Bochy's mistake

[klaiggeb]

Bases loaded, 2 out, Anderson due up...I was sure it was time to PH for him.

THAT, IMHO, was the smart move; in Colorado GO for the runs because this is one run starved team.

But he didn't.

And THAT, again, IMHO, was a mistake

A glaring mistake.

The kind of mistake you just do not see Bochy make very often.

Yes, Anderson's pitch count was relatively low, but it's not like he was at the top of his game.

Then again, he hasn't been at the top of his game since June.

It's Colorado and Bochy wanted to milk one more inning out of him.


But here's the thing, Bum was pitching the next game, and THAT should have been reason enough for a PH who 'could' have hit the damned ball!

Instead, the run-starved Giants lost again.

[sharksrog]

On balance, I agree with you here. But I would like to point out what Bruce may have been thinking (some of which you already alluded to).

. The Giants were ahead, 4-2, in what had to that point been a moderate-scoring game.

. The Giants want to continue to build Anderson's confidence.

. They had used five pitchers the day before, as Dereck Rodriguez was able to pitch only three innings.


I agree with you, but I thought it was also important to mention the factors Bruce likely considered when he allowed Sean to hit. It might be noted too that Madison pitched only five innings the next day, and the Giants once again used five pitchers in that game. In total, they have used 17 pitchers in the four games since Anderson's start. In the Giants' six games this month, they have used a total of 26 pitchers.

[rxmeister]

Didn’t he pull Anderson after the first batter got on base? If you’re committed to him, let him bat, but if your plan is to pull him after the next batter gets on, you have to pinch hit there.

[sharksrog]

That's a good point, Mark. I had forgotten that Bruce's comments after the game sounded pretty waffle-ish.

If Bruce were managing strictly for this season, it would have made sense to pinch hit and -- as he did one hitter later -- bring in Sam Selman to face the lefties.

One added point toward pinch hitting is that the Giants are trying to keep Anderson's innings down. His 141 inning last season was the highest of his career, and he's on pace to pitch about 170 frames this year.

[klaiggeb]

Bruce screwed up. Period.

If Anderson had a recent history of doing well, I would agree with the move.

But he hadn't.

he'd been getting hammered.

Foolish, foolish move.