Almost Counts In Horseshoes, Grenades ... and Sports Writing
Donovan McNabb might not scramble any longer, but my scrambling skills were put to the test Monday night. Just when you thought an 11-0 lead made it safe to write a winning game story about the Phils, the Kerosene Kids (a.k.a., those not named Myers, Gordon or Romero in the bullpen) nearly allowed the Cardinals to make the 
biggest comeback in the N.L. in 30 years. For a writer, that means a lot of re-writing, paragraph hacking and, well, pensive staring as you wait to find out whether you are writing about baseball's version of Three Mile Island or Chernobyl (as my game story states, this was TMI).
Here are a few observations from Monday night's 13-11 win:
Kendrick should have remained in the game: Well, duh. But this isn't Tuesday Morning Managing. We had this discussion with Charlie Manuel before the game and he spoke like a guy who was committed to pitching Kendrick at least seven innings, since Myers, Gordon and Romero were all unavailable after pitching in every game in New York. Instead, Manuel let Kendrick's temporary struggle in the sixth inning (I say temporary because after Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run HR, Kendrick did get the last two batters he faced to ground out) to talk him out of keeping the rookie on the mound for one more inning.
I don't know why Manuel and Rich Dubee have such little patience with Kendrick. I mean, he's the definition of a pitcher who deserves benefit of the doubt - he walks no one, he pitches down in the zone, and I don't think the kid has shown the slightest fracture in confidence all season. He's a coach's dream, for cryin' out loud. LET THE KID PITCH.
Clay Condrey needs a talking to: I like Clay Condrey. I actually think he can be an integral part of a bullpen. However, the guy seems to have trouble pitching when the team is far ahead in games. When he's been called into tight spots, he has been terrific.
Here's my theory on this: I think Clay gets it in his head when he enters a game like Monday's that throwing strikes is top priority - and on the surface that sounds like sound advice. You don't want a reliever coming into a nine-run game and walking guys. However, Condrey doesn't have a problem with wildness (only 11 unintentional walks in 46 IP). But instead of just pitching like he always does, Condrey comes into a lopsided game and thinks he should throw every pitch over the plate when, really, he can just pitch the way he always does. Condrey needs to be a location pitcher and he's effective when he's a location pitcher. When he's a throw-it-down-the-middle pitcher, he can get smacked around - like Monday night.
biggest comeback in the N.L. in 30 years. For a writer, that means a lot of re-writing, paragraph hacking and, well, pensive staring as you wait to find out whether you are writing about baseball's version of Three Mile Island or Chernobyl (as my game story states, this was TMI).Here are a few observations from Monday night's 13-11 win:
Kendrick should have remained in the game: Well, duh. But this isn't Tuesday Morning Managing. We had this discussion with Charlie Manuel before the game and he spoke like a guy who was committed to pitching Kendrick at least seven innings, since Myers, Gordon and Romero were all unavailable after pitching in every game in New York. Instead, Manuel let Kendrick's temporary struggle in the sixth inning (I say temporary because after Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run HR, Kendrick did get the last two batters he faced to ground out) to talk him out of keeping the rookie on the mound for one more inning.
I don't know why Manuel and Rich Dubee have such little patience with Kendrick. I mean, he's the definition of a pitcher who deserves benefit of the doubt - he walks no one, he pitches down in the zone, and I don't think the kid has shown the slightest fracture in confidence all season. He's a coach's dream, for cryin' out loud. LET THE KID PITCH.
Clay Condrey needs a talking to: I like Clay Condrey. I actually think he can be an integral part of a bullpen. However, the guy seems to have trouble pitching when the team is far ahead in games. When he's been called into tight spots, he has been terrific.
Here's my theory on this: I think Clay gets it in his head when he enters a game like Monday's that throwing strikes is top priority - and on the surface that sounds like sound advice. You don't want a reliever coming into a nine-run game and walking guys. However, Condrey doesn't have a problem with wildness (only 11 unintentional walks in 46 IP). But instead of just pitching like he always does, Condrey comes into a lopsided game and thinks he should throw every pitch over the plate when, really, he can just pitch the way he always does. Condrey needs to be a location pitcher and he's effective when he's a location pitcher. When he's a throw-it-down-the-middle pitcher, he can get smacked around - like Monday night.
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