Manuel's Mess

Charlie Manuel may not be the worst manager in the Phillies-Rockies series (Hurdle’s still inexplicable batting of Jeff Francis in the top of the 7th inning – with a man on  - and then relieving him in the bottom of the 7^th without throwing a single pitch remains the high standard Manuel would have to meet for truly outstanding managerial incompetence), but because his team is down 2-0 in the series, he’s getting the disproportionate share of scrutiny.

 

Toward that end, Phil Sheridan today gives a remarkably detailed account of Manuel’s decision-making in replacing starter Kyle Kendrick with starter cum reliever Kyle Lohse in the top of the fourth inning, with two outs and the bases loaded. Lohse gave up the grand salami to Kaz Matsui that “broke the game open” but in reality made it a very manageable (for the Phillies offense) 6-3 game.

 

Sheridan covers it all: the lead up to that inning including previous Phillies bullpen action; the squib single that signaled Kendrick’s end; Matsui’s fateful at bat; The 1-2 count that Lohse got Matsui too. And this summary: “One misplaced pitch is the difference between a 3-2 lead and a 6-3 hole. It's the difference between Manuel looking smart and strapping that lightning rod back onto his head.”

 

Fair enough. Though as my brother pointed out, bringing in a starter out of the bullpen in that situation – bases loaded – is especially tough. I’d elaborate on that. I don’t necessarily blame Manuel for taking Kendrick out there. My bigger question is why not bring in Gordon or Romero instead? It’s a critical at bat, a critical scoring situation for the Philllies. Why not bring in one of your top relievers to shut the door on the threat? Like an old fashioned “Rolaids Fireman.”

 

Why bring in Lohse in that situation? Why not bring in Gordon or, better yet, Romero, have him pitch the 5^th and then bring Lohse in to start the 6^th inning? Yes, it was the 2^nd time Lohse had warmed up, but he couldn’t keep tossing to stay warm for one inning? In fact, Lohse wouldn’t even have been warming up the second time if Manuel had initially gone to one of his primary relievers.

 

In any case, the fixation with the Kendrick-Lohse decision overlooks the much bigger Manuel move. The Jose Mesa meltdown. The Phillies didn’t lose the game on the Lohse-Matsui grand slam. They lost it when the Rockies tacked on another four runs in the 6^th. What was Mesa doing in there!?!?!?!? A 3 run deficit is surmountable. A 7 run lead, well, not so much.

 

It was a do or die game. So I’m not sure what Manuel’s rationale for calling on Mesa was at all. In fact, why did Manuel decide the pivotal game two was the time to pitch three of his most unreliable relievers – Mesa, Alfonseca, and Condrey? What the??!! It’s like Charlie gave up after the grand slam. The reality is that if you ‘re the Phillies, losing 6-3 in game two of a best of five series where you are already down one game to none, YOU CANNOT LET THE ROCKIES SCORE AGAIN. With that imperative in mind, you have to go with Romero, Gordon, and Myers to keep you in the game while you hope the offense gets the runs back. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO YOU PUT YOUR +5.00 ERA RELIEVERS IN AT THAT POINT (Mesa – 5.54 era, Alfonseca – 5.44, Condrey – 5.04)!!!! Thank God Eaton wasn’t on the roster, or Manuel may have been tempted to pitch him at some point in game 2.

 

If the Phils had been able to keep it a 6-3 game, or even a 7-3 game, then the bottom of the 8^th bases loaded takes on a whole new pressure for the Rockies. As it was, the Phillies never got the tying run to the plate. Without Mesa’s immolation, they likely would have at some point. And then, perhaps, the Phillies could have reversed the 4^th inning roles – and maybe – results. And it also would have changed the complexion of the game in the 9^th  when the Phils got two runners on and Ryan Howard at bat. A score of 7-5 at that point is a lot more fraught with danger for the Rockies than 10-5.

 

Manuel made some bad, bad pitching decisions in game 2. Decisions that helped the Phillies lose the game. Just not the decision most of the Philly media is looking at.