I can't recap everything for those of you who didn't see the game, my apologies, but here's my succinct brilliant point for tonight: WHAT WAS BRUCE BOCHY THINKING???
In a 2-2 tie game in which the Giants couldn't get a hit if the ump handed them a ball and said, go ahead and throw it into the outfield, the Atlanta charitable doings started in the 8th, when Rowand (!) drew a leadoff walk. Torres was up next, but batting right-handed (his very weak side) against a nasty lefty. Bunt, right? Bunt? RIGHT? Nope. Swing away, ground ball, double play.
Andres Torres has hit into six double-plays in about 100 RH at-bats this year, and only one in about 250 LH ABs.
In the ninth, the Braves had already given a run away on a hit batsman and two infield errors, and the bases were loaded with one out. Billy Wagner was throwing well, should've been out of the inning, and Ishikawa, overmatched all night, was due up. Renteria was hovering for a pinch-hit...but Bochy called him back. Ishikawa hit into a double play.
The only thing I can imagine: Renteria was injured. But he didn't seem to have a problem against Wagner the night before. [UPDATE: Baggs tweets that Rent couldn't swing the bat because of bicep tendinitis. To which I reply: Enough with the 13 pitchers and four-man bench.]
Thankfully Braves reliever Peter Moylan got generous in the 11th, walked the bases loaded, and Pat Burrell cashed in with a sac fly. Yet another great at-bat from Pat the Bat. When he's right, he's everything the Lunatic Fringe has been screaming for: a great eye, willing to take a walk, but when he gets the pitch he's looking for, he swings hard and makes good contact. He's big and strong: the sac fly tonight was a two-seam fastball or changeup that got in on his hands, but he muscled it into medium left, deep enough for Huff to score. Pat, I apologize for everyone in the left field bleachers who said all those terrible things about you the past decade. Though you still run like you're wearing ankle weights.
Did I mention I'm sick of the four-man bench?
In a 2-2 tie game in which the Giants couldn't get a hit if the ump handed them a ball and said, go ahead and throw it into the outfield, the Atlanta charitable doings started in the 8th, when Rowand (!) drew a leadoff walk. Torres was up next, but batting right-handed (his very weak side) against a nasty lefty. Bunt, right? Bunt? RIGHT? Nope. Swing away, ground ball, double play.
Andres Torres has hit into six double-plays in about 100 RH at-bats this year, and only one in about 250 LH ABs.
In the ninth, the Braves had already given a run away on a hit batsman and two infield errors, and the bases were loaded with one out. Billy Wagner was throwing well, should've been out of the inning, and Ishikawa, overmatched all night, was due up. Renteria was hovering for a pinch-hit...but Bochy called him back. Ishikawa hit into a double play.
The only thing I can imagine: Renteria was injured. But he didn't seem to have a problem against Wagner the night before. [UPDATE: Baggs tweets that Rent couldn't swing the bat because of bicep tendinitis. To which I reply: Enough with the 13 pitchers and four-man bench.]
Thankfully Braves reliever Peter Moylan got generous in the 11th, walked the bases loaded, and Pat Burrell cashed in with a sac fly. Yet another great at-bat from Pat the Bat. When he's right, he's everything the Lunatic Fringe has been screaming for: a great eye, willing to take a walk, but when he gets the pitch he's looking for, he swings hard and makes good contact. He's big and strong: the sac fly tonight was a two-seam fastball or changeup that got in on his hands, but he muscled it into medium left, deep enough for Huff to score. Pat, I apologize for everyone in the left field bleachers who said all those terrible things about you the past decade. Though you still run like you're wearing ankle weights.
Did I mention I'm sick of the four-man bench?
