World Series Game 3 Analysis

John Farrell is not a good late-game manager. There were so many things wrong with how he managed the game last night that I am most likely going to leave something out.

Before I bash John Farrell, I should point out a GOOD decision he actually made; starting Daniel Nava instead of Jonny Gomes. How could Farrell start Gomes in place of Daniel Nava, a top-15 hitter in the American League during the regular season in terms of batting average. I would honestly have to say that Nava is probably the fourth best hitter on the Red Sox this year only behind Ortiz, Pedroia, and Ellsbury. But let's get back to what this post is really about, John Farrell making terrible decisions. 

Peavy likes to yell ----- at himself

After Peavy scraped through four innings while miraculously giving up only two runs, Farrell put in Felix Doubront. Doubront pitched pretty well in two innings, giving up only one hit and one walk. Then, for some bizarre reason, Farrell decided to put in Craig Breslow, the man who almost single-handedly gave away Game Two. Farrell can't even say that he was trying to get the left on left match-up, as both Breslow and Doubront are left handed pitchers. Breslow came in, gave up a hit, and grazed Beltran on his elbow guard. After two batters, Farrell decided it was time to bring in Tazawa. 

As hindsight is 20-20, I say that Farrell should have brought in Tazawa to pitch. Farrell was right in taking out Doubront, as he will most likely be an important reliever for Buchholz in Game Four. However, the only reason to bring in Breslow instead of Tazawa would be to face Matt Carpenter and get the left on left match-up. This idea of the handedness match-up being the most important thing for determining relievers has always confused me. A manager is more likely to bring in a worse reliever just as long as it is a "good match-up". Tazawa has proven throughout the regular season and post-season that he is more than capable of getting out left and right handed hitters. 

The Breslow decision was certainly not the only questionable selection by Farrell. Later in the game, Farrell decided to bring in Will Middlebrooks for Stephen Drew, a man who has not played well for most of the season and has been sitting on the bench for this entire series. Although Drew is having one of the worst post-seasons ever in terms of hitting, his defense has been a major plus for the Sox. Middlebrooks didn't do anything offensively, and his defense may have very well cost the Red Sox the game. The first play happened with runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh. Junichi Tazawa was facing Matt Holliday, when Holliday cracked a grounder three steps to the right of Middlebrooks at third base. This play was, by no means, routine. However, a professional baseball player SHOULD be able to at least knock the ball down. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the ball was not snagged by Middlebrooks, and instead went down the line for a two RBI double. 

First World Series Game to end on an obstruction call

The second misplay by Middlebrooks definitely cost the Red Sox the game. To set the scene, it was the bottom of the ninth, tied four to four, with runners on second and third. The Red Sox brought the infield in to cut down the runner at home. Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay chopped a grounder to the right of Dustin Pedroia, who made a magnificent diving grab on an in-between hop. Pedroia got up and easily threw out Yadier Molina at home. As Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia tagged out Molina, Allen Craig decided to advance from second to third. Saltalamacchia then attempted to throw out Craig at third. This is where Middlebrooks comes into play. The throw by Saltalamacchia was not the greatest, but it was surely not errant. If you want to see an errant throw to third, look at Game 2. The throw hit Middlebrooks in the glove, but somehow managed to skip down the left field line. Craig then tripped over Middlebrooks, and was awarded home on an obstruction by Will Middlebrooks. Now, I'm not very upset with Middlebrooks about the obstruction call; there really wasn't anything he could do about that. I am, however, upset with his inability to catch/knockdown the throw to third. As a third baseman, you HAVE to do everything in your power to not allow the baseball to get by you, especially when the game winning run has the ability to score if the ball does get by. Middlebrooks, maybe because he is a poor fielder, maybe because he was sitting on a cold bench for the previous two-and-a-half games, did let the ball get by, and the game winning run scored.

If I were in Farrell's position, I would have kept the left side of the infield exactly the same as it was to start. Drew's not going to give you any hits, but his glove is keeping him in the lineup. Bogaerts is a plus glove at third and he can give you some pop in the lineup. Middlebrooks has the range of Miguel Cabrera and will occasionally give you something at the plate. 

Although Middlebrooks should have made a play on the throw by Middlebrooks, the whole situation could have and probably should have been avoided. With runners on second and third with one out, I was certain that Farrell was going to have Uehara walk Jon Jay to face Pete Kozma. Kozma may have been pinch-hit for, but still, the only player left on the bench for the Cards' at that point was Tony Cruz and pitching around Jay would have also allowed for a force out at home and a possible double play. Instead, Uehara pitched to Jay and the above happened.

Napoli has not shaved
for over 7 months

The final questionable decision by Farrell happened in the top of the ninth and continued into the bottom of the inning. With the pitchers' spot up, many assumed that Napoli was going to pinch-hit for Brandon Workman, a pitcher who has never had an at bat in his minor and major league career. Instead, Workman hit for himself and struck-out. In the bottom of the ninth, Workman got one out but allowed a couple of base runners to get on. Only then did Farrell decide to bring in Uehara. This tactic makes no sense to me. I suppose that Farrell must have been hoping that Workman would be able to make it through the ninth to save Uehara for a save situation sometime later in the game.

Trying to save Napoli and Uehara for later in the game is similar to a coach in basketball or football saving their timeouts for later in the game, only to have time expire and the timeouts be wasted. 

Farrell is not a very good game manager at this point in his managerial career, but he knows his players much better than Bobby Valentine did. A team cannot make the World Series if it doesn't trust and believe in its manager, so the Red Sox should by no means look for a new manager in the off-season. Hopefully, for Red Sox fans, Farrell learns to manage end-of-game situations better and to not bring in Craig Breslow in a playoff situation ever again in the history of baseball.