9. Fredi Gonzalez
2013 National League Divisional Series, Game 4. October 7, 2013.
Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers. Dodger Stadium.
Yes – same date, three years later. Down the coast in California.
Game 4, with the Dodgers already holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series. At this time, there was much more immediately at stake in the contest. A Braves’ victory and not only do they even the series, but then they can fly home to defend Turner Field in the 5th and deciding game.
Starter Freddy Garcia had done enough – and frankly, had been better than most of the other Braves’ starter during the series, Mike Minor getting the lone win three days’ prior in Game 2.
The entire game (2 hours, 36 minutes) can be viewed at this link. The portion of interest – the bottom of the 8th inning – can be viewed here.
Of all decisions Fredi Gonzalez made as manager of the Atlanta Braves, this is the one pointed to as Prosecution Exhibit 1A of his “failures” in managing the bullpen.
David Carpenter had enjoyed a remarkably good year for Atlanta in 2013, posting a 1.78 ERA in 56 appearances. Moreover, his K/BB ratio was 4:1 and he’d only surrendered 5 home runs on the year.
Things were set up nicely for the Braves this night, it seemed: they held a 3-2 lead going into the 8th inning. Craig Kimbrel was already loose in the bullpen – ready to enter the game in the 9th to lock it down.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take very long for the situation to unravel.
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Yasiel Puig ripped a double down the right field line on a 2-2 count, which put the tying run in scoring position and the potential winning run at the plate in the form of Juan Uribe. It wasn’t a bad pitch – low, but had too much of the plate.
Well, not to worry too much here; Carpenter keeps the ball in the yard and Uribe had only 12 dingers on the year.
The situation called for Uribe to bunt Puig to third base. He tried that on the first pitch. Fail. He tried again on the second pitch. Fail.
Meanwhile, the TBS cameras flashed to a shot of Kimbrel in the bullpen… getting ready to go. He didn’t really look like someone expecting the call immediately, but was getting ready quickly.
Sure, it would have been a 6 out save situation, but this also had been his best season ever (as of 2016): 50 saves, a 1.21 ERA, and even better numbers than Carpenter: 4 homers allowed and a 5:1 K/BB ratio.
That call did not come. And given the totality of the situation, that was probably the right call.
Meanwhile, Carpenter’s control eluded him a bit. High for ball 1 – with the target low and away. Low to the dirt for ball 2. He needed to make a pitch.
It was a curve. In the strike zone, but too high and on the inner third of the plate.
Uribe did the unthinkable. The impossible. He exploited the short left field corner at Dodger Stadium and put his team into the lead.
Cut to the iconic shot that Braves fans will remember for ages: Craig Kimbrel. Looking away. Hands on hips.
Kenley Jansen came in for the 9th inning and struck out Jordan Schafer, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton. Dodgers win the series.
This won’t be about Carpenter’s hanger or Uribe’s swat. Right or wrong, this one goes to Fredi Gonzalez as far as Braves’ Country is concerned.
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