interesting take from facebook friend...
Tribe post game analysis . . . Tito's decisions that will be debated for many years by baseball pundits, media, and educated fans . . .
1) Since Allen had already thrown more than 35 pitches and was over-exposed to the Yankees, why did Tito leave him him to face a very tough left-handed hitter who hits righties way better than lefties? With a lefty hitter coming up in the 9th (Gardner) with 2 guys on, we had a lefty pitcher Olson warmed up in the pen. Why wasn't Olson called upon to upon to face the lefty Gardner? No confidence in Olson? Check out Olson's ERA against lefties since he came to the Tribe. Check out lefties batting average against Olson since he came to the Tribe. Hmmm.
2) With Allen pitching in the top of the 9th, why did Tito (or whomever calls the pitches from the bench) or Perez the catcher call 9 straight fastballs to Gardner during the critical 12-pitch at bat when it was obvious that Gardner was right on the fastball and kept getting better and better swings each time? (BTW - Allen's fastball has no movement - straight as a string at 94-95 mph).No cut to it. Not tail to it. Why wasn't Allen's best pitch (curve ball) called when the count was 3-2 and Gardner had fouled off 9 consecutive fastballs? We all know what happens the longer a good hitter keeps seeing the same pitch repeatedly and keeps fouling it off. You saw what happened. Strange decision to throw Gardner 9 straight fastballs. Hmmm.
3) Why was Yandy Diaz left off the post season roster when he was a good right handed hitter who is excellent at taking the ball to the opposite field (exactly what was needed in the two games against Sabbathia). Diaz plays a good 3rd base! Instead we got Gonalez and Urshela who made critical errors and who are both weak hitters. This past season, I saw Diaz at 3rd in person three different times. He was surprisingly good at 3rd base. Mobile, agile, with a very good and accurate arm. Why put Brantley on the roster when he has missed the last two months of the season; could not play the field; and was basically an automatic out at the plate? Why Gonzalez on the post season roster?
4) Pitchers who start in post season on short rest have an ERA over 5. As I recall, it is almost 6 runs per 9 innings. Therefore, why start Bauer on short rest when you had Tomlin who was fresh and who could have started . . .and who was VERY effective in 2 innings of relief work in game 2? Many times, a soft tosser who changes speeds and hits his spots effectively is more effective against free swinging, home run hitting teams like the Yankees. Each time Tomlin pitched in relief, he was very effective because of the different look and style. If Tomlin would have gotten into trouble, Tito could have made it a bullpen game - which is often more effective in the post-season anyway (again different styles, different arm slots, different release points, different pitches). Variety is the spice of life in post-season baseball.
5) During the last 2 months of the season, Zimmer's batting average had dropped to .230. He looked terrible at the plate. He was utterly lost. Was not even making much contact. Many strike outs. Tyler Naquin, a true outfielder with speed and a cannon for an arm (who played center field a lot in Columbus and last year in Cleveland) rotted in the bench. Naquin actually won the centerfield job this year coming out of spring training. Naquin had a very good year at Columbus this season. Check out his stats. Why didn't Tito play Naquin the last month or so of the season to get him prepped for post season? Why play Kipnis (a major league 2nd baseman who was not hitting anyway) in centerfield, when you had a very good true outfielder rotting on your bench? Note: One thing that I do not like about Francona is that he stubbornly sticks with veterans who are under-performing (Kipnis, Chisenhall, Brantley) and is slow to give younger players opportunities. Reminds me of Jim Leyland.
These are the decisions that will be debated for many years.
er?
