The Atlanta Braves loss to the Nationals in 14-innings Saturday might not have happened had the manager remembered the goal is to win every game.
It’s said that a manager’s decisions account for the outcome of about ten games a season. Saturday’s Atlanta Braves loss falls into that category.
The Nationals and Atlanta Braves locked up in a game worthy of two teams fighting over first place. Either team could have won it on multiple occasions. In the end, a pregame decision by Braves manager Brian Snitker coupled with inflexibility in the face of changing circumstances, surrendered momentum to the Nats.
Quick recap
Gio Gonzalez and Brandon McCarthy pitched well.
McCarthy made one bad pitch to Michael Taylor in the second to give the Nats the lead. Otherwise the Nationals got nothing from the 34-year-old veteran through six innings.
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Gonzalez came in on a roll and it continued yesterday. Perfect through four innings, he had Braves’ hitters baffled until Nick Markakis kicked the door open.
Gio bowed his back and survived the fifth then put up zero’s in the sixth and seventh.
Atlanta Braves pivot point – McCarthy for Freeman
Fans questioned Snitker’s decision to replace McCarthy in the seventh. Here’s the why he did it,
I saw quotes that McCarthy said he was “gassed.” That’s not what I read but I’ll let you decide.
"“(I was) Tired. There might’ve been a little more in (the tank) but humidity really does something to me. It’s a grind . . especially after hitting in the fifth, . . (Gonzalez) was working really fast. You just start to lose your breath. . . . If I go back out I feel like I could’ve done well. But . . .I don’t think it’s the wrong call there to take me out.”"
I read that as tired, felt he could have pitched but was okay with being replaced.
McCarthy cruised through the sixth.
- Bryce Harper out on one pitch thanks to Freddie Freeman.
- Anthony Rendon out of three pitches, another ground ball
- Mark Reynolds struck out after a 10 pitch at bat
However, he would have faced Juan Soto leading off the seventh followed by Michael Taylor.
Soto hit the ball harder in each successive at bat against McCarthy and Taylor had him zeroed in from the start. He followed his second inning home run with a deep fly to center in his next at bat. That led Snitker to call on Sam Freeman to pitch the seventh.
Looking back,using Freeman instead of A.J. Minter or Jessie Biddle was the first indicator Arodys Vizcaino and Dan Winkler weren’t available; Minter’s been Snitker’s third closing option this season.
He chose Freeman over Biddle because he trusts Freeman more and no homers off Freeman came off the bats of LHH. The choice seems appropriate even if it didn’t work.