Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Scherzer knew when the game started that he'd likely be used to close it out. He was warming as the inning started to come into the 9th of that game. He's also been healthy all season as opposed to Hudson and Flaherty. But yeah, completely sound veteran arms are clearly the same as 2 young guys, one of whom has come back early from major surgery, the other has been fighting nagging arm issues all season. Clearly no reason to believe they'd take a little more time to get warm.
I've said I would've had no problem giving the ball to Whitley to try to get out of that inning and then turn it over clean to Flaherty or Hudson. I've said that's probably what I would've done, even.
But no, you don't go to a starting pitcher in a jam situation. Especially not younger ones coming off recent injury. Again, the Cardinals have had this exact situation with Michael Wacha and even money says Marcellus bitched up a storm when that decision was made.
This is a ridiculous discussion.
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I don't even have an issue with a starter coming out of the bullpen in the POs when healthy. Bumgarner probably had the most insane postseason of all time doing that in 2014.
I have an issue with putting in 2 starters, who just came back from injury, in a 9th inning win or go home situation with a tied score (aka Wacha).
I have an issue with putting in 2 terrible pitching options who somehow out performed their metrics in high leverage situations.
I literally don't know what else could have been to avoid that outcome other than going to an opener strategy and relying on a Lester/Mikolas/Wainwright combination, which would have not even guaranteed a victory and absolutely destroyed the rotation for the next series.