OT: Mets beat Cards in 20

[Schad]

The umpire doesn't care if it's the 94th inning...he isn't giving the **** corner.

[Geddy]

1 run on 15 hits for the cards.

[s e n s i]

It says Reyes is 0 for 8. If the Jays had a game like this that's the type of line Overbay would have, probably 6 of them would be strikeouts.

[zilby]

It's over after 20. Mets win 2-1.

[Randle McMurphy]

Why did TLR call for a H&R with Pujols at the plate?

And why did he take Lopez out for Mather? Did Lopez pitch too well in the role for Tony?

Because using a reliever (even if that reliever is a middle infielder) for two innings scares Tony. Hell, letting them face two batters makes him antsy.

You didn't explain the H&R.

Keith Law couldn't understand it either:

keithlaw

Oh. My. God. Has La Russa ever seen Albert Pujols play before?

keithlaw

This game should be over, and the fact that it's not is directly on La Russa.

[Schad]

That's because I can't explain the H&R. There's no logic under the sun that can defend that.

[northernpuppy]

That's because I can't explain the H&R. There's no logic under the sun that can defend that.

I didn't see it, but the stolen base attempt that was called out was clearly safe. Castillo tagged (#47) way after his leg reached the bag. Then Pujols jacks a double which would have arguably scored him...Very dubious call.

[Alfred]

Is 18 innings of scoreless baseball a record?

[Schad]

That's because I can't explain the H&R. There's no logic under the sun that can defend that.

I didn't see it, but the stolen base attempt that was called out was clearly safe. Castillo tagged (#47) way after his leg reached the bag. Then Pujols jacks a double which would have arguably scored him...Very dubious call.

I don't think he was clearly safe...they showed several replays and the call could have gone either way. But you don't send a guy with 16 career stolen bases (in over 500 games) with Pujols at the plate in that situation; that the play was even close is a miracle.

[zilby]

Is 18 innings of scoreless baseball a record?

I think so.

I remember watching an 18 inning game between the Braves and Astros that resulted in a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 18th.

[CrymeTime]

Just curious, was there any bullpen pitchers not used? also, did any starters get into the game?

[mikero]

Crazy game. I was watching it before dinner and then 6 hours later, when I was getting ready to go to bed it was still on and Felipe Lopez was pitching.

It must be pretty demoralizing to lose a game in the 20th inning.

[Schad]

La Russa was dumb, but words cannot express how idiotic this is:

The Mets and Cardinals played 20 innings that saw Tony La Russa use every position player available and a majority of his pitchers as well. He sent ten different players to the mound. While he was pulling relievers after an inning of use, Mets manager Jerry Manuel had four consecutive relievers toss at least two innings, enabling him to keep bodies in reserve.

At least in theory, because it doesn’t really matter if you keep a couple relievers back in case you do end up playing 20 innings when you have those relievers constantly warming up. See, those pitches they throw out in the bullpen actually tax their arms too, even though they don’t show up in the box score. Quoting from Anthony DiComo’s post game report,

Four Mets pitchers threw at least two innings of relief, allowing Manuel to save closer Francisco Rodriguez for a save situation. That did not occur until the 19th… Rodriguez, who had warmed up every inning from the eighth through the 19th, estimated that he threw more than 100 pitches in the bullpen. And he admitted to being somewhat gassed by the time Manuel finally called his name.

Amazing, just plain amazing. Forget the idiocy of holding your supposed best reliever back for a possible future lead for a moment and just soak in the stupidity on the part of whoever had Rodriguez up and throwing for 11 consecutive innings.

On the plus side, I think he’s stretched out now so the Mets can go ahead and get Oliver Perez out of the rotation.

Sign that people take the whole 'closer' thing far too **** seriously: having your closer throw 100+ pitches just so that he can be ready to get the save at some point.

[Hoopstarr]

LaRussa needs to have his "genius manager" label permanently removed because of his constant overmanaging. He apparently had a pitch count on Felipe Lopez. His shortstop. Managers are so overrated. Bunting with 0 out and Reyes on first. Stealing with 0 out and Pujols up. Just ridiculous.

[There There]

Sign that people take the whole 'closer' thing far too **** seriously: having your closer throw 100+ pitches just so that he can be ready to get the save at some point.

heh, I noticed during extras that they were showing him warming up during many of the top half of the innings.

Funny thing is the Cards had the bases loaded a couple of times; you'd think during one of those situations he'd figure it would be a worthwhile decision bringing his closer in.

Between LaRussa and his pitch counts, and Manuel and his refusal to bring his closer in unless it was a save situation, last night was a clinic at to why micro-managing of pitching staffs has gone way too far.

[Geddy]

This must have been some kind of exercise in which manager could out stupid the other manager.

[Hoopstarr]

JoePos tackles the overmanaging: http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/04 ... -a-series/