….but I’m sorry if you have a two run lead in the ninth inning of game five in the final game of a playoff series at your home park and your closer has started the inning with a hit then a walk to lead off the 9th there is absolutely NO way I am leaving him in to face a Hall of Fame caliber player who is 2nd all time in home runs in the playoffs.
In fact the moment the bench clearing incident that put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out in the top of the 9th takes places I’m getting a 2nd pitcher warming just in case because of the delay.
And if I didn’t do it then on the theory that with runners on 1st & 2nd and no out and with runners on 1st and 3rd with one out I’m likely to score to put the game out of reach I damn well will get someone up as soon as my guys fail to score.
I know Leclerc is the best they had in the barn but once you saw him put on the person in the 8 & 9th spot to start the inning you have to get him the hell out of there.
I’m sorry that’s just really bad managing.
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