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Feel bad for Matz as he deserved much better. Watched all four games and sickened at our hitters taking good pitches game after game and the strikeouts are again alarming. Never forget the great MO added nothing to the offense which was horrible.
The pen doesn’t even warrant discussion.I remember TLR would flat out refuse to play a guy he didn’t want, other than dire emergency. There is no way that is the case now with Fernandez. Some physical issue seems most likely.
I also agree with whoever said Gorman and his K rate need to move out of the 3 slot. But the season might die on that hill.
IMO Contreras and Goldy are the best candidates for the 3 slot. The best overall hitters, not the all or nothing strike out king.
Looked a lot like last year. Too many hitters flailing at pitches nowhere near the zone, and bullpen pitchers who can’t keep runners off base.
Kittredge did not impress me at all. His delivery looks like a position player – real slow. Maybe he will be good, but for now I am like “we traded Palacios for this guy?” Not to mention it seems you never win a trade with Tampa.
BikeMike – last night was my first time watching Kittredge pitch as well. It is a really weird delivery. He doesn’t throw like any pitcher I can remember. Also, his throws seemed really nonchalant – like he didn’t care. Im sure that’s not at all the case. But it was just odd watching him. I wasn’t sure what to make of him.
If Fernandez had a physical issue, they would have put him on the IL. That is a common tactic with Rule 5 guys. Instead, I suspect the manager and pitching coach didn’t want to use him in Dodger Stadium. Either way, having a seven-man pen instead of eight only hurts yourself.
Jnevel, thanks for your throrough synopsis of the bullpen situation going into yesterday’s game. That was spot on. One thing I would add is that Gallegos would have been available last night if he wasn’t used Saturday night. The reason he was used Saturday night is because Helsley got shelled instead of closing the game out. That particular circumstance is on Helsley, not Oli. I agree with everying else.
If Fernandez had a physical issue, they would have put him on the IL. That is a common tactic with Rule 5 guys. Instead, I suspect the manager and pitching coach didn’t want to use him in Dodger Stadium. Either way, having a seven-man pen instead of eight only hurts yourself.
Its really just par for the course on Marmol’s bad bullpen management. Why use Gallegos in a 0-5 game on Friday? Why keep O’Brien for two more days despite knowing he had soreness after Friday night? Its maddening.
I can totally see Kittridge putting out a cigarette on the dugout rail and handing Carp his beer to hold for him before he strolls out to the mound, lol.
Gscottar – very good point on Helsley/Gio. Obviously, you can have a plan, but the plan often goes haywire. I think it’s attributed to Mike Tyson for saying “Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.”
Really, we may be short on the pen tonight as well because ideally other than Fernandez and Helsley, they’d probably like to give the rest of the team all one more day off. Kittredge pitched the last 2 days. Pallante threw more than an inning yesterday and warmed up several times the day before. King threw yesterday and has worked twice in 3 days. Gallegos and Romero were leaned on heavily for 2-3 days and have only gotten one day off. Liberatore is probably fine, but ideally, he’d get another day off. All teams face these kinds of problems now that starters often only go 5 innings.
I like lefties Donovan 2nd, Noot 5th and Gorman 7th as the cleanup bat before we flip back with speed at 8th & 9th batters.
Gorman doesn’t have the obp of Donovan or Noot. He would hit behind them, for me. Nolan doesn’t draw walks like them either.
Batting 7th forces him to show plate discipline because they may pitch around him to get to lighter hitters. Take the free pass, it improves your obp, and when you do swing, it’s a strike.
Torre did the same thing with Beltre his debut and first full season. Forced him to show plate discipline batting 7th.
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