Tonight's Game 2 of the 2011 World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals was a close and exciting game. After 6 1/2 scoreless innings, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. Yet, the Rangers overcame the 1-0 deficit in the 9th inning to win 2-1. All 3 runs were scored after pitching changes, in which the nature of the substitutions was particularly interesting.
In the 7th inning, Rangers manager Ron Washington had an interesting decision to make. The Cardinals were preparing to use Allen Craig to pinch hit for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia. As Rangers starter Colby Lewis had thrown close to 100 pitches, coach Washington was looking to turn to his bullpen. His top choice to face Craig was pitcher Alexi Ogando, who held right-handed hitters to an impressively low .202 batting average during the regular season. While Ogando served mainly as a starting pitcher during the regular season, he has become one of coach Washington's top relievers in the playoffs. Yet, just last night, Ogando gave up the winning RBI to Craig. Sticking with the game plan, coach Washington went ahead and gave the ball to Ogando. As Craig did last night, he again delivered a go-ahead base hit against Ogando and the Rangers defense.
The Cardinals maintained the 1-0 lead, allowing Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to send in closer Jason Motte to finish the game. Motte has been a fairly reliable closer, saving 5 playoff games in 5 attempts. At the same time, Motte has not been the only pitcher to serve as the team's closer, with other options in the Cardinals bullpen. To Motte's and coach La Russa's dismay, the Rangers started the 9th inning with 2 hits, bringing power hitter Josh Hamilton to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Now, coach La Russa had an interesting decision to make. Should he let Motte face Hamilton, intentionally walk Hamilton and let Motte continue, or remove Motte from the game in favor of key veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes? Ironically enough, Rhodes started the season with the Rangers before being released and signed by the Cardinals. With St. Louis, Rhodes has also been reliable, but Motte is the closer. Quite arguably veering from the game plan, coach La Russa replaced Motte with Rhodes. On Rhodes' first pitch, Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the tying run and move the go-ahead run to third base. The Rangers proceeded to score the go-ahead run and eventually won the game 2-1.
In all playoff and championship game situations, teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas. At times, managers and coaches must decide when to stick with the game plan and when to make appropriate adjustments. Tonight, fans and analysts alike may have questioned both managers' decisions to make the substitutions they made. In coach Washington's case, he stuck with the game plan and gave Ogando another chance to get Craig out. This did not work out in the 7th inning. Yet, overall, the Rangers still won the game. On the other hand, coach La Russa aborted the game plan by removing Motte from the game. Rhodes, Lance Lynn, and the Cardinals defense could not hold the lead, allowing the Rangers to come from behind for the win.
Had coach Washington made a different pitching decision in the 7th inning, the outcome may have been different. Likewise, had coach La Russa made a different pitching decision in the 9th inning, the outcome may have been different. Hindsight may be 20/20, but everything here is speculation. All that can be said is that, when critically challenged tonight, coach Washington stuck to the Rangers' game plan while coach La Russa altered the Cardinals' game plan. While the Rangers struggled to execute their plan but finished strongly, the Cardinals lost their edge at the end of the game when changing their plan. Again, coaches and teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas in the playoffs; sometimes struggles can be overcome, while other times prompt changes need to be made. Perhaps tonight's events and outcomes are testimony to confidently stick with what has been working rather than prematurely making a change.
In the 7th inning, Rangers manager Ron Washington had an interesting decision to make. The Cardinals were preparing to use Allen Craig to pinch hit for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia. As Rangers starter Colby Lewis had thrown close to 100 pitches, coach Washington was looking to turn to his bullpen. His top choice to face Craig was pitcher Alexi Ogando, who held right-handed hitters to an impressively low .202 batting average during the regular season. While Ogando served mainly as a starting pitcher during the regular season, he has become one of coach Washington's top relievers in the playoffs. Yet, just last night, Ogando gave up the winning RBI to Craig. Sticking with the game plan, coach Washington went ahead and gave the ball to Ogando. As Craig did last night, he again delivered a go-ahead base hit against Ogando and the Rangers defense.
The Cardinals maintained the 1-0 lead, allowing Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to send in closer Jason Motte to finish the game. Motte has been a fairly reliable closer, saving 5 playoff games in 5 attempts. At the same time, Motte has not been the only pitcher to serve as the team's closer, with other options in the Cardinals bullpen. To Motte's and coach La Russa's dismay, the Rangers started the 9th inning with 2 hits, bringing power hitter Josh Hamilton to the plate with two runners in scoring position. Now, coach La Russa had an interesting decision to make. Should he let Motte face Hamilton, intentionally walk Hamilton and let Motte continue, or remove Motte from the game in favor of key veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes? Ironically enough, Rhodes started the season with the Rangers before being released and signed by the Cardinals. With St. Louis, Rhodes has also been reliable, but Motte is the closer. Quite arguably veering from the game plan, coach La Russa replaced Motte with Rhodes. On Rhodes' first pitch, Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the tying run and move the go-ahead run to third base. The Rangers proceeded to score the go-ahead run and eventually won the game 2-1.
In all playoff and championship game situations, teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas. At times, managers and coaches must decide when to stick with the game plan and when to make appropriate adjustments. Tonight, fans and analysts alike may have questioned both managers' decisions to make the substitutions they made. In coach Washington's case, he stuck with the game plan and gave Ogando another chance to get Craig out. This did not work out in the 7th inning. Yet, overall, the Rangers still won the game. On the other hand, coach La Russa aborted the game plan by removing Motte from the game. Rhodes, Lance Lynn, and the Cardinals defense could not hold the lead, allowing the Rangers to come from behind for the win.
Had coach Washington made a different pitching decision in the 7th inning, the outcome may have been different. Likewise, had coach La Russa made a different pitching decision in the 9th inning, the outcome may have been different. Hindsight may be 20/20, but everything here is speculation. All that can be said is that, when critically challenged tonight, coach Washington stuck to the Rangers' game plan while coach La Russa altered the Cardinals' game plan. While the Rangers struggled to execute their plan but finished strongly, the Cardinals lost their edge at the end of the game when changing their plan. Again, coaches and teams face interesting circumstances and dilemmas in the playoffs; sometimes struggles can be overcome, while other times prompt changes need to be made. Perhaps tonight's events and outcomes are testimony to confidently stick with what has been working rather than prematurely making a change.