Hinch v Scioscia

[HudsonHawk]

Who says there's no strategy in the AL?  Last night Scioscia got pretty much every matchup he wanted...Alvarez/Duffy instead of Gott/Tucker...made Hinch burn Tucker, Duffy, Villar and Valbuena for one at bat by IBBing Valbuena ; thereby forcing Hinch to stick with Marisnick against Street with the tying run in scoring position...which allowed him to IBB Lowrie in the 9th to get to Gattis to end the game.

Don't get me wrong, I like Hinch...I think he's smart and a good baseball thinker.  But he got outmanaged last night.   

[hostros7]

 So, what would you have done differently if you were Hinch? Let Carter hit?


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[HudsonHawk]

So, what would you have done differently if you were Hinch? Let Carter hit?

At the time I was thinking I'd have used Villar instead of Tucker and Duffy or Conger instead of Villar and Valbuena.  Either way, I'd have had Tucker to face Street either later in the 8th or in the 9th instead of Marisnick.  I would not have burned Tucker without getting him to the plate.

That's me.  And I'm not saying it's easy.  I'm saying Scioscia won that battle last night.

[Dark Star]

Two former catchers.

I don't remember much about Hinch's playing career, other than that he had a decent rookie year, and there was some talk he might be a future regular behind the plate. But he fizzled quickly after that, mostly because he couldn't hit much at all at the MLB level.

Scioscia as a player I remember vividly. It struck me as odd that for such a big guy, he was basically a spray hitter. Decent one, too, but he never hit for much power. The thing I mostly remember about him ... I don't know if I have ever seen anyone better at blocking the plate. It wasn't just his size. It seemed like he could lower his center of gravity, and just plant himself in the baseline, before the runner arrived. Some guiys went over the top of him, some bounced off, some tried to go around. But it is hard to remember anyone ever moving him. I hated him, as a player; because he played for LA when they were a big rival, and like so many of his teammates, I thought he was a cocky prick.

I have come to admire him as a manager, though. Old school.

[HudsonHawk]

Two former catchers.

I don't remember much about Hinch's playing career, other than that he had a decent rookie year, and there was some talk he might be a future regular behind the plate. But he fizzled quickly after that, mostly because he couldn't hit much at all at the MLB level.

Hinch was always highly regarded as thinker and game caller.  It was said he could recall every pitch sequence from every batter he ever faced.  I don't know if that's true or not, but he had the reputation of being very smart, even if he couldn't hit, and would someday make a fine manager.  And I think he's done an excellent job here.  But Scioscia's been around the block a few times himself. 

[juliogotay]

Two former catchers.

I don't remember much about Hinch's playing career, other than that he had a decent rookie year, and there was some talk he might be a future regular behind the plate. But he fizzled quickly after that, mostly because he couldn't hit much at all at the MLB level.

Scioscia as a player I remember vividly. It struck me as odd that for such a big guy, he was basically a spray hitter. Decent one, too, but he never hit for much power. The thing I mostly remember about him ... I don't know if I have ever seen anyone better at blocking the plate. It wasn't just his size. It seemed like he could lower his center of gravity, and just plant himself in the baseline, before the runner arrived. Some guiys went over the top of him, some bounced off, some tried to go around. But it is hard to remember anyone ever moving him. I hated him, as a player; because he played for LA when they were a big rival, and like so many of his teammates, I thought he was a cocky prick.

I have come to admire him as a manager, though. Old school.

That's a good description of the way I remember him.

[geezerdonk]

Scioscia didn't have to strain to win the manager's derby last night. Hinch gave him a big head start by batting Lowrie cleanup. Lowrie was 0 for 16 against Santiago going into the game. He's now 0 for 19.

[Reuben]

Scioscia didn't have to strain to win the manager's derby last night. Hinch gave him a big head start by batting Lowrie cleanup. Lowrie was 0 for 16 against Santiago going into the game. He's now 0 for 19.

Yes, of course. They lost the game because Lowrie was batting cleanup, instead of _________. Great analysis.

[NeilT]

Yes, of course. They lost the game because Lowrie was batting cleanup, instead of _________. Great analysis.

I thought they lost because I ordered the small Frito pie.

[hostros7]

Until Gomez returns, my opinion is that I want Rasmus in the lineup down this stretch run, even against lefties unless he is a particularly filthy one. I know that goes against conventional wisdom, but his splits against lefties this year aren't that bad and he's been one of the hotter(ish) bats on the team of late. He also improves the OF defense of course, which is definitely factored into that view. The caveat to that would be the off chance that Carter has hit a lefty particularly well, then I'd put him at first and Marwin in left like last night's lineup.