I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!! I can't take the idiotic moves Wedge makes. I can't take the poor, the non-existent situational hitting, I can't take anymore mental errors going unpunished. In what is sure to be a repeat of the 2005 season, Wedge's moves and non-moves in close games will keep us out of the playoffs!!!
Why does Wedge love to take out the best and hottest hitters in the line-up for pinch runners with two outs and the runner on first? Why does he insist on letting guys hitting 260 swing when he gets a runner on second with no-one out? I want to know how many times we've had a runner in scoring position with no outs and the next hitter has struck out. I just heard that we lead the league in strike outs with RISP.
In Sunday's game, a must win game, he starts three rookies. He starts Michaels instead of Lofton. Those were he first mistakes. Then with RISP, he does not pinch hit for any of the rookies. Why oh Why does he let Cabreara hit when he has Lofton on the bench and all they need is a hit to tie the game? Why does he pinch run for Martinez with 2 outs in the 8th when Martinez is only on first? Why does he use his only utility infielder (Barfield) as the pinch runner? Wouldn't that make it hard to pinch hit for your second baseman? After all, he's only played in a couple of MLB games. Besides, shouldn't Barfield be in in the later innings just for defensive purposes at least? Does Wedge think ahead -- scratch that -- does he think? Tonight, he takes out Lofton and puts in Michaels. Why? Lofton is one of the games best hitters since 95. He has plenty of experience with lefties. May be Wedge wasn't watching the playoff game against Seattle in 95 where Lofton got big hits against Randy Johnson -- one of, if not the hardest, left-handed pitcher for lefties to hit. He left Cabrera in Sunday's game but, pulls Lofton tonight. Are you serious? Why did we extend this joker's contract?
Why doesn't he bench Peralta? He takes a 20 ft lead with bases loaded no outs and gets picked off. Peralta should have been on the pine for the rest of the night plus tonight's game. His struck out just about every at bat in the last week, he made costly errors in Friday's game, he makes a huge mental error in Sunday's game getting picked off, and all Wedge has to say is, "They made a good play, threw behind the runner, and he got picked off," Wedge said. "Pettitte has one of the best moves in the game, and he's not going to be easy to read. Obviously, that's something that can't happen." Good play? GOOD PLAY? I could have made that play. Peralta was so far often, it didn't take a good play!! Where was he going? What was he thinking. No, it was a horrible job of base running. How can you let that go unpunished? He can't bunt a runner over earlier in the week; but, yet he doesn't get benched? What has this bush-leaguer done to help this team. The guy is in a major slump. Let Cabrera, Gomez, anyone play there other than him. I can't stand watching him play anymore. Peralta flat out sucks!!! Give me Inglett back rather than him (and he's only batting 240 in the minors). Why does he get to play every night and Lofton has to sit? What is he doing?
Just like in 2005, we are getting great starting pitching and wasting every start. All 5 guys are pitching great and we can't win. We can't score. What did we score in the Yankee series, 7 runs? Tonight, 2 runs? We get a lead-off double and Wedge doesn't even try to bunt him over. Instead, he'd rather watch his batters go up and strike-out than move the runner over.
The only way we win a close game is if we get lucky. The only way we will make the play-offs is if Detroit loses. We are going no where with Wedge.
