Tito and the Pen

[mosox]

I couldn't find the old Francona second guessing thread, which seems odd since there is something to write about almost every week.

I cannot understand why Tito has suddenly decided to make Gagne the 8th inning guy when Okijima has been the best at this spot all year. On what basis has Tito decided Oki can no longer handle the 8th and Gagne has to be his man?

I don't know if he manages on stats or on gut feelngs, but it's wrong and he's disrupted what was an effective bullpen.

[Khan]

Without being a smart ass, because that is why Gagne was brought here - to set up Pap. You raise a good point, that with Okajima in the BP as well, Gagne spitting the bit and not a lot of breathing room then Tito has gotta dance with the one who brought him.

[rician blast]

Even the Sox announcers yesterday said it almost seems like Francona is forcing the issue...they felt where Okajima might have been counted on for multiple outs prior to Gagne's arrival, suddenly Oki's role has shifted somewhat. So instead of Gagne becoming a complimentary piece to what was already in place, they're feeling like he's being slotted in and other, to-date very successful performers, are having their own roles adjusted.

[BoSox21]

Since getting Gagne, Tito has f***ed up the most successful part of this team, late inning relief, for no reason other than his name is Eric Gagne.

[Khan]

I'm just curious, where did all those people who loved the Gagne deal think he would be pitching?

[Rdsxmbnt]

I thought he would be used in the fashion he has been, I hoped he would become the 7th inning/close situation guy given that Oki is the best set-up man in baseball. We lost two games because of our bullpen and our best reliever pitched 1/3 of an inning, nice job tito!

[TheKilo]

Yesterday is all (mostly) on Gagne, although I have a huge issue with Tek calling 7 straight fastballs.

 

Friday night, three of the first four hitters were lefties, and he brings in Gagne. WHY?

 

It seems to me Francona is trying to force the issue and it's costing the team ballgames.

[soxfan51]

I think Terry FranCOMA is using Gagne in a way that would reflect on the genius of the Front office -- if he was successful. In other words, feature our brand new shiny toy, instead of using the bullpen the way it been used for most of the season.

 

In Baltimore blown game #1 ... the Orioles were sending up mostly lefthanders to start the inning .... seem to me to be tailor-made for Okajima ...

 

In Baltimore blown game #2 ... Okajima comes out with 1 on, 1 out .... why ??? He's been great all year ... and I don't want to hear this is the most innings he's ever pitched.

 

Gagne compounds the problem by throwing SEVEN straight fastballs !!!!

 

Wonder what kind of reception Gagne will get next time he enters a game at Fenway ??

 

Boos or Lugo-type encouragement cheers ???

[rician blast]

I thought We lost two games because of our bullpen and our best reliever pitched 1/3 of an inning' date=' nice job tito![/quote']

 

This is exactly what I was getting at...instead of being used as a complimentary piece he's actually been used in a fashiopn that takes outs away from Oki...that makes no sense.

[schillingouttheks]

The only person to blame for the losses is Gagne. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. I don't care if Okajima is taken out for Gagne, it shouldn't matter. Gagne should be able to get those outs. Personally, I think it's irrelevant whether or not outs were taken away from Jima. It rests on Gagne's shoulders.

 

That said, I was at Sunday's game against the Orioles, and it made no sense to take Okajima out. However, Gagne should have been able to get the job done. Period.

 

I think Gagne will be fine though.

[TheKilo]

The only person to blame for the losses is Gagne. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. I don't care if Okajima is taken out for Gagne, it shouldn't matter. Gagne should be able to get those outs. Personally, I think it's irrelevant whether or not outs were taken away from Jima. It rests on Gagne's shoulders.

 

That said, I was at Sunday's game against the Orioles, and it made no sense to take Okajima out. However, Gagne should have been able to get the job done. Period.

 

I think Gagne will be fine though.

 

Did Gagne call 7 straight fastballs?

[schillingouttheks]

Well, by failing to get a first strike until his third pitch, he kind of put himself in a position to throw only fastballs. He never got ahead of Tejada. If he located his fastball well enough to start with, you probably would have seen some other stuff. But starting out 2-0 isn't a good recipe for success.

[TheKilo]

Well' date=' by failing to get a first strike until his third pitch, he kind of put himself in a position to throw only fastballs. He never got ahead of Tejada. If he located his fastball well enough to start with, you probably would have seen some other stuff. But starting out 2-0 isn't a good recipe for success.[/quote']

 

His curve and more specifcally, his change are out pitches. The count was also 2-2, why not throw the change there?

[schillingouttheks]

I'm not saying that it's his fault that Varitek called for 7 straight balls, all I'm saying is that he didn't establish his fastball to get ahead of Tejada, and in the end it cost him.

 

I agree that he probably should have thrown a change there, and he probably would have if he didn't miss way upstairs on the 2-2 fastball.

[mosox]

It's now at the point where criticizing Francona is getting too easy. Leaving Gagne in the 8th after walking the bases loaded is an awful move and leaving him after walking in the winning run is plain nuts. And then Tito has Brian Corey warming up! Where's Papelbon or why use Delcarmen for just one out?

[rician blast]

I was looking for Delcarmen to pitch in the 8th as well.

 

Sox announcers said when Gagne started the 8th that Francona was trying to get him right, uild his confidence, etc. and that doing it in tough situations was the way Tito wanted to go about it.

 

I'd prefer he saw action when the Sox are up by 6 or so, not in close games. He's a mental case right now.