The Game Could Have Been Excellent

Boone really screwed up this game.  He decided to rest Sanchez and Gleyber even though they have been hot against Baltimore.  I don't really have any issue with that as you do want to give guys some rest and I think it is important they get a full days rest when you keep them out of the lineup.  In fact, while I might not rest both, I like the idea of sometimes not letting them even get loose so they can truly get full days rest because preparing in case you play does not allow your body to fully rest.  Just think of a bullpen guy who gets up like he is going in and never gets into the game; he didn't get much rest.

Anyway, in the top of the 6th inning,  Urshela came up in a huge spot.  With the score 1-1, we worked to load the bases with 2 outs, Urshela (who had two weak AB's earlier) was down 1-2 after swinging after a fastball just on top of the strike.  It was a very good swing and he was on it but didn't get it.  After taking a slider in the dirt he hit the next slider into LF for a huge 2 run single finally getting a few runs across.  Gardner struck out as a lefty was brought in to end the top of the 6th.

Tanaka breezed through bottom of the 6th and had gone 6 innings and allowed 5 hits, only 1 walk and allowed one run.  He had retired the last 7 batters and had thrown 95 pitches.  That is approaching 100, but remember this was a guy who used to complete most games before he came to the states.  For whatever reason we won't allow him to throw 110 pitches, even once in awhile?

After a solo HR by Voit (where he jumped on a slider) , we took Tanaka out leading 4-1 and Boone went with Holder.  Holder pitched a good 7th not allowing a hit or a walk.  I would have left Tanaka in, but Holder did the job so Boone made a good choice. 

We then tacked on another run as Romine knocked in Estrada who walked and stole 2nd.

With a 5-1 lead Boone made a poor decision;  he sent Holder back out there.  The guy who is so set on one inning guys, decides to roll the dice with one of our weaker guys?  After Holder walked the leadoff guy, I assumed that Kahnle, who was ready to start the 8th would be brought in.  For some reason, Boone decided to stay with Holder who proceeded to walk the next batter on 5 pitches.  OK, that is enough and the poor idea to start him in the 8th has now gone at least one batter too much!  Nope, Boone made the moronic decision to leave Holder out there for yet another batter and he allowed a line drive single on his first pitch and now the tying run was at the plate (5-2, nobody out and 1st and 2nd).  Finally, Boone takes Holder out.  Kahnle got a pop up and now I felt a lot better.  However, it didn't last long; on a 2-2 Kahnle left a changeup up and Renato Nunez hit a  game tying 3 run HR!   Kahnle struck the next two guys out, but the damage was done.

I get that Kahnle didn't do his job, but he has been pitching well and he would not have allowed so many guys on (most likely); he should have started the 8th!

Now, we have a tie game going into the 9th.  Gardner and Maybin (who was brought in for defense in place of Frazier) struck out to start the 9th.  Now instead of Gleyber getting a full days rest, he comes in to pinch hit and worked a walk.  Sanchez is then brought in to hit for Romine (same non rest for him) and dropped a single into RF.  I was surprised Gleyber didn't get to 3rd base.  DJ then walked to load the bases for Hicks.Givens almost hit Hicks 3 times but the count went to 3-2 before missing wildly on a changeup forcing in the go ahead run.  Voit almost got hit and then had a bad swing to end the inning.

Britton came on to save the one run lead and got an out and a single before inducing a DP with his great sinker and we won the game.

I know we won, but we wasted a good opportunity to rest our guys because of stupidity.

Tampa and Boston won.

Some other notes:

• Estrada has been really good both offensively (.908 OPS) and defensively, but he did mess a DP that cost us Tanaka a run.  He was playing SS with one out and he came across the bag and took an extra step and it cost us a DP on a close play because Wilkerson got down the line fast.  The ball was a bullet to DJ's backhand at 2nd base and Estrada was a little late and maybe that through him off?
• Many of our replacement starters are doing very well, but Romine (.476 OPS) and Hicks (.641) have not done too much yet.  Hicks is obviously much more important, but he has not been comfortable yet.  The good thing is his patience has been good.  Hicks did misjudge a fly ball coming in on a ball that went over his head and turned it into a triple.
• Maybin has been mediocre overall (.712 OPS and played decent defense)
• Morales hasn't given us much yet either (.601 OPS), but he has less than 30 AB's with us.

Top 10 Injury Update:

1. CC is now on the 10 day list with knee inflammation.
2. Judge is catching fly balls, but has not swung yet (from what I can tell)
3. Stanton was hit by a pitch and this has hurt his knee otherwise he would have been up next week.  I am hopeful he is two weeks away, but that is not scientific.
4. Paxton - will throw Friday and then could go down for a start or if we are lucky start next week.  With CC out getting Paxton back would be huge (remember Loaiza is out for at least a month)
5. Didi is scheduled to play SS on Thursday in an extended Spring Training Game
6. Tulo could be cleared to begin a Minor League Rehab assignment this weekend
7. Betances is playing long toss from a distance of 120 feet.  No date yet to get on the mound
8. Bird - Might not matter unless he plays well in the minors, but he is trying to come back from a left Plantar Facia tear - he is on the treadmill and has not done any baseball work yet
9. Andujar  - He is probably out for the year (I haven't see that he is definitely having surgery.)
10. Severino - Still a long way away (mid August?)
11. OK I added an 11th as Montgomery could be back in August as well

I think we should try and battle with what we have.  Our bullpen has not been as good as it can be and getting Betances back could be huge.  As long as we are hanging in the race, I would not make any crazy moves.  As it is, we have a lot of decisions to make when Didi, Stanton and Judge come back.