Defensive replacements

[Guest iramets]

Rather than continue in a hostile (and shall we say "defensive"?) vein, let us examine the interesting issues (if any) in substituting a lesser-skilled offensive player late in a game for defensive reasons, and perhaps see if we have a more useful observation to make than "It happens."

As I understand it, (please correct me if I'm misrepresenting here), we're agreed than managers sometimes put a defensive wizard in the the late innings in place of a starter with greater offensive skills. Edgy cited Gaspar for Swoboda/Shamsky in 1969 and several others as examples of this gambit. Where we seem disagreed is, I think, the value of doing so in close games, not-so-close games, and blowouts. I contend (I don't anyone disagrees with this) that such substitution occurs in all three types of games, for different reasons, certainly.

We seem agreed that the most important type of defensive substitution occurs in a "one-run lead" situation. Edgy likened this to putting a closer in a game with a one-run lead, though I contend that putting Wagner in a game with a one-run lead in the ninth when he's well-rested is no gamble at all--it's as close as you can come in modern baseball to a no-brainer type of move, while putting (say) Endy in for Green with a one-run lead in the 9th is risky, in that, if that lead gets blown, you'd rather have Green batting than Endy, and Endy's defensive skills may not come into play in the one or two innings he plays in the OF.

So, without belaboring the point, let me just say that such a substitution has risks and may not always be the smartest move. It calls for some managerial discretion. But this may not be what we're discussing. If anyone cares to clarify, or restate the discussion, I'm all ears.

I suggested one way to see if defensive substitutions are used in one-run lead situations vs. multiple lead situations, but this may require too much work, especially if we're unclear what points we're trying to support. I'll volunteer to count up 1969 Gaspars, though, if anyone wants to suggest refinements on my methodology.

[Guest iramets]

Original discussion here , around pp. 6 and 7.

[dinosaur jesus]

I'd rather have Endy up than Green, but that's another question.

[metsmarathon]

obviously, part of the consideration process is how much of a letdown there is between the starter's and the replacement's offensive capabilities.

in terms of green and chavez, its a bit of a wash, with an argument that chavez is actually a step up offensively! (personally i think that holds true for the short term, but that chavez might get overexposed given a full season, and so is more valuable coming off the bench, and as an occasional starter)

other factors worth considering are how soon the starter's spot in the lineup will be coming up and the abilities of your pen - flyball pitcher necessitating better outfield defense? strikeout pitcher? righty/lefty?

[DocTee]

If putting Wagener in with a one run lead is "as close as you can come to a no-brainer" because he is not likely to implode, then the risk of substituting Endy for Green AT THE SAME TIME as Wagner enters is also a no-brainer: Wagner will not blow hte lead so Green's bat will not be needed.

[Guest iramets]

DocTee wrote: If putting Wagener in with a one run lead is "as close as you can come to a no-brainer" because he is not likely to implode.

That's not the reason I was thinking of. It's a no-brainer because that situation is the definition of Wagner's job. No one is ever going to criticize a manager for putting a closer in that spot, even if he implodes.

I often suspect, in fact, that managers secretly would rather not use their closers in a "closer" situation (he's a little overworked, or the matchup sucks, or he hasn't been going so well lately) but he does it anyway because he knows he can cling to "But that was his spot!" if anyone dares to second guess him.

Endy for Green is always going to be something of a judgment call. There's no book on when he makes that move, or even if he must in a particular spot.

[metsmarathon]

is there really all that much of a difference in their offensive production? because endy is light years better than him defensively. if you were putting endy in for beltran, i'd understand the consternation better. but endy for green isn't much of an offensive hit you're taking, except maybe in terms of winning a game on one swing - but endy can keep an inning going, too.

[Theoldmole]

Is the discussion about Endy vs. Green, or the theory of defensive replacements?

[nymr83]

]though I contend that putting Wagner in a game with a one-run lead in the ninth when he's well-rested is no gamble at all--it's as close as you can come in modern baseball to a no-brainer type of move,

if by "no-brainer" you mean the manager didn't use their brain then sure. but i think automatically going to the "closer" can be a dumbmove...if the starter (or the reliever who pitched the 8th inning) has already shown that he's "on" tonight why go to a guy who may not be?

as for defensive replacements in a blowout, i don't think its "defensive" i think its just a matter of getting your starter out of there to rest him and/or avoid injury.
in a close game its a pretty complicated question... by what percentage does bringing this guy in lower my opponent's chance of scoring the number of runs they need, and if they do tie by what percentage does this guy (or the pinch hitter i'd bring in for him) lower my chances of "getting the run back"?
in a close game i'd be especially hesitant to lift a big bat who would be due up next inning and quicker to lift a guy who made the last out (and therefore couldnt come up again unless i had already scored in the inning)

[Guest iramets]

TheOldMole wrote: Is the discussion about Endy vs. Green, or the theory of defensive replacements?

The latter.

It's still a little unclear what exactly is in dispute here, so I'll wait for further clarification before I do much more research. So far I've uncovered the somewhat surprising (to me) info that Gaspar began 1969 as the everyday RFer, starting every game the first few weeks or so. He wasn't used as a defensive replacement for Swoboda until the 20th game of the year and even that one he started in center and was shifted to right (with Agee coming in the game for Swoboda) in the ninth. Retrosheet PBP below:

METS 9TH: Gaspar singled to right; Gaspar stole second; Boswell
singled to right [Gaspar scored, Boswell out at second (right to
shortstop)]; Jones grounded out (third to first); Kranepool
popped to first; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Expos 1.

EXPOS 9TH: GARRETT REPLACED BOSWELL (PLAYING 2B); GASPAR CHANGED
POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); AGEE REPLACED SWOBODA (PLAYING CF);
Jones lined to left; Clendenon struck out; Laboy struck out; 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 2, Expos 1.

So it was a tie game, the Mets went ahead by a run in the top of the ninth, at which point the Mets went to a defense-first team, a classic use of Edgy's defensive reasoning.

[Guest iramets]

Next defensive use of Gaspar for Swoboda came on the same road trip, against the Cubs. Another slide over from CF for Gaspar, but this one came in a tied game that the Mets lost, the winning run scoring just after Swoboda left the game.

METS 8TH: PHILLIPS REPLACED W. SMITH (PLAYING CF); REGAN
REPLACED JIMENEZ (PITCHING); Boswell grounded out (second to
first); Swoboda struck out; Jones singled to center; Kranepool
grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 2,
Cubs 1.

CUBS 8TH: Beckert flied to left; Williams singled to shortstop;
Santo tripled to right [Williams scored]; Banks was walked
intentionally; Hundley walked [banks to second]; JACKSON
REPLACED KOONCE (PITCHING); G. OLIVER BATTED FOR SPANGLER; G.
Oliver struck out; TAYLOR REPLACED KRANEPOOL (PITCHING); OTIS
REPLACED JACKSON (PLAYING LF); JONES CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING
1B); AGEE REPLACED SWOBODA (PLAYING CF); GASPAR CHANGED
POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); Phillips walked [santo scored, Banks to
third, Hundley to second]; HICKMAN BATTED FOR REGAN; Hickman was
called out on strikes; 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Mets 2, Cubs 3.

METS 9TH: HICKMAN STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING RF); ABERNATHY
REPLACED G. OLIVER (PITCHING); Martin grounded out (pitcher to
third to first); Collins flied to left; GARRETT BATTED FOR WEIS;
Garrett grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Mets 2, Cubs 3.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 2 8 1 6
Cubs 3 6 0 9

[Guest iramets]

The third occasion of Gaspar replacing Swoboda (actually another use of Agee replacing Gaspar and Gaspar replacing Swoboda) came in the season's 24th game, also against the Cubs, also with a one run lead:

CUBS 9TH: GARRETT REPLACED BOSWELL (PLAYING 2B); AGEE REPLACED
SWOBODA (PLAYING CF); GASPAR CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING RF);Hickman grounded out (first unassisted); Kessinger singled to
center; Beckert forced Kessinger (third to second); Williams
grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3,
Cubs 2.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 3 9 0 8
Cubs 2 9 1 10

[Guest iramets]

The fourth an identical situation (the same 3-2 lead, in fact) later that same day:

CUBS 8TH: PHILLIPS BATTED FOR REGAN; AGEE REPLACED SWOBODA
(PLAYING CF); GASPAR CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); Phillips
struck out; Kessinger flied to right; Beckert walked; Williams
flied to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Cubs 2.

METS 9TH: ABERNATHY REPLACED PHILLIPS (PITCHING); Grote walked;
Weis out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to second) [Grote to
second]; McGraw grounded out (pitcher to first); Gaspar grounded
out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 3, Cubs 2.

CUBS 9TH: Santo struck out; Banks singled to left; N. OLIVER RAN
FOR BANKS; Hundley flied to center; Hickman singled to center
[N. Oliver to third]; G. OLIVER BATTED FOR YOUNG; G. Oliver
struck out; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 3, Cubs 2.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 3 8 0 7
Cubs 2 9 0 6

[Guest iramets]

The fifth the next game, this time with a two run lead:

METS 7TH: GRANGER REPLACED STEWART (PITCHING); Swoboda was
called out on strikes; Harrelson doubled to center; Cardwell
singled to shortstop [Harrelson stayed at second]; Gaspar
grounded out (first to pitcher) [Harrelson to third, Cardwell to
second]; Garrett popped to first in foul territory; 0 R, 2 H, 0
E, 2 LOB. Reds 1, Mets 3.

REDS 8TH: GROTE REPLACED MARTIN (PLAYING C ); AGEE REPLACED
SWOBODA (PLAYING CF); GASPAR CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING RF);
Rose flied to center; Tolan flied to center; Johnson singled to
left; Bench struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Reds 1, Mets 3.

METS 8TH: Boswell singled to second; Jones singled to right
[boswell to second]; Kranepool out on a sacrifice bunt (catcher
to second) [boswell to third, Jones to second]; Grote reached on
a fielder's choice [boswell out at home (second to catcher),
Jones to third]; Granger threw a wild pitch [Jones scored, Grote
to second]; Agee walked; Harrelson singled to center [Grote
scored, Agee to second (error by Helms; assists by Johnson,
Granger and Perez)]; Cardwell homered (unearned) [Agee scored
(unearned), Harrelson scored (unearned)]; Gaspar was hit by a
pitch; Garrett forced Gaspar (shortstop to second); 5 R (2 ER),
4 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Reds 1, Mets 8.

REDS 9TH: Perez struck out; May singled to left; Helms grounded
into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [May out at
second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Reds 1, Mets 8.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Reds 1 6 1 6
Mets 8 11 1 6

[Guest iramets]

This post is not an instance of Gaspar coming in as a defensive replacement for Swoboda but merely an observation: Look at how many Mets changed positions in the top of ninth (in the next game, down by one run to the Reds):

REDS 9TH: KOONCE REPLACED OTIS (PITCHING); KRANEPOOL STAYED IN
GAME (PLAYING 1B); JONES CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); SWOBODA
CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); GASPAR CHANGED POSITIONS
(PLAYING CF)

Do you EVER see players routinely switching positions anymore in a game like this? It seems to me that, much like current pitchers have a Role That Must Not Be Violated, current position players take exception to playing multiple positions within a single game. (You'd never hear a discussion about Wright batting fifth or second either--players in my youth didn't seem to own batting slots or defensive positions as they do today). Certainly Gil changed his 1969 Mets like a poker player changes cards, and I guess I miss that strategic use of fielders. Seems like I got spoiled watching Gil manage.

[Guest iramets]

Okay, through May 31, there are exactly NO games where Gaspar came as a striaght defensive replaement for either Swoboda or Shamsky in RF (though I'll count the five games above, which have the same result). Not a little surprisingly, espcialy since Gil seems to have thought a lot of Gaspar for the first two months of the year. He pinch him quite a bit, but used him a sub for D pretty rarely, which is weird in light of Gaspar's eventual career numbers..

[Guest iramets]

AT LAST--the first pure Gaspar for Swoboda defensive substitution came in a fairly famous 15 inning 1-0 victory over LA: (obviously the game situation was a 0-0 tie--note that Swoboda had made the last out, and that this was a classic double-switch)

METS 13TH: Jones flied to right; Kranepool singled to center;
Swoboda grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to
first) [Kranepool out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Dodgers
0, Mets 0.

DODGERS 14TH: TAYLOR REPLACED SWOBODA (PITCHING); GASPAR
REPLACED MCGRAW (PLAYING RF); Kosco flied to right; Sudakis
grounded out (first to pitcher); Torborg singled to left;
Sizemore popped to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0,
Mets 0.

METS 14TH: Grote flied to center; Weis popped to third; Gaspar
flied to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Dodgers 0, Mets 0.

DODGERS 15TH: Lefebvre doubled to left; GRABARKEWITZ RAN FOR
LEFEBVRE; FAIRLY BATTED FOR MCBEAN; Fairly walked; Russell
forced Fairly (shortstop to second) [Grabarkewitz to third];
Davis reached on a fielder's choice [Grabarkewitz out at home
(pitcher to second to catcher), Russell to second]; Parker
popped to third in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Dodgers 0, Mets 0.

METS 15TH: GRABARKEWITZ STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 2B); MIKKELSEN
REPLACED FAIRLY (PITCHING); Harrelson walked; Agee forced
Harrelson (shortstop to second); Garrett singled to center [Agee
scored (error by Davis) (unearned) (no RBI)]; 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1
E, 1 LOB. Dodgers 0, Mets 1.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Dodgers 0 8 1 12
Mets 1 4 2 4

[Guest iramets]

Here's the second classic double-switch (7th overall substitution of Gaspar in RF overall, if you're scoring) in the 57th game of the year, in a one-run lead, ninth inning situation:

METS 9TH: BOOZER REPLACED G. STONE (PITCHING); Jones grounded
out (second to first); Shamsky walked; WEIS RAN FOR SHAMSKY;
Kranepool forced Weis (first to shortstop); Boswell singled to
right [Kranepool to second]; Martin popped to third in foul
territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 1, Phillies 0.

PHILLIES 9TH: WEIS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 2B); GASPAR REPLACED
BOSWELL (PLAYING RF); Briggs grounded out (second to first);
Taylor grounded out (second to first); Allen was called out on
strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 1, Phillies 0.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 1 5 0 7
Phillies 0 2 0 3

[Guest iramets]

Here's the first pure defensive substitution of the year (no double switch) on my 16th birthday, June 18, 1969:

PHILLIES 9TH: GASPAR REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING RF); Taylor
singled to center; Rojas lined to right; Callison flied to left;
Allen popped to first; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 2, Phillies 0.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 2 10 0 10
Phillies 0 4 2 4

Note the last two listed games were games where Dick Allen made the final representing the tying run. so far, weve got 8 defensive substitutions in all.

[Guest iramets]

Now, HERE's a weird little game, defensively speaking. Gaspar came in for defense for Shamsky (following a Shamsky HR in the 8th that put the Mets up a run--everything's straight vanilla so far, right?) but then Gaspar came OUT for Swoboda's glove in the ninth:

METS 8TH: Garrett flied to left; Jones flied to right; Shamsky
homered; Kranepool grounded out (second to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0
E, 0 LOB. Mets 4, Phillies 3.

PHILLIES 8TH: GASPAR REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING RF); Ryan doubled
to right; On a bunt G. Stone singled to first [Ryan to third];
TAYLOR REPLACED SEAVER (PITCHING); WATKINS RAN FOR RYAN; Hisle
grounded out (pitcher to first) [G. Stone to second]; Harmon
grounded out (third to first); R. STONE BATTED FOR J. JOHNSON;
R. Stone was walked intentionally; Joseph singled to left
[Watkins scored, G. Stone scored, R. Stone to third]; Rojas
flied to center; 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 4, Phillies 5.

METS 9TH: WATKINS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING C ); RAFFO REPLACED R.
STONE (PITCHING); Martin walked; CLENDENON RAN FOR MARTIN;
SWOBODA BATTED FOR WEIS; Swoboda singled to left [Clendenon to
second]; GROTE BATTED FOR TAYLOR; FARRELL REPLACED RAFFO
(PITCHING); Grote out on a sacrifice bunt (third to second)
[Clendenon to third, Swoboda to second]; Agee struck out;
Boswell singled to left [Clendenon scored, Swoboda scored];
Garrett walked [boswell to second]; Jones was hit by a pitch
[boswell to third, Garrett to second]; JACKSON REPLACED FARRELL
(PITCHING); Gaspar forced Jones (third to second); 2 R, 2 H, 0
E, 3 LOB. Mets 6, Phillies 5.

PHILLIES 9TH: GROTE STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING C ); SWOBODA STAYED
IN GAME (PLAYING RF); CHARLES REPLACED CLENDENON (PLAYING 3B);
MCGRAW REPLACED GASPAR (PITCHING); GARRETT CHANGED POSITIONS
(PLAYING SS); Callison flied to center; Briggs walked; Watkins
lined to third; G. Stone lined to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Mets 6, Phillies 5.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 6 9 0 8
Phillies 5 11 1 10

[Guest iramets]

In game #61, on June 20th, Gaspar came in for Shamsky in a straight d-sub, with the Mets leading 4-3:

METS 7TH: Boswell grounded out (second to first); Garrett
singled to left; Jones was called out on strikes; Shamsky
grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Cardinals 3, Mets 4.

CARDINALS 8TH: GASPAR REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING RF); Torre
struck out; McCarver grounded out (second to first); Javier
grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Cardinals
3, Mets 4.

METS 8TH: Kranepool lined to center; Grote popped to catcher in
foul territory; Harrelson flied to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 3, Mets 4.

CARDINALS 9TH: Shannon struck out; JOHNSON BATTED FOR MAXVILL;
Johnson struck out; Gibson struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Cardinals 3, Mets 4.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Cardinals 3 7 1 6
Mets 4 8 1 7

[Guest iramets]

In the 64th game, on June 22nd, Gaspar came in from CF again to play RF for Shamsky to protect a 1 run lead:

METS 8TH: Shamsky walked; WEIS RAN FOR SHAMSKY; HOERNER REPLACED
TORREZ (PITCHING); Garrett popped to catcher in foul territory;
CLENDENON BATTED FOR KRANEPOOL; Clendenon struck out; JONES
BATTED FOR MARTIN; Weis was picked off first (pitcher to first);
0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Cardinals 0, Mets 1.

CARDINALS 9TH: JONES STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF); GASPAR CHANGED
POSITIONS (PLAYING RF); GROTE REPLACED WEIS (PLAYING C );
CLENDENON STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 1B); Ricketts grounded out
(pitcher to first); JOHNSON BATTED FOR MAXVILL; Johnson struck
out; HUNTZ BATTED FOR HOERNER; Huntz struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB. Cardinals 0, Mets 1.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Cardinals 0 7 0 9
Mets 1 7 0 8

[Guest iramets]

So that's 11 defensive substitutions of Gaspar for either Shamsky or Swoboda through June 22nd 1969. One further observation is that Hodges sometimes had ideal situations for such a move, and chose not to employ them. Viz. the next game against the Phillies: he had a one-run lead, Seaver pitching, Swoboda batted in the seventh innng, he had Gaspar on the bench--and Swoboda finished the game in RF. Not criticizing, just saying:

METS 7TH: Swoboda flied to right; Charles walked; Charles stole
second; Grote struck out; Weis was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Phillies 1, Mets 2.

PHILLIES 8TH: Rojas struck out; Callison walked; Briggs struck
out; G. Stone grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1
LOB. Phillies 1, Mets 2.

METS 8TH: Seaver lined to center; Harrelson flied to right; Agee
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Phillies 1, Mets 2.

PHILLIES 9TH: Ryan flied to left; Joseph grounded out (second to
first); Harmon grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB. Phillies 1, Mets 2.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Phillies 1 7 0 7
Mets 2 6 1 3

[Guest iramets]

In the 12th defensive subbing in RF, we have a new turn of events: Hodges used the Gaspar for Shamsky switch in a tie game, and the Phillies went ahead in the 10th, with Shamsky's spot coming up again:

METS 8TH: Jones struck out; Shamsky flied to right in foul
territory; Kranepool grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB. Phillies 5, Mets 5.

PHILLIES 9TH: GASPAR REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING RF); On a bunt G.
Stone struck out; Ryan struck out; R. Stone singled to left;
Harmon popped to second; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Phillies 5, Mets
5.

METS 9TH: Martin was called out on strikes; Weis grounded out
(third to first); CLENDENON BATTED FOR KOONCE; Clendenon struck
out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Phillies 5, Mets 5.

PHILLIES 10TH: TAYLOR REPLACED CLENDENON (PITCHING); GROTE
REPLACED MARTIN (PLAYING C ); Wilson grounded out (second to
first); Hisle grounded out (shortstop to first); Watkins tripled
to center; Briggs singled to center [Watkins scored]; Briggs was
caught stealing second (catcher to second); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0
LOB. Phillies 6, Mets 5.

METS 10TH: Agee walked; Boswell out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher
to second) [Agee to second]; Garrett lined to left; Jones was
walked intentionally; Gaspar walked [Agee to third, Jones to
second]; BOOZER REPLACED WILSON (PITCHING); Kranepool grounded
out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Phillies 6, Mets 5.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Phillies 6 7 0 3
Mets 5 9 1 7

[Guest iramets]

Here's a very interesting game: Gaspar came in for Shamsky in the 8th inning with the Mets up 4-0. As Gaspar stands in RF, not touching the ball at all, Koosman's control goes away, and Taylor comes in and he promptly gives up a grandslam pinch-hit HR to Vic Freakin' Davalillo. The Mets win it in the 14th.

METS 8TH: TAYLOR REPLACED GAGLIANO (PITCHING); Boswell was
called out on strikes; Jones reached on an error by Torre; Jones
stole second; Shamsky popped to shortstop; Garrett singled to
center [Jones scored (unearned)]; Clendenon was called out on
strikes; 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 0.

CARDINALS 8TH: GASPAR REPLACED SHAMSKY (PLAYING RF); Flood
popped to second; Pinson grounded out (shortstop to first);
Torre walked; Shannon walked [Torre to second]; McCarver walked
[Torre to third, Shannon to second]; TAYLOR REPLACED KOOSMAN
(PITCHING); DAVALILLO BATTED FOR JAVIER; Davalillo homered
[Torre scored, Shannon scored, McCarver scored]; Huntz was
called out on strikes; 4 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals
4.

METS 9TH: MAXVILL REPLACED DAVALILLO (PLAYING SS); HUNTZ CHANGED
POSITIONS (PLAYING 2B); Martin reached on an error by Maxvill;
Weis out on a sacrifice bunt (catcher to second) [Martin to
second]; SWOBODA BATTED FOR TAYLOR; Swoboda was called out on
strikes; Agee popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 4,
Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 9TH: MCGRAW REPLACED SWOBODA (PITCHING); GROTE
REPLACED MARTIN (PLAYING C ); JOHNSON BATTED FOR TAYLOR; Johnson
struck out; Brock struck out; Flood singled to left; Pinson
doubled to center [Flood out at home (center to catcher)]; 0 R,
2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

METS 10TH: HOERNER REPLACED JOHNSON (PITCHING); Boswell grounded
out (first unassisted); Jones struck out; Gaspar popped to
shortstop; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 10TH: Torre doubled to left; DAY RAN FOR TORRE;
Shannon was walked intentionally; McCarver reached on a
fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt [Day to third, Shannon to
second]; Maxvill forced Day (third to catcher) [shannon to
third, McCarver to second]; Huntz struck out; WHITE BATTED FOR
HOERNER; White grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3
LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

METS 11TH: WASHBURN REPLACED DAY (PITCHING); WHITE STAYED IN
GAME (PLAYING 1B); Garrett grounded out (first unassisted);
Clendenon singled to shortstop; Grote popped to shortstop; Weis
struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 11TH: Brock lined to left; Flood was called out on
strikes; Pinson singled to right; Washburn struck out; 0 R, 1 H,
0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

METS 12TH: McGraw popped to first; Agee singled to right;
Boswell grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to
first) [Agee out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 4,
Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 12TH: Shannon popped to first in foul territory;
McCarver singled to left; Maxvill was called out on strikes;
Huntz walked [McCarver to second]; White grounded out (shortstop
to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

METS 13TH: Jones popped to first in foul territory; Gaspar
singled to right; Garrett singled to left [Gaspar to second];
Clendenon flied to center [Gaspar to third]; Grote popped to
third in foul territory; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 4,
Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 13TH: Brock walked; Flood walked [brock to second];
Pinson was called out on strikes; GIBSON BATTED FOR WASHBURN;
Gibson lined to first; Shannon singled to shortstop [brock to
third, Flood to second]; McCarver popped to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H,
0 E, 3 LOB. Mets 4, Cardinals 4.

METS 14TH: WILLIS REPLACED GIBSON (PITCHING); Weis flied to
center; McGraw grounded out (pitcher to first); Agee singled to
left; Agee stole second; Boswell singled to center [Agee
scored]; Jones was hit by a pitch [boswell to second]; Gaspar
walked [boswell to third, Jones to second]; Garrett walked
[boswell scored, Jones to third, Gaspar to second]; BRILES
REPLACED WILLIS (PITCHING); Clendenon grounded out (shortstop to
second to first); 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Mets 6, Cardinals 4.

CARDINALS 14TH: Maxvill flied to center; Huntz flied to left;
White doubled to left; Brock struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Mets 6, Cardinals 4.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Mets 6 14 0 12
Cardinals 4 15 3 18

[Guest iramets]

The July 9th game is probably the most famous regular season game of the year, if not of all Mets' history: it's the Jimmy Qualls game.

It also occurred at the exact midpoint of the season (I did not know that), and contained an usual substitution of Gaspar for Swoboda, in that it came with a 4-0 lead, and it was in the midst of a flurry of other defensive manuevers.

I'm not sure if anyone is reading this thread, or gives a shit about this subject anymore, so I'll stop pasting here, unless anyone wants to see the complete account of Gaspar's defensive subsititutions for Shamsky and Swoboda.

METS 7TH: Pfeil flied to left; Jones homered; Clendenon grounded
out (second to first); Charles doubled to center; Swoboda flied
to right; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Mets 4.

CUBS 8TH: GARRETT REPLACED CHARLES (PLAYING 2B); PFEIL CHANGED
POSITIONS (PLAYING 3B); GASPAR REPLACED SWOBODA (PLAYING RF);
Santo flied to center; Banks struck out; Spangler struck out; 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Mets 4.

METS 8TH: Grote grounded out (third to first); Weis singled to
center; Seaver out on a sacrifice bunt (third to first) [Weis to
second]; Agee grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB. Cubs 0, Mets 4.

CUBS 9TH: Hundley grounded out (pitcher to first); Qualls
singled to center; W. SMITH BATTED FOR ABERNATHY; W. Smith
popped to first in foul territory; Kessinger flied to left; 0 R,
1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Mets 4.

Final Totals R H E LOB
Cubs 0 1 3 1
Mets 4 8 0 9

[nymr83]

]I'm not sure if anyone is reading this thread, or gives a shit about this subject anymore, so I'll stop pasting here,

i'm interested in the larger subject or when a defensive replacement is or isn't a good idea, but i don't care too much about these particular players/examples from 40 years ago.

[Guest iramets]

Nymr83 wrote: ]I'm not sure if anyone is reading this thread, or gives a shit about this subject anymore, so I'll stop pasting here, i'm interested in the larger subject or when a defensive replacement is or isn't a good idea, but i don't care too much about these particular players/examples from 40 years ago.

I could give you a summary of the whole season, which I'm leading up to, without all the details. (how many total substitutions, how many with a lead, how many tied, etc.)

[nymr83]

thats all i'd want to see, i can't speak for anyone else though