9th Inning, Nathan’s Role?
9th Inning, Nathan’s Role?
Inspired by The Fan’s AM 1130 9 to noon presentation hosted by Paul Allen
Game 3 ALDS Yankees Lead series 2-0
It’s the top of 9th during an ALDS elimination game. You trail in the series 0-2 and in the game 2-1. Your bullpen is trying to hold the deficit to 1 with Damon, Teixeira & Rodrigeuz all due up. Carl Pavano gave you a solid 7 innings giving up 2 earned on solo shots by Alex Rodrigeuz and Jorge Posada in the 7th. Matt Guerrier threw a clean 8th inning setting up a 2-1 Yankees lead heading into the 9th inning. Keeping the score frozen at 2-1 is paramount given not only the Twin’s lackluster run production during this post season series, but also because they are going up against one of the leagues premier closer in Mariano Rivera (44 of 46 save conversions and 1.76 era).
Given all this information how does one Ron Gardenhire approach the 9th inning. He has a full and rested bullpen minus Guerrier at his disposal. In this situation its standard procedure for the home team to run out their best pitcher in this situation and 9 times out of 10 that is their closer. The logic here is that there is no longer a save opportunity for the home team after the 8th inning, so send the closer out to shut down the other team and extend the game.
So what does Gardenhire do? He sends out Ron Mahay to face the Yankee’s stout lineup. After a nice strike out of Damon, Mahay walks Teixeira. Gardy then gestures to the pen to set up the 6’ 11” right-hander Jon Rauch to pitch to A-Rod. After working ahead in the count 0-2, Rauch walks him. With runners on 1st and 2nd and Matsui approaching the plate Gardenhire goes the lefty Mijares who has struggled worse than Nathan as of late. Mijares offers up the inning’s third consecutive walk, loading the bases for Posada.
Wait a minute, what happened to Joe Nathan? His struggles in New York are well documented, but at home he has pitched quite well. The lefty-lefty argument is in play if you want it, but I feel that’s a terrible take. Bottom line is that closers are paid to be elite specialists who come in and pitch to both right-handers and left-handers in save opportunities and post results. By selecting Mahay, Rauch and Mijares over Nathan, Gardenhire signalled to me his vote of no confidence in Joe Nathan in that key spot. What really gets me is that it just happened to be the latest and biggest spot of the season and our closer, with a recent contract extension through 2011, is not trusted by management. Why sign him to that 4-year $47 million contract, if you are not going to trust him with the ball in the post season.
The skipper’s vote of no confidence really took me by surprise as well as inflammed the airwaves of my favorite 9 to noon talk radio show on The Fan. It is this discussion that got me thinking about this and inspired my post.
Nathan did finally come in with the bases loaded and allow two singles giving the Yankee’s a 4-1 lead and all but closing the door on the Twin’s season. But who knows what would have happened if you give your elite closer the ball and the chance to redeem right from the start of the inning.
Stay tune for more to come.
