According to the gamecast on the internet, Hall took 3 straight called strikes. Were they borderline or was he fooled? I don't have the game on tv or radio right now.
Cubs Perez SS Walker 2B Lee 1B Garciaparra 3B Burnitz RF Murton LF Patterson CF Blanco C Prior P Brewers Clark CF Hardy SS Overbay 1B Lee LF Jenkins RF Hall 3B Weeks 2B Miller C Ohka P
I definitely see where you're coming from. Its tough to lose a close game late like that with a guy waiting in the bullpen who hasn't given up a run since the beginning of August. I'm gonna play devil's advocate for a bit. If you wanted a hard-throwing right hander to face Bagwell, could Yost have gotten the same effect by sending in Kane Davis for that at bat? That way Turnbow could have been kept for a save situation later.
Would Turnbow have been good to go for two full innings though? Remember, the Astros had runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. Would you have pulled Eveland then? After he got two outs and the runners hadn't moved, it would have been difficult to pull him out then. To me, here's a case where hindsight is 20/20 and it's tough for me to disagree with keeping Eveland in.
Why wouldn't they pinch hit for Helling with a man on 3rd? The Astros can get hot and any insurance run will be helpful, and they have enough hitters on the bench and pitchers in the pen. I just don't understand that. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
It's tough to win games when all of your runs and RBIs come from the 7,8, and 9 spots in the order. How many times in a row now have they been a game under .500 and lost? It seems like 4 or 5 now.
Wow, that shouldn't have been a DP. I'd really love to see the Crew come back and win this one now. Make an example of Pujols lack of hustle there. After all, WE have the fighters, gamers, and hard-workers!