearance in the 5th inning of game 4 with the bases loaded vs. Ortiz, not pinch running Lofton for Sierra in the 9th in game 6 representing the tying run, sending Ortiz on that SB attempt, sending Damon in the 1st inning game 7, and so on..) But at least I could understand the rationale behind them, though I may not necessarily agree with it. Bringing in Pedro on 2 days rest after throwing 100+ pitches was just mind boggling. Bringing in Ramiro Mendoza would have made more sense.
Everyone says Rodriguez had "nothing to lose" by swatting at Arroyo since he would have been out anyway. But had he not interfered, Jeter would be in scoring position for Sheffield with 2 outs. A base hit makes it 4-3, Arroyo's out, Myers comes in to pitch to Matsui representing the go-ahead run and who knows what happens then. It's those little things that make the difference.
As for Heredia, his not being a factor was the biggest factor of all in the series. Nobody was able to get Ortiz out because they have nobody to pitch to him. Same holds true for Houston should they win (Mike Gallo=Heredia)
This all proves what I've been saying for the last year.. you do NOT win championships by signing every free agent possible and making blockbuster trades all winter. They won 4 championships by building a tremendous FARM SYSTEM, then going out and picking up a not so big free agent here (Wells, Stanton etc) a not-so-big trade there (O'neill, Martinez, Brosius, Girardi, Vizcaino, Justice etc). Not by signing the best player possible at every position. Let them spend as much money as they want next year. Get Beltran, Johnson, Ryan, Kent, Beltre, Delgado, Sexson, Pavano, Benson, Clement, whoever else is available. Until this team re-establishes a farm system they're not gonna win shit.
Everyone says Rodriguez had "nothing to lose" by swatting at Arroyo since he would have been out anyway. But had he not interfered, Jeter would be in scoring position for Sheffield with 2 outs. A base hit makes it 4-3, Arroyo's out, Myers comes in to pitch to Matsui representing the go-ahead run and who knows what happens then. It's those little things that make the difference.
As for Heredia, his not being a factor was the biggest factor of all in the series. Nobody was able to get Ortiz out because they have nobody to pitch to him. Same holds true for Houston should they win (Mike Gallo=Heredia)
This all proves what I've been saying for the last year.. you do NOT win championships by signing every free agent possible and making blockbuster trades all winter. They won 4 championships by building a tremendous FARM SYSTEM, then going out and picking up a not so big free agent here (Wells, Stanton etc) a not-so-big trade there (O'neill, Martinez, Brosius, Girardi, Vizcaino, Justice etc). Not by signing the best player possible at every position. Let them spend as much money as they want next year. Get Beltran, Johnson, Ryan, Kent, Beltre, Delgado, Sexson, Pavano, Benson, Clement, whoever else is available. Until this team re-establishes a farm system they're not gonna win shit.