A huge second-guess, and sloppy, sloppy, sloppy

It isn't often you can second-guess Mike Scioscia on game strategy, but then something happens like the ninth inning on Wednesday night.

This one reminded you of Jay Leno's famous question to Hugh Grant a few years ago.

Excuse me, Mike, but what in the world were you thinking?

Juan Rivera's dramatic three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth had allowed the Angels to claw all the way back to a 7-all tie. Now it was the bottom of the ninth, and right-hander Justin Speier was pitching with Michael Young on second and two outs. The batter was left-handed Hank Blalock, who had already homered earlier.

First base was open, and in the on-deck circle was Julio Borbon, a rookie who has one major league hit in his young career. Would the Rangers have pinch-hit for him? Maybe, but so what? You absolutely, positively had to walk Blalock in that spot.

His run meant nothing, and walking him gave you a force at second and third on a ground ball. Besides, it's common knowledge Speier has trouble getting left-handed hitters out, and through the years, Blalock has been as tough as any lefty against the Angels.

This wasn't a tough decision. It was a no-brainer. Or so it seemed to almost everyone.

Everyone but Scioscia. He ordered Speier to pitch to Blalock, who promptly crushed the first pitch over the center-field fence. Game over. Instead of a possible 2 1/2-game lead, the Angels had to leave Arlington clinging to a half-game advantage in the AL West.

Seriously, I don't get it. But then, I don't get the sloppy way the Angels are running the bases of late, either. I mean, what was THAT last night? Vlade running into outs you can live with. He always does. But was Rivera running with his head down all night, or what? How can you get thrown out twice the way he did on the basepaths?

Then, just to top it off, Chone Figgins, who seemed to bust out of a mini-slump, tried to stretch a double into his second triple of the night with his team down 7-4 in the ninth. How does that happen? Even Little Leaguers know it's the out that's important in that spot, not the run. You're already in scoring position, anyway. This isn't the first time for Figgy, either. He's had a horrible couple of weeks running the bases.

All in all, not a real encouraging series for the Angels. Joe Saunders had nothing Tuesday night. Jered Weaver hasn't had his real velocity now for the past three starts, and it finally cost him against good hitters Wednesday. And in case you didn't notice, Scioscia all but waved the white flag in going with Kevin Jepsen in relief of Weaver. The kid has a good arm, but he just isn't ready. He belongs back at triple A.

Funny how things got a lot tougher once they stopped playing the NL West, isn't it?

-- Steve Bisheff

Photo: L.A. Angels of Anaheim head coach Mike Scioscia. Photo credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times.  

Comments

[Buffalo Rob]

Scioscia has done a good job overall this season keeping the team focused through injuries and the Nick Adenhart tragedy, but his moves clearly cost the team a win last night. I'd like to hope he'd learn something from getting burned last night, but I think the Mike Scioscia we have now is basically a finished product. We'll be dealing with poor baserunning and weird pitching decisions for a long time.

Has Kevin Jepsen ever gone into a game and NOT given up a run? He's terrible. I can't believe the team can't find one pitcher either in the organization or outside the organization who could do a better job than Jepsen. It is completely mind-boggling that they keep him on the team and keep putting him out there. Even if they think he has a future in the big leagues, they've probably done permanent damage to his confidence this season. Completely horrible to watch for any number of reasons.

[Fred Fredrix]

It isn't often you can second-guess Mike Scioscia on game strategy? What? You can 2nd-guess Sosh almost every single game, his in-game management is frequently puzzling, to be kind. He uses lefty-righty matchups for hitting (starting Q and SRod against righties for example) then ignores the same matchups when we're pitching.

If you're going to pitch to Blalock you bring in one of the two lefties sitting in the pen. Walking him obviously would have been preferable.

Vlad was responsible for one of Juan's base-running outs, he could have stayed in the run-down longer by making one more cut back to 2nd, that would have given Juan enough time to get in.

[Grandpa]

You were saying about Speier "finding" himself?

[Brian]

I thought this team was coming around after June but it looks like you were right. They just beat up on horrible teams. Now their stupidity will blow them lots of games. Here we come .500. This team just isn't too smart is the problem. They are way too aggressive. Where's the line between aggressive and stupid? I think the Angels have crossed it. This game should be sent to every Little League coach so they can show their kids how not to play. And how not to manage.

[Brian]

"I can't believe the team can't find one pitcher either in the organization or outside the organization who could do a better job than Jepsen."

I think half the pitchers in independent ball can do a better job than Jepsen is doing. Just sign one of them if nothing else. The Angels need someone who can pitch in the 5th or 6th in a close game or even when the Angels are getting blown out and not give up runs. It seems clear to everyone that Kevin Jepsen and Rafael Rodriguez aren't the answer right now. If Matt Palmer goes to the bullpen he seems like he could be the answer for one of them. Or Sean O'Sullivan even.

[Caliphilosopher]

Things are tougher after ONE series against a good texas team? It's not like their pitching was as good as the dodgers or giants. Texas as a team gave up more than 5 runs a game in that series.

Let's not be hasty here and wait for the same amount of games to be played in order to have a decent comparison. Otherwise, the claim that you're making doesn't really hold water.

[Tom S]

I an glad you noticed Fiigins poor baserunning too. For someone who is supposed to be one of our smarter players-what's up. Is he channeling Vladdy and Aybar -who lead the league in dumb?

[Zach]

I try to avoid this place because, quite frankly, I find the reactionary opinions infuriating.

And here again, Steve, you just make absolutely no sense. So the Angels lost two out of three... were the swept? No. Were they completely outplayed? No.

The Angels went 12-3 the last couple weeks against the NL
The Rangers went 6-9

Why are the games the Angels have played discounted by you, but Texas' terrible showing has done nothing to diminish your opinion of their team?

Wanna talk about "real hitters", Steve? That's the term you've been using to describe the Rangers all season, right?

Well, those 'real' hitters have scored 379 runs, playing in one of the best offensive parks in baseball. The Angels? Oh they've only scored 388 playing at a pitchers' park.

[aztronut]

I think you're being too kind to Jepsen. Have you seen his stats in SLC this year? They're barely better than what he's accomplished up here. Seems to me that he belongs back in Arkansas right now. He appears to have suffered a serious regression in his skill set.

On the plus side, when Rivera starts hitting dingers to right-center it means he may really be starting to put something together. Eight HRs in May this year brings back memories of this 11 in a month back in the second half of 2006. I'm thinking that all he needs to do to hit 30 this year is to stay healthy, and if he heats up in the summer like he has in the past then 35 or 40 is a definite possibility.

[lee]

I blame yesterday's loss more on Kevin Jepsen than the baserunning mistakes. At the top of my head, he gave up 2,3 runs after Weaver was pulled. We COULD have scored more runs if not for the baserunning mistakes. We can only wonder. But the runs given up are a reality.

I have to agree with Steve on not pitching to Blalock. In Scioscia's defense, Blalock was struggling (even with the earlier homer) and Justin Speier pitched well against him in limited ABs. Speier could have unintentionally intentionally walked him. He gave him too good a pitch to hit.

[Brian]

Looks like Lackey is the one being sloppy tonight. Way to go Ace. What an idiot. His offense finally gets a run on the board and he immediately goes out and stinks up the game. And to give up an RBI to Wieters is horrible. Some ace. The Angels need to let Lackey leave. He's far from an ace. He isn't even worth what he's getting paid this year. And since he can't stay healthy anymore he isn't worth the risk.

[Teryyvan]

Anybody can 2nd guess just about any decision a Manager has to make throughout a game. #1 Blalock was 1 for 8 in his career against Spier. Those are good odds. #2 I can tell you that Butch went out there and asked Spier how he felt about going after Blalock. I can also tell you that Butcher told him to, if he was going to pitch to him, let Blalock get himself out. In other words don't throw a pitch he can extend on. #3 Spier will tell you that he missed with his pitch and he wan't trying to throw a strike anywhere near the plate in that situation!