PB69 presents "Fire Dave Martinez" (2019)

[Slateman]

I thought this at the time.  Before I even knew Gomes was coming in, I thought maybe Robles would have been better in that spot, or maybe let Strasburg come in and bunt the runner to 2nd.  I didn't like burning Zimm in the 5th, but when I saw Gomes come in.........OMG, come on Davey.

1. Davey wanted to try and get a hit to get Taylor in to score. Robles isn't doing that.
2. Gomes is a much better defensive catcher and it was obvious it was needed with Corbin throwing everything in the dirty. Also, Suzuki can't hit crap the last week or so.

[PowerBoater69]

Exactly.
There are no low level situations in the playoffs. What's the point of having a larger bench in the playoffs if you don't use it? No problems with that move.
Opponents against Sanchez are hitting .286/.357/.532/.889 the third time through the order (pitches 76-100+). And so what, he goes one more inning? You're right back where you started, having no way to get through the 7th and 8th to get the ball to Hudson.

This game is on the hitters and their inability to capitalize with runners on.

True, you're right, nothing is low level, but relative to the game situation you don't use your most clutch player in team history that early in the game. Definitely not when you already have a short bench and you're already planning on replacing a position player. (Why the hell couldn't Corbin pitch to Suzuki? What's he going to do next year?)

There were no great options but Sanchez was certainly better than the alternative. Martinez got happy with himself over the Friday win and rode his new gimmick move.

[PowerBoater69]

1. Davey wanted to try and get a hit to get Taylor in to score. Robles isn't doing that.
2. Gomes is a much better defensive catcher and it was obvious it was needed with Corbin throwing everything in the dirty. Also, Suzuki can't hit crap the last week or so.

Then why not start Gomes?

[rileyn]

1. Davey wanted to try and get a hit to get Taylor in to score. Robles isn't doing that.
2. Gomes is a much better defensive catcher and it was obvious it was needed with Corbin throwing everything in the dirty. Also, Suzuki can't hit crap the last week or so.

If you are up 2-1, and you are bringing in Gomes anyways in the next inning, let him pinch hit in that spot.  Its not ideal, but if you are planning on preserving a lead by using Corbin, Doo, Hudson, you do it.  That way you don't burn Zimm with one out in the 5th (with an already shortened bench).

[PowerBoater69]

That isn't happening.

Baker made it to game five twice, if Martinez can't get there once he needs to be held to the same standard.

[Slateman]

Then why not start Gomes?

Because Suzuki works will with Sanchez and has a better shot at getting a hit than Gomes. Gomes is basically a replacement level player. They better not pick up his option next season.

Baker made it to game five twice, if Martinez can't get there once he needs to be held to the same standard.

Baker had a postseason ready made bullpen that he flat out freaked up using. Martinez has nothing. Plus he's cheap and you're not going to get a better option to come here in DC.

[PowerBoater69]

Because Suzuki works will with Sanchez and has a better shot at getting a hit than Gomes. Gomes is basically a replacement level player. They better not pick up his option next season.
Baker had a postseason ready made bullpen that he flat out freaked up using. Martinez has nothing. Plus he's cheap and you're not going to get a better option to come here in DC.

Gomes will be gone, use the Rendon money to get a real starter instead of two back ups.

Martinez needs to pick a catcher and stick with him, is Corbin the new flower? He needs his personal back stop? But if you are going to pull Suzuki there you have to, have to, have to have Gomes hit for Sanchez and save Zimmerman. Unbelievable failure by the manager.

Can't say that Baker had the better pen and not acknowledge that Martinez has the far superior set of starters.

[Slateman]

Gomes will be gone, use the Rendon money to get a real starter instead of two back ups.

Martinez needs to pick a catcher and stick with him, is Corbin the new flower? He needs his personal back stop? But if you are going to pull Suzuki there you have to, have to, have to have Gomes hit for Sanchez and save Zimmerman. Unbelievable failure by the manager.

Can't say that Baker had the better pen and not acknowledge that Martinez has the far superior set of starters.

There is no Rendon money anymore.

[HalfSmokes]

Well that's comforting.

Rizzo gave him an unusable bullpen- what else does anyone expect

[Slateman]

Rizzo gave him an unusable bullpen- what else does anyone expect

That's really what it is.

PB, the Nats starters ERA this season was 3.53. In 2017, it was 3.63. The starting pitching is virtually the same. Baker just made really bad bullpen decisions in a close game.

[MarquisDeSade]

Rizzo gave him an unusable bullpen- what else does anyone expect

I still can’t believe Rizzo wasted money/40 man spot on Fernando Rodney. What a bum. 

[PowerBoater69]

That's really what it is.

PB, the Nats starters ERA this season was 3.53. In 2017, it was 3.63. The starting pitching is virtually the same. Baker just made really bad bullpen decisions in a close game.

Regular season, for post season Martinez has Corbin and Sanchez while Baker had Gonzalez and Roark.

[vicki4471]

Anibal probably could have lasted 1 more inning, but he was starting to get shaky. Davey made the right move, it just didn't work. He cannot be blamed because Corbin imploded. After that, what choice did he have but to trot out the only trash he had left ? He could not burn Stras or Max because we definitely needed them for the next 2 games. The only choice he really had left was to punt away last nights game and start fresh with his 2 aces for the next 2 games. If Max is Max and Stras is Stras for the next 2 games all hope is not lost. If either of them falters then its done. There is no back up plan. Davey has made bone head decisions at times but he also has done a pretty good job of making the most of what he has. Of all the managers that have lead the Nats to the playoffs, has anyone else had less to work with than Davey this year? ( particularly in regards to pitching)

[miller10]

I don't get why it wasn't an all hands on deck situation?  As soon as Corbin has 2 men on, why not bring in a reliever just to get 1 out, then keep bringing on relievers till you get the out you need?  Hell, bring in Doo for an out.  Don't even give Corbin the rope to hang himself.

[rileyn]

I don't get why it wasn't an all hands on deck situation?  As soon as Corbin has 2 men on, why not bring in a reliever just to get 1 out, then keep bringing on relievers till you get the out you need?  Hell, bring in Doo for an out.  Don't even give Corbin the rope to hang himself.

Because that means he would have to have had the foresight to have somebody up and warming. 

[vicki4471]

It was the 6th inning. If you burn through Doolittle and get that one out , Who starts the 7th in a one run game? Rainey may have been able to survive 1 inning but then what about the 8th? It would have fallen into the hands of Suero and Rodney eventually.

[imref]

It was the 6th inning. If you burn through Doolittle and get that one out , Who starts the 7th in a one run game? Rainey may have been able to survive 1 inning but then what about the 8th? It would have fallen into the hands of Suero and Rodney eventually.

the plan of Sanchez for 6 then Corbin to face the lefties was a solid one, and it almost worked.  Corbin fell apart, that's not Davey's fault given what else had to work with.  I agree with the move, Corbin agains the lefties rather than Sanchez at 87 pitches was the right call.  It just didn't work out.

[Kevrock]

It was the perfect situation to put in Corbin. Pitcher slot up, needed to go for it with the PH to bury the Dodgers. . Lefties coming up. Sometimes you make a good move and it doesn’t work out.

[vicki4471]

I completely agree. This was not Davey's fault. He made the only possible move he could have made and it failed. I had a feeling it was going to fail after the preview Corbin gave us on Friday. But people are saying he should have pulled Corbin faster and I think no matter when he pulled him the result was going to be the same. We just dont have enough options going forward. If the started doesn't go 7 we are screwed.

[PowerBoater69]

That's really what it is.

PB, the Nats starters ERA this season was 3.53. In 2017, it was 3.63. The starting pitching is virtually the same. Baker just made really bad bullpen decisions in a close game.

Also, for as bad as the pen has been, Martinez has had the best offense in franchise history, by a lot, and while he can't make them hit the ball he can get the right guy at the plate at the right time and he didn't do that last night.

[varoadking]

So Martinez, with a short bench, pinch hit Zimmerman in a low level situation, and then immediately pulled Suzuki for Gomes.

I this this probably qualifies as BEC as bs would like to say...

Gotta wonder though how the Gomes play calling impacted the pitch selection.  After the game, Martin said that the coaches told them that Corbin doesn't throw strikes once he has 2 on the hitter...

[Slateman]

Also, for as bad as the pen has been, Martinez has had the best offense in franchise history, by a lot, and while he can't make them hit the ball he can get the right guy at the plate at the right time and he didn't do that last night.

No. The offensive prowess of this team is vastly overblown due to current offensive climate and facing a ton of bad teams in the middle of the season. The Dodgers are much better than them, offensively.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It was the perfect situation to put in Corbin. Pitcher slot up, needed to go for it with the PH to bury the Dodgers. . Lefties coming up. Sometimes you make a good move and it doesn’t work out.

this.  Only quibble would be using RZ as PH when Gomes was coming in.  Burn 1 player, not 2.  Corbin didn't handle Bellinger but struck out the next 2 guys, gets 2 strikes on Freese when hen gets burned by Freese's GB to 2d against the shift, and he still hasn't given up a run. Of course you let him pitch to the next guy.

[Five Banners]

I heard on the way home that it was likely determined by the analytics side of the house that Sanchez would at best go five, as percentages suggest a harder time around in the sixth. How about with all of the known bullpen issues, you override the analytics, observe with your own eyes that Sanchez's pitches are working against a potent lineup -- having only thrown 87, and let him go (with a quick hook) until you hopefully clear off another three outs?

On the other side of the field, Russell Martin of all people was talking about scouting info they had on Corbin's two-strike tendencies. They do common sense baseball prep while the Nats do what they do, and we have the final score. So thrilled the Lerners go the penny saver route on the managerial side, with such consistency in results when it counts.

[Slateman]

Also, Sanchez' spot came up with a runner on. Do you just give up on scoring that run and let Sanchez hit/sacrifice?