The Indians wasted a scrappy performance by Jeremy Sowers Thursday. This game is a textbook example of why the Indians will not make the playoffs as long as Eric Wedge is the manager. I know it's early; but, what I saw (well...actually I heard) on Thursday is what I've been seeing ever since Wedge took over. He is incapable of playing small ball, which is critical when playing good teams. When facing good pitching, you have to manufacture runs and Wedge does not know how to do that; nor, does he prepare his team to do that.
The White Sox won a championship because they knew how to play small ball. They won Thursday because they manufactured runs. In the first inning, Scott Podsednik leads off with a hit. Steals second. Then Darin Erstad was able to get the ball to the right side of the infield, allowing Posednik to move to third. This is something Wedge's team has always struggled to do: advance base runners. Then Paul Konerko grounds out scoring Podsednik. Wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am, one quick run. Nothing fancy, nothing spectacular, just a very ordinary run. When the Indians had the chance to do that, they failed.
It was the ninth inning. After David Dellucci walked, Jhonny Peralta steps up to the plate. He takes two horrible tries at bunting the man over. He struck out on three pitches. I don't entirely blame Peralta, although a major leaguer should know how to bunt; but, the manager has to make practicing bunting a priority. A major leaguer not being able to bunt, is like a Le Bron James not knowing how to make a free throw. Tom Hamilton, the play-by-play guy for Indians baseball, pointed out that Chicago dedicates an entire field to situational hitting in spring training. They practice stuff like bunting and hitting the ball to the right side. That's why they are so good at advancing runners. In fact, Peralta should have been benched Friday for failing to get the job done. I want guys on the team that are willing to do what it takes to win. If he's not willing to learn how to bunt, sit him and bring up someone that is. I heard that in an interview, Wedge said that he would not have had Peralta bunt in that situation. Why? Because Bobby Jenks is a good pitcher? What do you see in the playoffs; bad pitchers? I can't remember the last time I saw a team with a bad closer in the play-offs. Next time, make sure Peralta is able to do his job. Being able to do the little things is how you win games.
Another mistake he made was letting Marte hit. He had Trot Nixon on the bench. Why let a rookie hit when he has a veteran on the bench. This is a guy he brought to the team so he would have a good hitter to go to in key situations. We needed a hit in that situation, not a home run. Why pinch-hit for Garko, who has proven he can hit in key situations, and not pinch-hit for Marte? Wedge continually makes the wrong moves.
He compounded his offense mistakes with making the wrong pitching changes. In the late innings, he uses the same guys over and over again. Why let Rafael Betancourt and Roberto Hernandez pitch 3 games in a row? He still hasn't learned that you can't use relief pitchers game after game. I understand that everyone has to have their role; which is fine. But, you need to use some common sense when making decisions. If a guy has pitched in every game of a series, you don't bring him out again. First of all, their arms are tired. They can't throw as hard and the pitches are flatter. Second, Chicago had seen them twice already. They are know what to expect from these guys. So, what you have is the Chicago hitters looking for a certain pitch and when they get it, its easier to hit. Why have 12 pitchers on the roster if you're only going to use 9? He had Davis, Carmona, and Cabrera he could have used. Why didn't he use someone that hasn't pitched yet this season?
Wedge can't manage close games. His stategy is to swing hard and hope to hit the ball far. If his team can't homer, they can't score. He does not prepare his team to be able to do the little things it takes to win ballgames. He's got the talent, he just doesn't know how to use it.
Wedge was out managed once again.
"Thursday's victory also was reminiscent of so many taut contests that ended in the White Sox favor during the 2005 championship season. The White Sox finished with five hits but made the most of them through good situational hitting to manufacture two of the first three runs." Scott Merkin, reporter for MLB ~ Chicago White Sox website
