The main task for any coach or manager, regardless of the sport, is simple enough. That is, put your team in the best position to win. Obviously, not every maneuver is going to pay off. But the idea is to make the correct decision and then let the chips fall where they may.
Joe Girardi made a bad decision on Sunday night and there’s a great chance he cost the Yankees a win they really needed in the process. The Yankees had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning on a Brian McCann home run. Girardi then called on closer David Robertson to preserve the lead. While the initial reaction might well be that there’s nothing to criticize Girardi about in making this move, I see evidence that indicates he totally deserves being called on the carpet.
David Robertson almost never pitches on three consecutive days. Going back to the start of his major league career, he’s only done so on three occasions, twice this season and once last year. Robertson also had to throw 35 pitches on Friday evening, and followed that up with 11 more on Saturday. Perhaps this isn’s a major workload for some relievers. But the mere fact that Robertson have done this so rarely certainly indicates it’s not an ideal scenario for him. And it’s worth noting that the last time he did so resulted in a blown save. Now he’s blown saves twice in a row under these conditions. Considering how rarely he throws in this scenario, along with the fact two of his four blown saves for the entire year were in this situation, it’s pretty clear this isn’t the optimum spot for Robertson.
Of course, if there were no other options, Girardi would be blameless. But there’s the rub. Dellin Betances had worked a very clean eighth inning, and he was fresh. Betances had worked just twice since September 6th, and wasn’t used on Saturday. Betances is also very used to pitching more than one inning, having done so 36 times this season.
This isn’t a second guess. I tweeted before Robertson threw even one pitch in the bottom of the ninth that Girardi was making the wrong move. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entirely possible Betances might have been defeated as well. But the bottom line is that Girardi did not put his team in the best position to win. And in the process, he likely put a finish to whatever faint playoff hopes the Yankees still maintained.
No one’s perfect. I prove that on a regular basis with my selections. When I make a poor decision that costs my clients money, I deserve any criticism that’s tossed my way. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean I’m lousy at my job just because not all the calls I make produce victories. Likewise, I’m not calling Joe Girardi a bad manager. In fact, considering how hamstrung he’s been with this clunky Yankees roster, I would submit Girardi has done a heckuva good job keeping the team in the hunt this long. Nevertheless, he blew it on Sunday night by either ignoring the data or simply being unaware of it. Either way, it was a screwup and it proved very costly to his team.
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