Stupid Things Baseball Managers Do

[andyfox]

I'll get the ball rolling (pun intended): not bringing their closers in in a tie game, especially on the road.

Yesterday, the Dodgers were given a break when Manny Ramirez jeopardized his chances for a Gold Glove (his own facetious comment) by failing to catch a game-ending pop fly. So now the game's 1-1 going to the bottom of the 9th. Time for Gagne to keep it tied, right? No, Gagne doesn't come in because he'd have to pitch two innings for the Dodgers to win.

So what? He can pitch two innings. He used to be a starter, plus he doesn't just throw fast balls. It's the critical time in the game, bring in your best.

Then today, he comes in with the Dodgers leading 14-5 in the 9th in a situation so critical that the Red Sox had just put their left fielder in to pitch in the top of the inning. He came in to "get some work." He could have gotten some work last night and maybe his team would then have won the game.