Second Guessing (Brewers/Astros Finale BUT...

[Sambito]

Anyone have a coherent answer for why Petitte did not
walk Miller in the 7th (I know the bases loaded argument)
to get to Capuano.  If he stays in then Petitte is likely to get out of the inning.  If they pinch hit then dude is out of the game and we go to the pen with Andy feeling pretty good about tonight. As it stands now, its hard to feel good about it.  Other ideas encouraged!

JMAC

[BizidyDizidy]

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 Other ideas encouraged!

Thanks for this - people around here are usually hesitant to speak their mind.

[homer]

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 Other ideas encouraged!

Thanks for this - people around here are usually hesitant to speak their mind.

Its a byproduct of the severe inbreeding.

[astro pete]

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If they pinch hit then dude is out of the game and we go to the pen with Andy feeling pretty good about tonight. As it stands now, its hard to feel good about it.  Other ideas encouraged!

JMAC

Pettitte pitched very well.  Plenty to feel good about in that regard.  Our bullpen, however, is a different story.

[No? in Austin]

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If they pinch hit then dude is out of the game and we go to the pen with Andy feeling pretty good about tonight. As it stands now, its hard to feel good about it.  Other ideas encouraged!

JMAC

Pettitte pitched very well.  Plenty to feel good about in that regard.  Our bullpen, however, is a different story.

This bullpen is not the same shutdown pen it was last year.  This should be a huge concern to anyone paying attention.

As for pitching to Damian Miller, what the general thinking is in that regard is that the guy is hitting 8 for a reason.  So you go after him and start the next inning with the pitcher.  Consider, however, how well Adam Everett is doing as a #8 right now.  It's all about being aggressive, because no one is going to pitch you like you're a #3 hitter.  They're going to come after you hard.  So you have to stay aggressive and put your best swings on the ball.

Miller grounded out weakly against Lidge the night before.  This time, Pettitte didn't make his pitch and when a guy is aggressive at the plate, he's going to swing.  If you don't use that to your advantage, it's on you the pitcher and not so much on the strategy employed being flawed.

[Sambito]

Thanks Noe, I knew there had to be a logical explanation.

(Wining as I right this)
It just seems to me that Phil could have pulled Andy after walking Miller and know the brewers have choice: keep Capuano or pinch hit (it is an assertive way to play) rather than hope we continue to punk the eight place hitter.

This leads me to another question.  Differentials between
8th place hitters and pitchers hitting stats.  When to pitch to the 8 hole hitter vs. pitcher.

[CrawfordBoxes]

Yeah it would have been nice to get to their pen an inning earlier, but Gross would have probably pinch hit and hit another yack.

[No? in Austin]

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Thanks Noe, I knew there had to be a logical explanation.

(Wining as I right this)
It just seems to me that Phil could have pulled Andy after walking Miller and know the brewers have choice: keep Capuano or pinch hit (it is an assertive way to play) rather than hope we continue to punk the eight place hitter.

I think CB answered it for you, but just in case it's not clear.  The choice is Damian Miller, 8th place hitter with two men on or pinch hitter with bases loaded.  And if you get Miller, then the likelihood of having Capuano the next inning if you fail to score is a good thing.  If you do score, then you're facing a pinch hitter with the bases empty instead of juiced.

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This leads me to another question.  Differentials between
8th place hitters and pitchers hitting stats.  When to pitch to the 8 hole hitter vs. pitcher.

You need stats?  Why?

[JimR]

right--it is not a function of relative BAs.

[pravata]

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Anyone have a coherent answer for why Petitte did not
walk Miller in the 7th (I know the bases loaded argument)
to get to Capuano.  If he stays in then Petitte is likely to get out of the inning.  If they pinch hit then dude is out of the game and we go to the pen with Andy feeling pretty good about tonight. As it stands now, its hard to feel good about it.  Other ideas encouraged!

JMAC

Footer provides the quote, (the significance of this event eluded the crackerjacks at the Chron)
 
Miller suspected Pettitte may have been trying to walk him.
 
"[Chad] Moeller was the only right-hander we had off the bench at that time, and he's the second catcher, so obviously you couldn't pinch-hit him," Miller said. "[Pettitte] might have been trying to walk me, I don't know. He just made a mistake."
The Link

[Foghorn]

By walking the base loaded the debate becomes the AVG of Miller versus the OBP of the PH.

And of course, if there is a failure to execute you can throw the stats out the window.

Pettitte had a chance to put Miller away and didn't do it.  Shit happens.

[No? in Austin]

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By walking the base loaded the debate becomes the AVG of Miller versus the OBP of the PH.

And of course, if there is a failure to execute you can throw the stats out the window.

Pettitte had a chance to put Miller away and didn't do it.  Shit happens.

A runner at third base, regardless of the amount of outs, has a higher percentage of scoring, because of the amount of ways he can score, added to him.  If you're facing a hitter you feel confident you can pitch to (i.e. The situation for your advantage), then take it.  At that point, it is a matter of execution and not flawed strategy.

[Limey]

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By walking the base loaded the debate becomes the AVG of Miller versus the OBP of the PH.

Right.  No way Capuano gets to hit if Miller is walked.  Then you're risking the PHer plating a couple of runs against the improved chances of scoring off the Brewers' pen instead of a tiring Capuano.

As it turns out, both happened as Miller got a run home and Capuano was lifted after Ensberg's dinger.  Astros still lost, so the entire debate is "mute".

FTR, I think you have to go after the #8 hitter rather than face the PHer selected for that particular situation.