Giants Rout The Atlanta Braves – The Decisions and The Reasons

Apr 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on prior to the game against the New York Mets at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Decisions

The Monday morning quarterbacks (MMQ) were instantly out questioning skipper Fredi Gonzalez decisions in the top of the eighth when Ciriaco pinch hit for Miller.  Miller was once again dominant through seven innings, scattering five hits and making one bad pitch, a 96MPH fastball that wandered back over the plate and ended up in the stands thanks to Belt. After the seventh inning homer Miller retired the side and had thrown just 86 pitches.

Top of the eighth

Decision 1 – pinch hit for Miller

The MMQ crowd wondered why Gonzalez would pinch hit instead of allowing Miller to bunt the runner over. This is the same group who screams when Gonzalez attempts a sacrifice bunt because:

• The pitcher fails to get it down and he should have been allowed to hit away or been pinch hit for or,
• Bunting is always a bad idea because giving up an out is a bad idea

The rationale is simple really. Miller had thrown only 86 pitches but it was the eighth inning and he was two batters from completing his third time through the lineup.  Teams play for the win on the road and the tie at home because the home team always gets the last shot and in extra innings you are past your best bullpen options. Gonzalez comments after the game reflect this as his strategy.

"“You don’t want to give outs away,” Gonzalez said in reference to the sacrifice bunt option. “It’s a tough decision, no matter how your offense is [performing]. It’s also dictated by how your bullpen is. Do you want to go for the win or go for the tie? Do you want to leave Shelby in there and let him keep pitching. There’s really a lot of stuff in the air because he’s pitching so good.”"

The bullpen Gonzalez had available was pretty good. Brandon Cunniff entered the game having not yet allowed a hit to a right handed batter and with a sub 2.00 ERA. Luis Avilan and Nick Masset were rested and both Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli were available leaving only Donnie Veal was a question mark. the problem wasn’t the bullpen, it was who Gonzalez had available to do the work.

Not to put too fine a point on it, the Braves bench is a disaster.  Here are the players available last night.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/29/2015.

Of the group only Chris Johnson is hitting his weight, gets on base over 27% of the time and has an OPS+ near league average. CJ however has just returned from the DL and had two at bats, one at Gwinnett and one pinch hitting appearance against the Dodgers. So while pinch hitting would have been a great idea with a solid bench, the Braves bench is below replacement level and should be labeled “for emergency use only.”

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