I thought the funniest move by Joe Torre today was going to be his starting lineup. Inexplicably batting Mintkayvitch eighth and Cabrera ninth.
(I know, I know. Torre has an "explanation," and I know what it is. Circular lineup, the number nine hitter can be a "second leadoff hitter," we can do some things with speed, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, why am I wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day?)
But this starting lineup was not the funniest thing Torre did today.
The funniest thing occurred in the eighth inning.
With one out in the eighth, Giambi hits a three-run homerun to make the score Baltimore 7, New York 6.
The next batter is supposed to be Matsui, but Matsui has left the game due to an injury and Miguel Cairo has replaced Matsui in left field.
Damon is avaialable, but not 100% healthwise.
So, Cairo goes to the plate and takes a strike.
Then, after the count is 0-1, Torre calls on Damon to be the pinch hitter.
I've heard of chess grandmasters and their ability to anticipate as many as ten moves into the future.
Joe Torre, on the other hand, is probably still working on the strategies of tic-tac-toe.
3 comments:
Why don't you get your facts straight? First off, it was a ball, so it was 1-0. Second, Cairo went to the plate when he wasn't supposed to. He didn't hear them call him back.
I was watching the game. I thought it was 0-1.
You are going to tell me that Johnny Damon didn't have a batting helmet on?
What do you mean Cairo didn't hear "them" call him back? So, it's Cairo's fault?
This is what managers do: They say, "Mr. Damon (aka Johnny), get ready to bat in case Mr. Giambi hits one out. Mr. Cairo (aka Miggy), you will be pinch hit for if Mr. Giambi hits a homerun. Please prepare for the possibility of getting pinch hit for."
Exactly when did the coaches and/or manager of the Yankees realize that pinch hitting for Cairo was an option? As Miguel Cairo was walking to the plate? After the pitcher threw a pitch to Cairo? Not even when Giambi was rounding first base? Second base? Third base? Was Johnny Damon in the bathroom, or something?
The answer is that it's April vs. Baltimore and Torre is mailing it in.
Very good. Sportsline verifies that the first pitch to Cairo was a ball instead of a strike. I tried to use yahoo to verify, but yahoo is not detailed enough.
"Jason Giambi: Ball, Giambi homered to right, Abreu and Rodriguez scored.
Miguel Cairo: Ball, Johnny Damon hit for Miguel Cairo.
Johnny Damon: Jamie Walker relieved Danys Baez, Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Foul, Foul, Damon struck out swinging."
Unfortunately, Sportsline doesn't say what happened between Giambi's homerun and the first pitch to Cairo.
Torre fell asleep.
Torre ate a sandwich.
Torre took a cell phone call from Billy Crystal.
Torre forgot what day it was.
Torre asked for a pinch hitter, but kept referring to him as "Jimmy."
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