by WCT, Wasting Company Time
What is the opposite of second-guessing? First-guessing? Whatever the case may be, count me among the Saturday-night quarterbacks (see what I did there?) seriously questioning whether Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge has completely lost his mind.
If you were a New York Yankee, and you wanted to hand-pick a pitcher to go up against your team as it faces elimination, what kind of pitcher would you choose? It seems to me that you would chose a pitcher like Paul Byrd, who was nice enough to throw extra batting practice for the Yankees on August 11th (2IP 7ER).
Right-handed? Check.
Soft-tosser? Check.
Guy who nibbles and has a tendency to lose the strike zone? Check.
Contrast that with C.C. Sabathia who, even on three-days-rest, is superior to Byrd in just about every way imaginable. Sabathia is Left-handed, throws in the mid to upper 90s, and walks fewer that 2 batters per 9IP. Not only that, but in the event that the Yankees were to beat Sabathia, then you have Fausto Carmona, who the Yankees couldn't touch in game 2, ready and fully rested for the deciding game 5.
But all of that is beside the point, because I have already seen no less than five blog posts (and now written two of my own), two ESPN.com articles, and one SI.com column questioning this move, and I really haven't been looking that hard. This has even caused fellow-carny Vegas Watch to create a "Fire Eric Wedge" blog in anticipation of tonights game. I have never, ever seen a "Fire (blank)" website created before the offending action even took place.
If anyone can present a reasonable argument for starting Byrd over Sabathia, I would love to hear the other side.
Monday, October 8, 2007
EVERYONE IS KILLING ERIC WEDGE ALREADY
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6 comment(s):
I started that Fire Eric Wedge blog.
I like to think of myself as a pioneer.
I know you started it, I gave you credit
Also...
"Guy who nibbles and has a tendency to lose the strike zone? Check."
That's really not true. Byrd sucks, but he only walked 27 guys all year, in 192.3 innings. That's 1.31 BB/9, which is the second lowest rate in all of baseball (Maddux, 1.14).
I fear that your article is right on the money. God I hope you are wrong. I would love to have a fully rested CC and Fausto for Boston.
hey, um... Doug? Is it too late to have this post taken down?
Nah, complaining based on a Two Innings Pitched Sample size was just dumb. This is what you deserve.
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