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Thursday, October 14, 2004

Phil Garners Another Loss: Cardinals 6, Astros 4

There was a theory that after rejuvenating the Astros, Houston would take a penalty and resign Phil Garner for turning the club around. After the team advanced to the NLCS, that idea probably built up more steam.

After tonight, maybe he oughta start looking for work, after all.

Garner tonight made the same dumb mistake he made in NLDS Game 4, a pointless double-switch that put nobody Dan Miceli into the game and sealed the Astros' fate. And in the fifth, with Pete Munro struggling a bit -- but after four straight shutout innings -- Garner gave Munro the hook in favor of ... Chad Harville, against whom Scott Rolen, the next man he was to face, had hit .500 in the regular season in two at bats.

Houston deserves to lose this; or, more accurately, Garner deserves to lose his job. The Astros could have at least had a chance, but Garner decided Lidge, who hadn't pitched since the NLDS, didn't need to face the heart of the Cardinals order in the eighth, when the game was tied.

I feel sad for the Astros' aging core, led to the beach of success only to be swamped as they leave shore.

MLB.com NLCS Game 2 hub


Comments:
I feel for Garner. He seems to be in the same position as Macha was in Oakland- a bunch of options in that bullpen, and none of them particularly good. He did take Munro out too early, but I can’t hold the Miceli move against him. As sad as it is, Miceli is his best option there.
 
Miceli's his best option? It was the eighth inning! Have Lidge come out and pitch to the heart of the order and save Miceli for the ninth, or let Lidge pitch both. Garner is a by-the-book manager, and with this hinky bullpen, he can't afford to be.
 
I don't know jack about sports but I wanted to drop a line and say Thanks for the mention of my page on your blog. I've got more hits from your link than ever!

Pieces,

Rachel
 

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