Second-Guess Theater

[Edgy MD]

Two out in the ninth and a pinch-hitter needed as the tying run. Why Turner and not Cowgill?

I mean, if you want the better hitter, 'Gill's the one who is supposedly the starter.

You're looking for the big blow, Terry's expressed enough appreciation of Cowgill's power for me to think he's more impressed by that aspect of his game than he is by Turner's.

If you want a baserunner to get on and set up a good matchup for Baxter (as Gary suggested), well, Cow' has been the leadoff hitter.

Turner's got two arguments going for him: (1) three hits the day before, and (2) perhaps his veteran aplomb will leave him less shaky than Cowgill as the potential last out of the game.

Both are legit arguments, but I think Terry <3s Turner too much.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Both are legit arguments, but I think Terry <3s Turner too much.

I agree. Turner hits righties well too, although sometimes it seems like Collins forgets he's a no/reverse split guy, but Cowgill was probably the ..better?..choice. Figure out what Cowgill can do for you at least, isn't that why you keep going to Rice and Burke? Parnell's your best reliever by far and he's gotten one batter (sorry, separate second guess here)

Perhaps Collins was thinking that if Cowgill homered they'd be tied and would have to burn Turner as the SS anyway? But then, as much as I'm pissed at Tejada this season so far, you could've just let him hit.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I joked that he should have sent Hairston up there, I think what he really needed was Jamie Hoffman or Downtown Andrew Brown. Terry is definitely in love with Tyrna since he "plays this game the right way."

Neiuwenhuis, his nice PH and ability to get 'em in CF notwithstanding, maybe oughta be the guy who'd hafta go down in that scenario.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: (sorry, separate second guess here)

No, that's good. I'm kinda hoping this thread can be the season's catch-all post-game second-guess forensics thread. Stuff you may be still chewing on hours later or the next morning.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: (sorry, separate second guess here) No, that's good. I'm kinda hoping this thread can be the season's catch-all post-game second-guess forensics thread. Stuff you may be still chewing on hours later or the next morning.

Well, in terms of relievers I'd like if he used Parnell in more high leverage situations, but it's a small sample size right now. Collins doesn't seem to treat 1-run deficits appropriate to the leverage.

I'll reserve judgement on the rest of the relievers. They're all somewhat, or completely, new to Collins and April and May should be for figuring out which of them you can actually trust. I think Burke's got potential, and to be fair that was a 5-out inning between Tejada's error and his (or Buck's?) decision to go to third with the bunt. (Or hell, maybe TEJADA and/or Murphy should've been holding the runner on)

[Edgy MD]

To me, the greater issue remains pulling effectively pitching starters, but it's early, it's coldy, yadda-yadda.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: To me, the greater issue remains pulling effectively pitching starters, but it's early, it's coldy, yadda-yadda.

Not that I think Collins is going to start pushing guys enough, but I'd like them to have a couple of starts at/around 100 before building from there.

[Theoldmole]

I'm with Edgy.

[Zvon]

This is all my fault. I asked Sparky to give Turnip more at bats

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think Terry was playing the platoon splits (Turner career vs. righties-- .264/.328/.373 w/13.5 K pct. in 468 PAs; Cowgill career vs. righties-- ..229/.276/.280 w/ 26.8% K pct. in 107 PAs), and-- not having a lefty power threat left on the pines-- was simply seeking to extend the game with a walk or base hit.

Not a terrible thought, as Cishek's murder on righties and vulnerable against patient lefties (see: earlier in the 9th)... especially pull guys like Cowgill.