IGT 4/21/12 -- Giants @ Mets 1:10 PM

[Piggiestomatoes]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Is Aubrey Huff playing second? He DOES that?

Nice call, LWFS.

[Ceetar]

Mets may not be very good defensively, but it's not like most teams are very good at it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: Mets may not be very good defensively, but it's not like most teams are very good at it.

uh, compared to the Mets they are.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceetar wrote: Mets may not be very good defensively, but it's not like most teams are very good at it. uh, compared to the Mets they are.

I dunno, watching the teams we've watched so far? I wouldn't automatically give anyone but the Phillies an automatic edge. And they're maybe better because they're missing Howard.

[Guest themetfairy]

Fugly wins trump noble losses.

I'll take it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The one move I really liked was Terry pulling Francisco before the lead was lost. In recent years, that has become something of a taboo for some bizarre reason. The closer never seems to leave the game before the lead is completely blown.

The Giants announcers even raised their eyebrows at that. (I didn't see their eyebrows, but I heard them.)

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The one move I really liked was Terry pulling Francisco before the lead was lost. In recent years, that has become something of a taboo for some bizarre reason. The closer never seems to leave the game before the lead is completely blown. The Giants announcers even raised their eyebrows at that. (I didn't see their eyebrows, but I heard them.)

Terry, at least this is the way I saw it, was annoyed that he started giving up hits. He seemed to infer that he's still "the closer" but it sounded like he wanted to put Pelfrey back out there, but getting Francisco 'back on the horse' was important, and Francisco rolled out the "not getting enough work" excuse so that played in as well. The vibe I got from Terry about it was that he'll try to get him the work, and he knows he'l be upset he was pulled, but he has to perform to get work. But maybe I'm just hearing what I want to hear.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The one move I really liked was Terry pulling Francisco before the lead was lost. In recent years, that has become something of a taboo for some bizarre reason. The closer never seems to leave the game before the lead is completely blown. The Giants announcers even raised their eyebrows at that. (I didn't see their eyebrows, but I heard them.)

Not sure why the SFG announcers would be raising their eye-brows, Bochy did essentially the same thing the night before, swapping out his closer for the lefty-specialist (who proceeded to blow the lead) and all after just one batter who got on via an infield single!
Only difference is that Casilla is merely the recently named replacement closer (Romo the set-up man was passed over and left in his supporting role when Wilson got hurt) rather than the anointed 'proven closer' guy.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: Terry, at least this is the way I saw it, was annoyed that he started giving up hits.

Well, sure.

Ceetar wrote: He seemed to infer that he's still "the closer"...

He inferred it? From whom? He decides who is closer.

...but it sounded like he wanted to put Pelfrey back out there, but getting Francisco 'back on the horse' was important, and Francisco rolled out the "not getting enough work" excuse so that played in as well.

I'm sorry. I don't understand any of this.

The vibe I got from Terry about it was that he'll try to get him the work, and he knows he'l be upset he was pulled, but he has to perform to get work. But maybe I'm just hearing what I want to hear.

Francisco? Pelfrey?

I think it's clear Francisco is "still the closer." That has nothing to do with what Grimm was saying. He's saying that him being the "closer," in this situation, did not preclude Collins from lifting him while the save was still available to him. And that's awesome.

[Gwreck]

I read this IGT and watched highlights on SNY. I am still left wondering -- why exactly was Aubrey Huff was playing second base?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Belt subbed in for Crawford, and Theriot was apparently indisposed.

[Edgy MD]

With benches shorter and pitching changes more frequent, teams who fall behind tend to empty their benches pretty completely by the ninth. If they happen to surprise themselves by catching up by then, the defensive options become kind of funky.

[bmfc1]

bmfc1 wrote: I hope someone makes a .gif of Terry's reaction.

http://gif.mocksession.com/2012/04/terry-collins/

[Frayed Knot]

A brief look at the tribulations of Aubrey Huff at 2nd base during Saturday's game along with BP's (not altogether serious) take on how the Giants may have been better off just leaving him where he's more comfortable while leaving 2nd unoccupied.

[bmfc1]

That was excellent--thanks for posting FK.