As much baseball as you watch, I thought you'd be wiser. There is a huge difference between having the tying run on 1st, with the winning run at the plate, than just having the tying run at the plate. Sure, you can say it all you want, but no one puts Hempel on in that situation. And you made my point..........he didn't find a way to beat them, he couldn't in that AB. That's why you pitch to him. To a kid that had 3 HR's all year, it's a no brainer.

 

I have read this thread, and I agree with this post. Hindsight is the single biggest expert in all of life. Pitching to Conner was the right decision by Arlo. What if Conner would have flied out to center field?

 

Decisions like the one on walking Hempel are what makes baseball so interesting. Baseball is a chess match with a multitude of moves made every game. If it works, you are smart. If it doesn't, you are dumb. The odds of one result or the other are impacted by so many factors. Who was on second? Who was catching? Could there be a double steal? What does the pitcher throw? What kind of move does he have? Is the pitcher wild or does he like to throw low breaking balls that could result in a wild pitch and put the tieing run in scoring position? Who was on deck for Ryle? How does he match up with the pitcher? How is the on deck hitter in clutch situations? If it is a bad match up, do you walk Hempel and bring in another pitcher? How does bringing in another pitcher impact your lineup on the hitting side? Does the pitcher have good enough control that you could pitch around Hempel and get him to swing at a bad pitch or walk him that way if he doesn't go fishing? If you walk Hempel and put the tieing run on, how does that impact your pitcher psychologically? Will he tighten up or feel forced to throw good pitches to the next batter so he doesn't walk him and load the bases? I am sure there are other possible factors I didn't list based on the players and their abilities and matchups. Most baseball decisions aren't easy even when they may look easy when you truly consider all the possibilities. This is the chess match that happens on every pitch in baseball. I can't fault the coach for pitching to Hempel. It was a reasonable decision that just didn't work this time.

 

Spot on VOR, so many different scenarios that can take place in a baseball game. Also, do you have any aspirin? My head hurts after reading your post,

I'm betting there will be some coaching jobs open after the season, anyone interested??

Decisions like the one on walking Hempel are what makes baseball so interesting. Baseball is a chess match with a multitude of moves made every game. If it works, you are smart. If it doesn't, you are dumb. The odds of one result or the other are impacted by so many factors. Who was on second? Who was catching? Could there be a double steal? What does the pitcher throw? What kind of move does he have? Is the pitcher wild or does he like to throw low breaking balls that could result in a wild pitch and put the tieing run in scoring position? Who was on deck for Ryle? How does he match up with the pitcher? How is the on deck hitter in clutch situations? If it is a bad match up, do you walk Hempel and bring in another pitcher? How does bringing in another pitcher impact your lineup on the hitting side? Does the pitcher have good enough control that you could pitch around Hempel and get him to swing at a bad pitch or walk him that way if he doesn't go fishing? If you walk Hempel and put the tieing run on, how does that impact your pitcher psychologically? Will he tighten up or feel forced to throw good pitches to the next batter so he doesn't walk him and load the bases? I am sure there are other possible factors I didn't list based on the players and their abilities and matchups. Most baseball decisions aren't easy even when they may look easy when you truly consider all the possibilities. This is the chess match that happens on every pitch in baseball. I can't fault the coach for pitching to Hempel. It was a reasonable decision that just didn't work this time.

 

Great Post. :thumb:

I'm betting there will be some coaching jobs open after the season, anyone interested??

 

How could you not be interested? Great pay, easy hours, no stress, no parent issues, no second-guessers . . . .

Hey Coop, I heard you were next in line for any open jobs. Oh wait, I was the one that started that rumor. LOL.

Hey Coop, I heard you were next in line for any open jobs. Oh wait, I was the one that started that rumor. LOL.

 

 

Coop likes to coach and NOT get paid.

Coop likes to coach and NOT get paid.

 

I am a better Monday morning coach than actual gameday coach anyway.