01 July 2006
Freddi Gonzalez sends way too many baserunners.
Tonight's example:
With 2 outs, the Braves trail 6-3 in the 4th, runners are on 1st and 2nd for Chipper. The pitcher Ortiz is laboring in a jam. Thorman, the runner on 2nd, has average speed. Chipper singles to left, and Gonzalez sends Thorman, and he's a dead duck at the plate for Brandon Fahey, thrown out by 20 feet.
If Gonzalez stops Thorman, the bases are loaded for Andruw. Even if Fahey screws up, only one run scores and it's 6-4 for Andruw with 2 runners on. It wasn't worth the risk, and it usually isn't in a non one-run game.
Of course, the most famous example was when he sent Leadfoot LaRoche (who had the flu) in NLDS Game 4 last year. It wouldn't have even been close if Furcal or Giles were running, let alone LaRoche. (And don't give me the "But it worked with Sid Bream!" excuse--that was a closer play and a more difficult throw for the left fielder. That's a lot smarter, and also a 1 run game. )
