One Run and Done

Not really much to say about that loss except it stings to lose a pitcher’s duel in the top of the ninth.

As shaky as Kevin Gregg has been this season, you have to give credit to Matt Holliday for hitting a great pitch. Gregg was just an inch or two away from striking Holliday out, but he went down and got it for the game-winning hit.

One trend I’ve started to notice and something that’s especially noteworthy during this series: notice the differing managerial styles of Cito Gaston and Tony La Russa?


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Daniel mentioned this on the United Cardinal Bloggers Radio Hour last night, but perhaps La Russa was a little too anxious to bring in Albert Pujols when he led of the eight inning with a double, then instructs Nick Stavinoha to bunt him over. Pujols gets caught in the rundown and Stavinoha moves into second, but the Cardinals give up an out.

Why not just let nature take its course and see if the Cardinals designated hitter can bring in Pujols with nobody out?

Then on the flip side, you have Cito Gaston. Top of the seventh, Jose Bautista leads off with a walk. Most managers would then call for the sacrifice bunt to move the runner over. Instead, Lyle Overbay gets the green light to swing away.

I don’t know who the next manager of the Toronto Blue Jays is going to be, but I hope he’s somewhere in between Tony La Russa and Cito Gaston. Not too hard, not too soft … just right.

Ian Hunter

Ian has been writing about the Toronto Blue Jays since 2007. He enjoyed the tail-end of the Roy Halladay era and vividly remembers the Alex Rodriguez "mine" incident. He'll also retell the story of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS to his kids for the next 20 years.

6 thoughts on “One Run and Done

  • June 24, 2010 at 3:13 pm
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    Cito is kind of like that scene in "Signs" where Mel Gibson says "Swing away, Merrill. Swing away." He's just sitting there in the dugout saying that over and over with this far-off look in his eyes every at bat.

  • June 24, 2010 at 3:35 pm
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    I'll be honest: Lyle bunting never even crossed my mind. I'd have let him swing too. He's batting .281 in June; probably Toronto's best hitter in a month where the offense has really struggled. I STAND UNITED WITH CITO.

    As for Jo-Bau, Ian, bro, he had some fucking epic at-bats last night. I was at the game, and down 0-2, and 1-2, against Carpenter, it was amazing the way Bautista battled. And I mean battled. Fouled off ball after ball after ball, and worked his walks. Crazy impressive at-bats.

    He's an all-star. He's a goddamn all-star, bro.

  • June 24, 2010 at 3:41 pm
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    Is Jo-Bau our 3B of the future? Do we lock him up in a 3yr contract?

  • June 24, 2010 at 4:24 pm
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    sadp, I picture Cito more as those kids wearing the tinfoil hats, but that's just me.

    eyeB, as an armchair manager it just frustrates me how the manager doesn't abide by these baseball fundamentals. When it gets deep into the game like that and it's still scoreless, I think you have to start taking chances and manufacture runs.

    And yes, Bautista was the man last night. 2 dingers the night before, and 3 walks last night. It's all about on base percentage, baby!

    Matt, I can see the Blue Jays doing with Bautista what the Red Sox did with Scutaro: sign him to a 2 year deal with a couple of options just in case.

    In my mind, Bautista is a contingency plan just in case AA can't haul in a third base prospect or pick somebody up in a trade. Jose might not keep up the offense, but you can depend on solid defense from him at the hot corner.

  • June 24, 2010 at 9:15 pm
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    Do they still make those crispy/chewy cookies? That would be the in between manager you're looking for. If the manager were a cookie that is…

  • June 25, 2010 at 3:09 am
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    Good question, Mattt. I think I know the one's your talking about – can't remember the exact brand, but my Grandma used to make some wicked cookies like that.

    It's settled – Cito needs to be more like a crispy/chewy cookie!

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