World Series Game 4: Brewers (TBD) vs Rays (Jax): 10/27/26, 7:00pm

[Bernies Sponsor]

57 minutes ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

Sure he's having a quiet series, but that doesn't mean he's not still one of our best bats against RHP.

yeah I'm not saying bench him, I'm saying he hasn't been good enough to justify his place in the order

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

Did he though?

Any other pitcher comes in and gives up a run in one inning, and we aren't saying he looked ok at all...

Woodruff is a feel good story, all he's been through, and he gets to pitch in a world series game, in about as far from a leverage situation as you can get.  He comes in, doesn't blow it with a 10 run lead, and he can now say he pitched in a world series game.

That's it.  Nothing more.  It's a feel good story, but that's it.

He should never be relied on for anything meaningful in this world series.  End of story.

In that regard, neither should Drohan, but that's for another post.

I'm not sure about how effective Woodruff can/can't be. And if the game went another inning or 2, we don't know that he wouldn't have been able to throw. I mean, someone had to throw the 9th inning that night. The fact that it was him doesn't automatically make him some kind of novelty act.

If the INF hit by Cedric Mullins was hit firmer, the RBI double never comes to the plate & he throws a 1-2-3 inning in game 3.

For my money he looked similar to what we saw before the velo dipped & he had to go back on the IL. People who are saying there are better options for the roster spot could be correct but I don't think there's iron-clad evidence of that.

Having said all that, his choosing to work the 9th rather than start the next night is, shall we say, interesting.

[RWeeksFan23]

4 hours ago, dlk9s said:

Yeah, I don't really get the pitching roster construction. I'm fine with Woody on the roster. I'm fine with Harrison on the roster as a "break in case of multi-inning emergency" guy. But all three of Woody, Harrison, AND Drohan? Three guys you're just not going to use (except one in an "emergency" like last night)?

Give me one of them plus two more reliable relievers. I've never been a Grant Anderson guy and I know Patrick struggled late, but we're basically playing the World Series with three non-playable pitchers. Weird.

But hey, we're 3-1 in the World Series!

how is grant anderson any more usable than the other guys?

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, Daubs said:

Hall, as well.....

He threw 24 pitches last night. I hope so but I'd have to give that a definite 'maybe'.

[Team Canada]

54 minutes ago, Bulldogboy said:

Was Murphy even asked what's up with Harrison? He pitched Senzatela two innings in a 10-0 game and Harrison didn't pitch at all. Then he asks Senzatela to come back for two more? If Harrison can't soak up innings 10-0 why is he here? What's his spot? Tonight game on the line?

I think that's the first time this has been raised, and that's a valid question. My assumption is that if Woodruff didn't choose to pitch last night, it would've been Harrison. But why weren't Harrison or Drohan choices before Woody? Save Senza and maybe he goes a couple more batters today.

In any case, one thing I'm sure of is the actual players feel far better about this than the fans. If they hold true to form, they will win one of these games.

[wildcat83]

5 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

pitching in relief for the first time in his career 

Miz pitched out of the pen last year... in the post-season.

There are bigger issues last night than not using Miz, but you can't act like he's never done it before.  He not only has relief experience, but post-season relief experience.

[Daubs]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

I am trying to look at this from a logic based standpoint that the odds are still very much in our favor, and not from the standpoint of a jaded Wisconsin sports fan. 

But, I did that when we were up 21-3 on the Bears, too. 

The Packer/Seahawks NFC Championship game has affected how I "fan" during big games - and I had the same feeling during last year's Packers/Bears game and last night after Pratt hit his HR.

The end to that game was a shock to the system.

[wildcat83]

2 hours ago, RWeeksFan23 said:

Why? He looked fine the other night. Who would you have preferred? Chad Patrick? The guy who can't find the strike zone any more?

He didn't look fine the other night, gave up a run in an inning and was sitting 90-92 with his fastball.  He's a shell of his former self and has zero ability to pitch on back to back days.  Patrick or Anderson would have looked better coming out of the pen than Drohan.  Both of those guys are used to working out of the pen, and used to working back to back days.  They would have provided us a lot more flexibility than what Woody brings.  He's a great feel good story, but him being on the roster last night absolutely had some impact on that game.  Is it enough to cost us the series, no, it shouldn't be, but if Anderson or Patrick are on the roster I truly believe they pitch before Drohan last night, and are much more comfortable coming into that situation.

[RWeeksFan23]

11 minutes ago, wildcat83 said:

He didn't look fine the other night, gave up a run in an inning and was sitting 90-92 with his fastball.  He's a shell of his former self and has zero ability to pitch on back to back days.  Patrick or Anderson would have looked better coming out of the pen than Drohan.  Both of those guys are used to working out of the pen, and used to working back to back days.  They would have provided us a lot more flexibility than what Woody brings.  He's a great feel good story, but him being on the roster last night absolutely had some impact on that game.  Is it enough to cost us the series, no, it shouldn't be, but if Anderson or Patrick are on the roster I truly believe they pitch before Drohan last night, and are much more comfortable coming into that situation.

yes i'm sure patrick would have looked a lot better than Drohan walking a bunch of guys. And grant anderson can't get lefties out.

[MrTPlush]

14 minutes ago, wildcat83 said:

Miz pitched out of the pen last year... in the post-season.

There are bigger issues last night than not using Miz, but you can't act like he's never done it before.  He not only has relief experience, but post-season relief experience.

I was going to point this out, but to call those relief appearances is generous. All three of them were pretty planned and he knew he was pitching in those games.

Miz was realistically probably not expecting to pitch yesterday and was never shown stretch or getting loose at any point. Telling Miz to grab his glove and frantically prepare after Pratt’s homer is definitely a much much different situation to be pitching in.

[TURBO]

Tonight's game just can't start soon enough...

 

[SeaBass]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

Did he though?

Any other pitcher comes in and gives up a run in one inning, and we aren't saying he looked ok at all...

Woodruff is a feel good story, all he's been through, and he gets to pitch in a world series game, in about as far from a leverage situation as you can get.  He comes in, doesn't blow it with a 10 run lead, and he can now say he pitched in a world series game.

That's it.  Nothing more.  It's a feel good story, but that's it.

He should never be relied on for anything meaningful in this world series.  End of story.

In that regard, neither should Drohan, but that's for another post.

Is this really what everybody's problem is with Woodruff? He gave up a run? What was he supposed to do, nibble and dip and dive and duck around the strike zone with a 10 RUN LEAD???

You pitch in the strike zone, get three outs and go home. He looked plenty fine to me. The only concern I'd have about him pitching again is if he is physically is unable to so.

He gave up two singles, didn't walk anybody and K'd one. He threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes.

They scored their run because a runner advanced to second base on fielder's indifference and they hit another single. They didn't care about the run. But we do? Tough crowd.

[cragi]

20 minutes ago, SeaBass said:

Is this really what everybody's problem is with Woodruff? He gave up a run? What was he supposed to do, nibble and dip and dive and duck around the strike zone with a 10 RUN LEAD???

I got no problem with him, but he hasnt convinced anyone, including himself by choosing that game, that he is ready to do anyhting but garbage time. In a game where the Rays' bats were completely shut down and defeated, he provided the lone highlight for their offense. You just cant stack that 9.0 ERA against what these other pitchers have been able to accomplish.

[OldHeidelberg]

1 hour ago, Daubs said:

The Packer/Seahawks NFC Championship game has affected how I "fan" during big games - and I had the same feeling during last year's Packers/Bears game and last night after Pratt hit his HR.

The end to that game was a shock to the system.

Yes, I think a lot of us like to say the Seahawks game changed how invested we get but I was as furious last night as I can remember. And it's dumb since we have 3 more shots but until we win that game is going to stick with me. Oof what a gut punch that was. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, SeaBass said:

Is this really what everybody's problem is with Woodruff? He gave up a run? What was he supposed to do, nibble and dip and dive and duck around the strike zone with a 10 RUN LEAD???

You pitch in the strike zone, get three outs and go home. He looked plenty fine to me. The only concern I'd have about him pitching again is if he is physically is unable to so.

He gave up two singles, didn't walk anybody and K'd one. He threw 18 pitches, 13 for strikes.

They scored their run because a runner advanced to second base on fielder's indifference and they hit another single. They didn't care about the run. But we do? Tough crowd.

And one of the hits was of the INF variety.

Yeah, he was sitting in the low 90s. But he was very effective doing that going back to last year before being IL'ed.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Just heard a report from someone at The Trop. Pitchers are going through their pre-game stuff. FWIW, Gasser & May are doing stuff related to recovery, like you would do if not expecting to pitch.

Henderson & Woodruff are doing a different prep, Again, FWIW.

[SeaBass]

44 minutes ago, cragi said:

I got no problem with him, but he hasnt convinced anyone, including himself by choosing that game, that he is ready to do anyhting but garbage time. In a game where the Rays' bats were completely shut down and defeated, he provided the lone highlight for their offense. You just cant stack that 9.0 ERA against what these other pitchers have been able to accomplish.

A 9 ERA what are you talking about? You're just overthinking it. It's not that complicated. Again, if they cared one bit about that run scoring they wouldn't have just let the guy have 2nd base for free.

That inning was as efficient as it needed to be. Woody isn't the first choice or 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th. He's there if he's needed and I have no issue if he has to be put in again when it counts. If they're getting that deep they just need guys that can pitch at that point but that's why he's here.