As I've argued here before, it generally is bad tactics to use the
closer or ace reliever in the 9th in a tie game on the road. You use
the ace in highly leveraged situations, which means situations in
which you have a v. good chance (at least 50%) of winning if the ace
pitches well. Not true on the road in a tie game b/c, in the last of
the 9th in a tie game, the home team will get two half innings of
offense for one by the away team. I'll not go through the math
exercise again.
However, as I also suggested earlier, I see two exceptions to the
general rule. The first is when you plan to use the ace for more than
one inning. Then it is SOMETIMES sensible to have the ace pitch the
9th and 10th. He has to be really lights out, however, and well
rested, etc. It helps if there is a day off the next day.
The second is when you are really, really desperate. In that case,
saving the ace for the 10th (or whenever the away team takes a lead)
is senseless b/c you almost certainly will not see the 10th. And THAT
was the case today. Some weak argument for bringing in Paps after
there were two runners on or even before the IBB, since Paps probably
would have challenged Matsui. So, I may have been too strong in saying
Terry handled thee matter perfectly. Still, I'd have done what he did,
so it was perfect by my clouded eyes.
|
