As I knew it would come to pass
Not a shock by any means. Disheartening? Yeah. Shocking? No.
So what to do now?
I know usually calling for firings and hirings literally less than twenty four hours after the loss is a bit premature, but I don't think so anymore.
Leyland's gotta go. Simple as that.
Rodney shouldn't have thrown more than one inning (and I'm of the disposition that even one inning was probably too much), and most definitely shouldn't have gone back out for the 12th.
But lets back up and have a look at the key points in that game.
Rayburns blunder in left which aloud the game tying run to score. And Granderson getting doubled off first in the ninth.
Rayburns blunder, arguably, is the biggest screw-up of that game--sans Leyland's handling of the bullpen--and while he did have an assist later, it in now way "made up" for his miscue before it. Without his miscue that run probably (maybe) doesn't score. Without that blunder that "triple" is a single. So while he did throw out the game winning run at the plate, his error let the game tying run into scoring position to begin with.
And Granderson.
As overrated as any thirty homer guy could be. I've been saying it for a while. I thought his achievements thus far in his career had been "over" achievements if anything else. As a centerfielder he is adequate and not overhwhelming. And now his baserunning may have contributed to costing us the pennant.
Get rid of him.
In fact, get rid of him, Magglio (homer aside I don't care), Guillen, Laird (he didn't look like he knew what he was doing as he whiffed with the bases loaded), Huff, and Washburn (worst trade of the season to be sure).
Granderson can't hit lefties to save his life. My sister throws better than he does. And the mistake he made last night on the bases in the most pivotal part of the game is a mistake that little leaguers make, not major leaguers.
Watch the replay and you'll notice he didn't just take a jab step towards second, he took three whole strides towards second base. Thats not an honest mistake--thats breaking serious rules of baserunning.
Magglio? His homer notwithstanding, he is a singles hitter with little power and a defensive liability.
Guillen proved the other night that he can't play in the outfield with his "sliding catch" where he slid about four minutes too early and the ball fell in front of him. And offensively he isn't doing much either.
Laird, as good as he may be defensively, can't hit water whilst falling of a boat.
Huff? 'Nuff said.
Washburn? Again, 'nuff said.
Yesterday night we were out-managed by Ron Gardenhire. Simple as that. And we were outplayed by the Twins.
And they have half the payroll.
It's gonna be a long winter around here. Though maybe not.
The Red Wings have started playing.
--RM

