Joe Maddon plays 3D video games. Or that is how it looks during this Pirates series.
Last night, some would say he "overmanaged" his squad in a one-run game.
He used all his position players and questionably inserted Travis Wood as a pinch runner in the 9th.
Now, I am all for a manager telling his team that every member of the 25 man roster should come to the ball park ready to play and contribute during the game. I get the idea of hitting match-ups. I get the idea of pinch running for a slow player for the chance to get a runner to third on a single.
But Maddon's moves made little sense in the scope of the game dynamics.
Pinch hitting for Coghlan late in the game meant that Maddon was out of natural outfielders since Fowler left the game with an injury. That meant Bryant would have to move from third base to left field, but Bryant told Maddon in the dugout he was more "comfortable" playing CF since he did not have to worry "about the hooks," Maddon had him play CF for the first time in Bryant's life. Luckily, Bryant did not mess up his first outfield fly out.
Managers are supposed to put players in a position where they can succeed. Putting Bryant in CF late in the game was contrary to that principle.
Then, Bryant was at bat in the bottom of the 9th. Rizzo had reached first base. By then, Maddon had used all his position players including his two spare catchers as pinch hitters. With a two strike count against Watson, a strong side arm slinging lefty, Maddon called time to have Wood pinch run for Rizzo. This is a poor decision for two reasons: first, in a close game that could go to extra innings, there is no reason to take Rizzo out of the game. Second, Rizzo runs the bases well (he has two stolen bases already this season.) It would be better strategy to keep Wood on the bench to pinch hit if the game got to extra innings.
At the time, I thought the insertion of Wood as a pinch runner cost Bryant some concentration at home plate. On the next pitch, Wood was off an running - - - Bryant struck out to end the game.
If the Cubs had tied the score, it would seem that Maddon would have been in another bind - - - Bryant would then be moved to another new position, first base, and Wood presumably to play LF. One of the hallmarks of a good team is good defense, and that possibility would lessen the quality of play at least two key positions.
On the flip side, the Cubs had opportunities in the late innings to have a chance to win. But they did not get a timely hit to extend scoring chances. The young hitters seem to feed off each other's success which is good team chemistry. They are willing to listen to Maddon and all his mad dog moves.
