Laley23;816837 wrote:I also think you want your Ace to be pleased. If he is the reason they lose, its cool with him and he knows it and needs to improve etc etc. But he leaves the game with the lead and takes a loss (I know he didnt, but couldve), it isnt going to sit as well. Pitchers WANT to close out the innings they start, and I think its important to let them do that if they are a true #1.
Yes, you want them to bow their neck and get out of their own situations a little earlier in the game. He had the last 4 in the order to get 3 outs, which was a very reasonable opportunity, especially after he K'd the first one on 3 pitches. So once he got to Damon after 2 of the last 3 he had faced getting on, it was the right decision to bring in Bray who has been excellent. If, after he had two strikes on Damon, he'd have gotten that fastball more in to take back more of the outside corner, he may have had more of a chance to get him out there. the first pitch after that fastball he was set-up but he made the pitch too far out to properly tempt him. Then the next one Damon got out there and blooped it in. So Bray wasn't at his sharpest, but it still was the right move to bring him in.
