Roberts is actually a fucking idiot and threw this game. trash ass lineup, trash pinch hit decisions, left Graterol in to rot when he clearly didn't have it. Almonte and Phillips have barely pitched this year
Soon as Graterol came in, I told the gf, another Vesia lose move...got up, put on my coat, walked the dog. He is a fucking idiot. And Graterol is going to be the closer,. most likely. In close games, not ahead by 9 runs in the ninth, we're gonna suck this year. Dave will see to that.
graterol annoys me guy throws 100 but has no effective offspeed pitches how can that be with all our (supposed) pitching gurus? boggles the mind
just saw the end of the game but amazing another manager is willing to actually surprise w a bunt and steal a victory davey thinking about who he can match up L vs. R why not let Outman take his chances and why is there zero ability to improvise by our equity hire?
But he wasn't throwing 100 yesterday. Not even high 90s. To be fair, only one ball was hit hard yesterday, but he didn't seem right.
Roberts will manage this team like he managed the past few, not realizing that this is not those teams, and has a completely different dynamic. most times. From having Will batting third, which will show over the long run why he should be at clean up instead, to the loss of speed of TT at the top... imo, to many other differences, This is not the previous lineups, but changing to get the most out of it is not happening. Kudos to Luvullo for knowing exactly what he's got and using it to the max. In a close game, Roberts is the sophomore, and seems incapable of adapting. You don't come away with minimal bottom line results year after year with super teams like he has had if you stay adamant and stbborn on everything, no matter how it weakens the team in crucial situations.
We see it every year - a handful of games that end as losses due to getting out-managed by the opponent. When your stacked lineup can rise above their leader's ineptitude (at least until the playoffs) and still get triple-digit of W's, it's easy to let it slide. Not this year. While not as loaded, this is still a roster that should make the postseason, but there's a very good chance that Roberts' shortcomings will cost us a playoff berth. Splitting the opening series at home against a vastly inferior team is not the way to get this season started, but hopefully it's got the attention of the front office, especially when the opponent is winning the close games due to the moves its field leader is making while ours sits there with that shit-eating grin.