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One of our most knowledgeable posters said in the game thread to send Leury on the 1st pitch to Hamilton. No one said a word to him about it right after he said it nor later. I, myself knew Vaughn was due to be the runner on 2nd to start the 10th so I asked what should LaRussa do ? Does he pinchrun Mendick ? No one answered me . Not being used to watching NL baseball I completely forgot about the double switch just like Fegan admitted in his tweet . But yea lots of bad baseball decisions. Could have done so many things different. Leury up with men on 1st and 2nd no outs. Could've had him try a sac bunt. Of course Leury looked like shit on previous bunt attempts in past games so LaRussa lets him swing away . But I think you still have to manage to get a run across. Let's say Leury made a successful sac bunt, then 1st base is open with Hamilton up or someone to pinch hit like Collins, big strong guy capable of hitting a sac fly also a big K guy but so is Hamilton. Do the Reds pitch to or IBB Collins? Hope for the K then walk the next guy to hope for a DP? Go for another K ? Who's up next Lamb ? So so many different ways this could have played out but somehow every choice was the wrong one compounded by not knowing the rules. The 1st decision he made for Hendricks to be on 2nd was so Hendricks could pitch another inning but there wasn't really a need to have Hendricks pitch the next inning . Still had plenty of good arms left and a day off the next day. These new rules were designed to have games end quicker so burn your bench players if you have to. Pinch run or pinch hit and if you end up with Mendick in the OF so be it but 1 run was all important. Get the lead and use as many arms as you have left to try to preserve the lead in the bottom of the 10th.

We have a guy that does that here. Maybe he is Bernstein. It's common to do that . It's shorter to type we than White Sox or Sox though I have tried to stop saying "we" as much.

This is what I struggle with when people say Gallo is perfect. It could end up like having Adam Dunn in CF . The Sox are already 1st in OBP and yeah another OBP guy would be great but we also don't need a slow footed type patrolling CF . The guy is massive. If anyone is looking for reasons like leg injuries to why he has slowed down you really don't have to look any further than 6'5" 250+ lbs. The power is much needed but what the Sox really need right now is a true CF for a little while until we discover if Engel can come back in a month without another in his long line of setbacks. Proposition Gallo in RF all you want I'm on board but no way for CF. If his speed keeps declining as it has been, he won't win any more GG in RF and will just be another DH/1B added to the team with too many of those already. I'm just going to guess we see Brian Goodwin a lot more than Hamilton in the lineup from now on and once Engel comes back Hamilton is gone. I'd gladly take that lifetime .772 OPS over Hamilton's .619.

I think did make a difference in the game but you can't say it did or didn't make a difference because we don't have a crystal to look at all possible outcomes. Let's say Tony made the right moves and the Sox got a run then they enter the bottom of the 10th leading 1-0. And instead of Hendricks, Bummer is in the game now. Bummer doesn't give up any runs and the Sox win 1-0.

Do you have info the rest of us don't have? Eloy yes, still very much a question mark on Robert.

A Laugher followed by a clown show that highlights the worse of the offense, the manager , the GM and the owner. Well that didn't last long ! I should cross off the GM . He's not allowed to make any moves without running it past TLR or JR. So yeah cross off the GM.

A lot more can happen than just a CS or runner making it home on a throw through. A runner on 3rd has to represent a credible threat to score on a double steal. If he is a credible threat, the catcher can either hold onto the ball or throw it. He can throw it to 3rd to attempt to pick off the runner on third after faking a throw to 2nd. He can look like he's throwing it to 2nd and the pitcher cuts it off and hopes the runner on 3rd strays too far and then throws to 3rd to try and get him. The catcher could throw through to 2nd base but the infielder covering 2nd cuts the ball off well in front of the base to try to get the runner at home if he's actually running . Not anybody at 3rd scores there because the situation changes depending on who the runner is.

Sure Hahn goes rogue, fires LaRussa, JR fires Hahn, hires LaRussa back. KW is the new GM yay another puppet GM. Can't stop the JR show. It has never been about Hahn, this is JR's toy.

Right, I know all the bad things that happened but it really appears that someone here will not be able to provide a step by step analysis of options LaRussa had he chosen to do different things, like if he had decided Heuer, Bummer or someone else pitch the bottom of the inning, or making a different double switch and just do whatever you can to score a run even if it means Mendick in the OF and using up your whole bench to pitch run and pinch hit. Just too many damn rules to know how it could've been handled differently/optimally. All we know is that how it was handled was really bad. I mean hey he could've asked the umps for help right ? They'd have to answer his questions. What if I do this? What if I do that ?

Ok I appreciate the effort but I asked a lot more questions that need to be answered. What I'm looking for is an answer that sets the whole inning up from the beginning, then list all the options that LaRussa had. Who is due up and when ?I mean I assume something couldve been done where Hendricks is not used at all and another pitcher just comes in when the inning is over. Would it absolutely have to be Hendricks or Abreu or could either one be pinch run for? I need a one batter at a time analysis from the top of the inning on. I know that would be an extremely long post but this needs in depth knowledge of all the rules involved and I'm not sure anyone is up to the challenge. ALl i know is LaRussa fucked up but ideally what should've been done according to all the rules and all the players left on the bench to insure we had enough players to cover the bottom half of the 10th. Something like this: Top of the 10th. This person will be on 2nd base unless LaRussa does one of these options: 1. Makes a double switch . 2 If a double switch is made ,what double switches could've been made? Who is then due up ? If he doesn't double switch what are his options then and who is due up ? Can he pinch run for the runner on 2nd ? and on and on.

I put this in the game thread but since it's being discussed here does anyone want to take a stab at all my questions? This is not an attempt to excuse Larussa. I just want to know if anyone clearly knows how that 10th inning ,when the Sox were batting, could've been handled ideally from beginning to end taking into account who was due up and who was on the bench.

Well that's where we could debate the rule but I don't know it that well and I'm not sure who knows every aspect of it. People are saying Abreu then would've been the runner but is there a rule that says you cannot use a pinch runner in the situation if they make the double switch or even if he doesn't ? Or a different double switch where someone else becomes the runner instead of Hendriks or ABreu ? Basically what I'm asking is for someone who knows every rule in that situation to set the inning from the beginning and the list the options according to who was left on the bench. Who was supposed to be the runner on second before the inning started ? Was the pitchers spot due to open the inning in the batting order ? Was a double switch necessary or could whoever made the last out the previous inning be put on second then pinch run for ? Could a different double switch has been made ? If the pitcher's spot was due up then you pinch hit for him while also having used someone to pinch run if that's allowed if you don't make the double switch ? Then you might have to also pinch hit for Hamilton if it gets to that point ? ARe there enough bench players left with all that going on to have all the positions covered if the Sox fail to score a run ? There was so much going on that I'm not sure anyone here knows all the rules. LaRussa should have known but there is a heckuva lot to dissect .

It's splitting hairs but I would ve preferred every attempt to get a run and be ahead entering the inning. Yes pinching to Winker was really dumb but 2 and 3rd and no outs the Sox probably lose no matter what anyway. If Hendricks isn't used to run and Leury does attempt to steal maybe Barnhardt doesn't throw the ball through to 2nd . Could the Sox have used Mendick in that situation? Lot's of stuff to consider since I'm not well versed in the rules in that situation either. Bummer couldve pitched the 10th . No sense using Hendriks again . Get a run and use another pitcher.

We agree on something !

I'm pretty sure it is but he'd have been out of the game then but that's ok if you bring in Bummer to replace him.

Or just DFA'd Hamilton and put Goodwin on the roster right away. Close to .800 OPS with Angels the last 2 years would suggest he's a much better hitter than Hamilton and the Sox need hitting more than they need Hamilton.

That's just playing for the DP not really a shift. So it's not a shift in the traditional sense. You always play up the middle with a runner on 1st and 1 out.

And Vaughn would be on 2nd but I would imagine we get a PR for him. Not sure who though , Mendick ?

Yea a bit but he's not hitting the zone with his offspeed pitches but luckily he got the last out .

You're right. I just include the BP in my props too.

16. 9 yesterday 7 today

Really great job by the starting pitchers so far holding the mighty Reds home hitter to no runs through 14 innings. Look like we have to win the battle of the BP's if the Sox can manage to get Gray out of the game.

People get worried about collisions in the OF. Every ground ball would be an opportunity for a collision with Eloy.

I would imagine we will see him in the field catching a few times this year during the dog days.

Good one ! I was expecting a bottle of alcohol .