Trey Hillman, Supergenius

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1230

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Two on, two out, one-run lead, eighth inning.

Jim Thome batting.

You have Joakim Soria.

You use Kyle Farnsworth.

Gone.

I know it happens all the time, but it’s really freaking stupid every single time. This is what the creation of the closer position has wrought: teams losing games, frequently, without using their best reliever, for no reason other than the misguided notion that getting three outs is their role, and getting four isn’t.

(For that matter, you also have Ron Mahay. Why did you acquire him if not to have him face Jim Thome in the eighth inning of a one-run game? Ron Gardenhire lost the division last year for want of a similar clue and Jose Mijares.)

Some people deserve to lose.

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Yup. He made pretty much the worst possible choice you can make.

Putting Farnsworth out there to start the 8th wasn't wise, but he did an okay job, it was a bunt single and then a soft hit on a hit and run that put runners on base, but after he struck out Quentin, leaving him in to face the lefty Thome is just unacceptable. That's the completely retarded part.

wow.

I wouldn't have signed Farnsworth to start with.

um Soria is a closer! Closers pitch in the 9th, this was clearly not the 9th inning and was in no way a situation where Soria should be pitching.

Not for that much money, but the misuse of him is the bad part. All teams have relievers that they aren't comfortable using in the 8th of a one run game, Hillman's problem is he can't distinguish between a good one and a bad one. Hell, he put Hideo Nomo into a close game early last year.

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Originally Posted by gRYFYN1

um Soria is a closer! Closers pitch in the 9th, this was clearly not the 9th inning and was in no way a situation where Soria should be pitching.

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I hope your being sarcastic

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Originally Posted by gRYFYN1

um Soria is a closer! Closers pitch in the 9th, this was clearly not the 9th inning and was in no way a situation where Soria should be pitching.

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Joke??

Soria, Cruz, Mahay, or leaving Gil out there were all better choices.

Soria, with his incredibly deep repertoire and history as a starter, would be a great guy to test out a return to the Gossage/Sutter style of closer usage.

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Originally Posted by HoustonGM

Soria, with his incredibly deep repertoire and history as a starter, would be a great guy to test out a return to the Gossage/Sutter style of closer usage.

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Or Dan Quinsberry

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Originally Posted by HoustonGM

Soria, with his incredibly deep repertoire and history as a starter, would be a great guy to test out a return to the Gossage/Sutter style of closer usage.

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The bad part is that Hillman and McClure (pitching coach) spent a lot of the offseason talking about how they were going to start using Soria for longer outings. I mean...what better opportunity than bringing him in against Thome. Just so so stupid.

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Originally Posted by gRYFYN1

um Soria is a closer! Closers pitch in the 9th, this was clearly not the 9th inning and was in no way a situation where Soria should be pitching.

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I hope you're kidding. Bringing in a top closer with two outs already racked up in the 8th makes sense.

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Originally Posted by RedsoxRockies

Or Dan Quinsberry

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Or Dan Quisenberry even.

RSR : Exactly how long HAVE you been away from school? Your spelling is de-evolving before out very eyes.

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Originally Posted by Arctic Blast

RSR : Exactly how long HAVE you been away from school? Your spelling is de-evolving before our very eyes.

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It helps if you spell everything in your sentence correctly when talking about someone's spelling :p

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Originally Posted by 200tang

It helps if you spell everything in your sentence correctly when talking about someone's spelling :p

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It helps if you... hmmmm, you forgot... you need to remember... damn, there's nothing to correct you on!

(Although you forgot punctuation.) :p