Padres Game Recap – May 10, 2015

Almost every year there is a “Tough Loss” pitcher on the staff who simply can’t buy a Win. He pitches well, but the team simply can’t score runs the day he throws, or can’t play defense, or the bullpen gives it up…some way, some how there will be no W awarded to him for the valiant effort.  In the early going so far this year’s unlucky recipient of the dubious honor may be Andrew Cashner, as he fell to 1-6 after today’s 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Cash’s line today: 7ip, 4 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts – just good enough for the loss. Granted, of the 4 hits he allowed 2 were home runs and the difference in the outcome. He’s been far from perfect on the season having allowed 8 HR, and 25 total runs to cross in his 7 starts. However, 10 of those runs that have scored have been unearned, and in 5 of those starts he went 6+ innings, and allowed 2 earned runs or less. His record in those 5 games…1-4.

Again, not saying that he has been totally blameless. There have been times where he has not pitched over some bad defense behind him thus allowing the game to become further out of reach, and the 8 long balls were already noted. But still…he’s certainly deserved a much better fate than his record shows.

With that being said (or typed), let’s get into today’s game that resulted in a series split. Cashner as noted threw the ball very well.  He allowed solo home runs in the 2nd and 3rd. Two mistake pitches that would determine the outcome. It’s hard, but that’s MLB.

As for the Friar offense there wasn’t much of it today.  On a Johnny All Staff day for the Diamondbacks staff reliever Hudson started and was electric. He lasted longer than expected into the 4th, and then ran out of gas walking Myers, then allowing a single to Upton.  An interesting thing happened on the single though.  Myers was running on the pitch, and was momentarily confused as he approached second thinking the ball in play had been caught.  He Started to return to first, then realized the ball had landed safely so proceeded to round second and head towards third.  As he rounded the base Ahmed the SS was in is way and they briefly collided causing Myers to lose his footing and fall to the ground.  At that point he was hung out to dry as the ball was coming back into the infield and would have been tagged out had the umpires not stopped the play at that point ruling interference.

Myers was awarded third base, Upton stayed at first. AZ manager, Chip Hale, disputed the call. The umpires convened for several minutes (one of the longest such on field meetings I’ve ever witnessed), and ultimately concluded that Myers should return to 2nd. It was a flawed judgement as the rules state that if there is interference on the runner in the midst of a play on him he shall be awarded at least one base (3rd) or possibly more under the umpires judgement. If, however, interference is called and the play is stopped (as it was), the runner shall be awarded the next base after which he had already reached (3rd in this case). Either way, there doesn’t appear to be any way by the rules that they should send Myers back to second base, but they did much to the understandable anger of Buddy.

Ultimately it mattered not as Venable was then walked to load the bases.  Hudson left the game, but the next reliever, Ramirez, struck out Gyorko and then retired Amarista on a ground out to end the rally.  The next scoring opportunity arose in the 6th.  With 2 outs Venable singled, and Gyorko doubled him in to cut the deficit to 2-1. Amarista was intentionally walked, to get to Hedges for the righty-righty match up.  Austin hit a rocket single to left that got to the left fielder so quickly that Hoffman had no choice but to hold Gyorko at third.  That brought Cashner to the plate, and controversy to the Twitter machine.

Understandably some fans felt that Buddy should have PH for Cash in this bases loaded, 2-out, 1-run game situation.  Cash would ultimately hit the ball hard up the middle but the SS got to it to end the inning.  The second guessing began, and I get it.  But here is why I understood Buddy’s decision, and really didn’t think a lot about it as it was unfolding.

1. If my starting pitcher is throwing well, getting outs, looking strong and has more outs left in him then I want him to stay in the game.  Yes I need to score, but in a 2-1 game with 4 more innings to cover I also need to keep getting outs and keep the other team from scoring. The league avg. for PH’s is .211, and Pads PH’s are hitting .218 so far this season, so there is an 80% chance that there will not be a hit, and that the need for more good pitching to keep the game close and give the meat of my order two ore chances to score outweighs using a PH at that point.
2. I used 5 of my bullpen pitchers last night. Benoit coming off shoulder issues and having pitched the last 2 nights in a row is likely not available, or at a minimum I’m trying to avoid. Maurer threw last two games in a row and 3 out of last 4, so he’s likely short.  My trusted late bullpen is somewhat limited. I need outs, especially in a close game where I may need to go to match ups late, or god forbid extra innings. Cash can give them to me.
3. Cash is not an automatic out at the plate. He can swing the bat, everyone knows that. Heading into this inning my team had 3 hits, and Cash had one of them. I’m not giving up the inning with Cash up there.
4. Their pitcher, appearing in first MLB game since 2013, is not throwing that great. He’s in trouble, so Cash has an even better chance of reaching base. I may get to have my cake and eat it too.
5. Their bullpen has not been solid with a 4.53 ERA, and 4 blown saves in 5 opportunities. Their bullpen is so short on arms that they had their starter from 2 nights ago not throw his scheduled bullpen today so that he could be available.  This is likely not our last chance to score. I’m not facing a lock down bullpen that necessitates I treat this as our last scoring chance.
6. I want Cashner to get the win.  No, this is not in the metrics, not in the numbers, not calculable in the odds. I want Cashner to be rewarded for pitching a good game – he psychologically needs it. I know it’s a touchy-feely thing (go ahead crucify me!)  but I need Cash to have something to feel good about as he;s had some tough luck.  In that same vein I want him to know that I trust him, I’m in his corner.  I want him to go deep in this game and win, and I want every one of my other starters to see that as a manager I expect them to stay in close games, and compete on the mound, and at the plate.  Yes I am managing to win this game, and I am also managing to keep my players on board for 162.  Players see how managers handle other players, and how you treat one player can affect how others expect to be treated. I’m not going to manage foolishly, nor put guys in situations where they or the team do not have a chance to be successful, but I do need to show confidence in my players as well. Again, this is not the main factor by any means, but in this particular case it is an ingredient in my decision.

So there it is. Would I have always let my pitcher hit in that situation? Nope. My pitcher not throwing strong, my pitcher not being someone who can handle the bat, their bullpen being lock down, my bullpen being 100% fresh…I very well may hit for him there.

By the way, I don’t evaluate the correctness of every decision based on the retrospective ensuing result. The Padres lost, but to say that the game was lost at this moment would be speculative at best.  Does anyone know that a pinch hitter would have gotten a hit?  Does anyone know that had the bullpen taken over after the 5th that they would have posted 2 more scoreless innings the way Cash did? Nope.

Many will disagree with the reasons I listed for leaving Cash in to hit for himself, and that’s great! That’s what baseball fans do. They discuss, they disagree, they debate.  This was certainly one of those moments that gives fans something to chew on, and I hope we can all do it respectfully with each other.

The Pads did in fact end up having another chance to score in the 8th when Amarista came to the plate with runners on 1st & 2nd with 1 out, but ended up grounding into an inning ending double play. Yet another moment for potential debate.  Some games are filled with them. Others are not.  This one had it’s share!

The Friars are now 3-4 on this road trip, and after the day off tomorrow will face off against a Mariners club that although has lost 6 of their last 10, has won their last 3 in a row.  Kennedy will go to the mound on Tuesday with the first pitch scheduled to be fired at 7:10.  Look forward to having you join Uncle Teddy and me for all the action on the mighty 1090.

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