Walking Kouzmanoff

[Ace]

Kouzmanoff season OPS: .728.

Kyle Blanks season OPS: .840.

Why the intentional walk? (I didn't see, so I'm asking sincerely - wasn't sure if it was a nibble first, walk later situation)

[BT]

<!--quoteo(post=58482:date=Aug 18 2009, 06:32 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Aug 18 2009, 06:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Kouzmanoff season OPS: .728.

Kyle Blanks season OPS: .840.

Why the intentional walk? (I didn't see, so I'm asking sincerely - wasn't sure if it was a nibble first, walk later situation)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

to create a force at any base, and because the runner at first was meaningless. Also, you can't really base decisions on the OPS derived from 120 total at bats in the majors.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=58487:date=Aug 18 2009, 07:54 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Aug 18 2009, 07:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=58482:date=Aug 18 2009, 06:32 AM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Aug 18 2009, 06:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Kouzmanoff season OPS: .728.

Kyle Blanks season OPS: .840.

Why the intentional walk? (I didn't see, so I'm asking sincerely - wasn't sure if it was a nibble first, walk later situation)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

to create a force at any base, and because the runner at first was meaningless. Also, you can't really base decisions on the OPS derived from 120 total at bats in the majors.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, but Kouzmanoff has sucked all season. Base that.

[Coach]

We should just be glad they ended it early.

[Coldneck]

I don't like the intentional walk theren for the simple fact that Gregg doesn't always throw strikes. Gregg had already walked one man in the inning and I wouldn't have been surprised if he walked in the winning run. With the intentional walk they removed his margin for error. We should have at least thrown to Kouzmanoff and if they got into an unfavorable count they could have intentionally walked him at that point. Besides, Kouzmanoff is slow as shit. We really were not gaining a whole lot by having a force out at any base.

[BT]

You know, I'm going to pretty much blame Gregg for sucking cock, rather than blame Lou for doing what most major league managers would do. It's not like they walked Miles to get to ARam. We walked a pretty bad hitter to get to a 22 year old with less than 130 major league at bats.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=58503:date=Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, I'm going to pretty much blame Gregg for sucking cock, rather than blame Lou for doing what most major league managers would do. It's not like they walked Miles to get to ARam. We walked a pretty bad hitter to get to a 22 year old with less than 130 major league at bats.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You know, I didn't figure you'd see it any other way. I'd argue that most major league managers would'nt intentionally walk Kouzmanoff in that situation. But even if they would, it is an asinine reason for doing something or defending something. I don't think walking Kouz was a crime and I am not upset about it. I just don't think it was the right decision. But whatever. The one thing we agree on is that Gregg blows. I sure as hell hope he signs with an NL Central team not names the Cubs next season.

[BT]

<!--quoteo(post=58511:date=Aug 18 2009, 08:37 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Aug 18 2009, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=58503:date=Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM:name=BT)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BT @ Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, I'm going to pretty much blame Gregg for sucking cock, rather than blame Lou for doing what most major league managers would do. It's not like they walked Miles to get to ARam. We walked a pretty bad hitter to get to a 22 year old with less than 130 major league at bats.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You know, I didn't figure you'd see it any other way. I'd argue that most major league managers would'nt intentionally walk Kouzmanoff in that situation. But even if they would, it is an asinine reason for doing something or defending something. I don't think walking Kouz was a crime and I am not upset about it. I just don't think it was the right decision. But whatever. The one thing we agree on is that Gregg blows. I sure as hell hope he signs with an NL Central team not names the Cubs next season.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Not quite the reaction I was expecting. Certainly I apologize for putting forth "assinine" reasons for defending Lou on this one.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=58512:date=Aug 18 2009, 09:42 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Aug 18 2009, 09:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=58511:date=Aug 18 2009, 08:37 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Aug 18 2009, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=58503:date=Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM:name=BT)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BT @ Aug 18 2009, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You know, I'm going to pretty much blame Gregg for sucking cock, rather than blame Lou for doing what most major league managers would do. It's not like they walked Miles to get to ARam. We walked a pretty bad hitter to get to a 22 year old with less than 130 major league at bats.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You know, I didn't figure you'd see it any other way. I'd argue that most major league managers would'nt intentionally walk Kouzmanoff in that situation. But even if they would, it is an asinine reason for doing something or defending something. I don't think walking Kouz was a crime and I am not upset about it. I just don't think it was the right decision. But whatever. The one thing we agree on is that Gregg blows. I sure as hell hope he signs with an NL Central team not names the Cubs next season.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Not quite the reaction I was expecting. Certainly I apologize for putting forth "assinine" reasons for defending Lou on this one.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Okay, I know you are going to defend Lou no matter what, but let me further explain my point of view. Kevin Gregg is on the mound and he sucks. #1. IMO, a good management decision would put the pitcher into the game in the 9th inning with the highest chance of not allowing a run. Kevin Gregg would be rather low on my list of pitchers. So, that was Lou's fuck-up #1, not bringing in a better pitcher. #2. Kevin Gregg is on the mound, looking quite shitty. He's already given up a run and walked a batter. Has Lou called to the bullpen to get someone ready to replace him? No. He left a shitty pitcher in the game to lose it. #3. Walking Kouzmanoff to load the bases was not the best decision. Kouz has been a poor hitter all year long. He hits .243 with a .693 OPS against RHP. He strikes out a lot and is the ideal guy to face in that situation. Gregg has poor control and had already walked a guy. I just cannot understand why giving Kouz 1B, when he sucks, to load the bases when Gregg's control is shaky is the right move. Especially when the next hitter is much better. I don't care if Blanks has only 120 at bats. He is the better hitter at that point in time. It just makes no sense at all to me.

[rok]

Any situation involving Gregg is a lose-lose situation, so I won't blame Lou at all here. After the RBI double that tied the game, there was very little chance that Gregg retired anyone else, even with 2 outs. I wish he was never born.

[Vine]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->I wish he was never born.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Oh shit.

[BT]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Okay, I know you are going to defend Lou no matter what,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This is complete and utter horseshit. I'll defend Lou if it's the player fucking up, and not the manager. The other night when Lou left Marmol in to face a lefty, after he was completely self destructing, I blamed Lou. Pretty much any time he plays Miles, I blame Lou. I'll defend Lou when it's not his fault, not "no matter what" and suggesting otherwise is bullshit. And it's annoying because I actually go to great lengths to explain my defenses of him, so as to avoid accusations of knee jerk defense.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->IMO, a good management decision would put the pitcher into the game in the 9th inning with the highest chance of not allowing a run. Kevin Gregg would be rather low on my list of pitchers. So, that was Lou's fuck-up #1, not bringing in a better pitcher.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Right, we should totally bring in that imaginary pitcher who has closing experience and hasn't sucked for large portions of the year. Guzman is the only guy who even remote fits that description, but I don't think it's a total fuck up for a manager to not put a guy in who has ONE career save in an important game that we lead 1-0. I will admit that I can see the other side's point on this one though.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->. Walking Kouzmanoff to load the bases was not the best decision.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Wrong.

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Gregg has poor control and had already walked a guy. I just cannot understand why giving Kouz 1B, when he sucks, to load the bases when Gregg's control is shaky is the right move.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Wrong.

Not "wrong, i don't agree with you", but "your facts are absolutely wrong". Lou didn't walk Kouz to load the bases. He walked him to put men on first and second. Gregg still could have walked the next guy, and nothing would have happened. Gregg could have thrown a wild pitch, and nothing would have happened. If he had, in fact, walked Kouz to load the bases, I MIGHT agree with you (although, again, I think most managers would do the same) but virtually your entire argument goes out the window when you take into account that your basic premise is wrong.

To bring some outside perspective to this, here is a portion of a post by a guy who basically spends the entire post explaining why intentional walks are a TERRIBLE idea. He cites a guy who wrote a book, in which said author explained why intentional walks are a TERRIBLE idea. These guys hate intentional walks. Yet, even they concede:

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->So unless it's one of the extreme situations cited by Felber and the analysts he cites (for instance, a tie score and a runner on second with one out in the bottom of the ninth),<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That was last night's situation almost EXACTLY. Even guys who abhor the intentional walk seem to think that Lou was justified last night.

[Butcher]

I'm trying to care enough about the Cubs right now to insert myself into this discussion. But I can't. And I'm not even sure what side I fall on. Is there a Gregg Sucks Donkey Dick side? Because that's the camp I'm in.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=58537:date=Aug 18 2009, 10:35 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Aug 18 2009, 10:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm trying to care enough about the Cubs right now to insert myself into this discussion. But I can't. And I'm not even sure what side I fall on. Is there a Gregg Sucks Donkey Dick side? Because that's the camp I'm in.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, and we just completed a merger with the Fontenot Blows Goats contingent.

[Butcher]

Fontenot's OBP is below .300 and his OPS is below .700. What a disaster.

He seems like a really nice guy...but he fucking sucks ass.