If there's one commandment that all major league managers should follow I think it's probably this: put your players in position to win baseball games and then let them win it. The worst managers are the ones that try to insert their own strategic visions on teams where simple performance from the players would suffice. Mike Scioscia, a man who is generally lauded as a "great" manager in the press for "doing things right," failed to follow this credo in Game 4 of the ALDS agains the Red Sox and as a result, he lost to them again. A squeeze bunt. With a left-handed hitter. On a 2-0 count. With one out. With K-Rod in the bullpen. With Game 5 in Angel Stadium and a five-inning start from Dice-K waiting for you if you win. With the top of the order on deck. If you could define "taking the game out of the hands of the players," it would be a video of Erick Aybar's ill-fated bunt attempt in the ninth inning of last night's game with Mike Scioscia staring blankly on to the field as his season went up in flames.
You can tell me Aybar had eight sac bunts this year. I don't care. You can tell me it was a buntable pitch. I don't care. You can tell me the ump got the call wrong when Varitek dropped the ball. I don't care. There are a million ways for the Angels to score Reggie Willits from third base with two chances. There are a million things that can go wrong on a squeeze play. Try to imagine Terry Francona making the same call. You can't do it. Now remember that Francona's teams are 9-1 against Scioscia's in the playoffs. There is an old baseball adage that applies here; bad managers lose far more games than good managers win. Mike Scioscia lost Game 4 for the Angels last night.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-07-2008 @ 1:02AM
David Fury said...
Yeah but he "caught" a break but that umpire made sure Boston would win.Why watch games when you get a corrupt call like against angels in the 9th HE DROPPED THE BALL What else could you call it but corrupt. The league CHEATED US I AM DISGUSTED THE WIN SHOULD BE WIPED AWAY AND GAME PLAYED OVER( THERE WAS A 1st WHEN A MAN IS CALLED OUT WHEN CATCHER DROPS BALL WHY NOT WIPE WIN AWAY AND PLAY THAT GAME OVER????) I BET REDSOX WOULD SAY UNFAIR UNFAIR. YOU JUST LOST A FAN SCREW BASEBALL AND I HOPE NO ONE WATCHES AGAIN
I would like a response as to why you think anyone should take major league baseball as a legitimate association JUST LOOK AT THAT REPLAY AT REGULAR SPEED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THIS IS 2008 HE DROPPED THAT DAMN BALL.
I am not angels fan and that's the truth I want to see a legitimate baseball game not what the world saw on Monday night OCTOBER 6, 2008
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10-07-2008 @ 1:54AM
Bmen172008 said...
Dude, I am a lifelong Angel fan, and I am so hurt by the loss that I am feeling as if my heart is going to stop beating. However, the ball came out of the glove after the tag. Bottom line is that Socia made a very, very, very stupid decission. I was a big fan of his, but unless he was intentionally throwing the game, he is now on my list as one of the most ignorant catcher-coaches of all time! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!!!! Socia then has the nerve to question the call after he must have seen post game footage after going to the locker room. Even if the Angels would have scored on that squeeze play, 99% of people that understand the game would still call him very stupid for calling that play. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!!!!!
10-07-2008 @ 9:46AM
WaltJake said...
Yes, he did drop the ball...when he hit the ground, after the tag was made and the out was recorded. If he dropped it DURING the tag, it would have been a different story. Lets see....Fly ball in that situation, scores a run. Groundout scores a run. Pretty much anything but a strikeout or pop fly to the infield in that situation, scores a run. Mike Scioscia gave the Red Sox a gift out when they really needed it. He's the one who really "dropped the ball"
10-07-2008 @ 6:05PM
john said...
Hey!
This isn't football he was tagged out on a bonehead mistake. This is what it is.. To even think that the game should be wiped out and replayed is crazy...
10-07-2008 @ 2:39PM
jet said...
David....you must be an Angels fan to be this upset. The tag was made...runner is out....that is clear on all replays.....he dropped the ball AFTER the tag was made and runner was out. There is no arguing that. (Unless you're an Angel fan and your season is over so you have nothing left to do) How can you honestly say he is safe....the ball clearly came out as Tek hit the ground....at this point the runner was already out. I feel bad for you Angels fan getting all bent out of shape.....the right call was made....deal with it and look forward to next year.
10-07-2008 @ 2:47PM
David said...
he DROPPED the ball after the tag.. the tag did not jar the ball lose it was when Varitek stubbled over third base. well after the tag was made.. go look up the rule buddy. and maybe learn a few.. maybe you should be bitching more about the missed bunt.. Just face it the Better team won... no matter what cry baby Lacky has to say.
10-07-2008 @ 3:18AM
Bill Kay said...
Dropped ball? Don’t even go there. That you tried a “cutsie play” when the situation called for baseball is all we need to know about the difference between your poser 100-win season and what it takes to be a Champion.
Just learn and move on. You were beaten by a team of winners – who had little interest in finishing with the meaningless label of “best record in baseball.”
Playoff elimination game. 8th inning. Runner on third and 1 out. And think you need to try a trick play.
‘Nuff said. Enjoy your winter.
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10-07-2008 @ 8:24AM
Mace said...
The Angels completely blew their chance with that blunder. They were trying to be too cute there and when you are playing for the championship in any sport, that type of mistake is inexcusable, ridiculous, and shows the manager totally ruined their chances for a game 5. That was simply Sad and Bad.
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10-07-2008 @ 9:30AM
Martin said...
A lot of Monday morning (Tuesday morning) quarterbacking going on here. The truth is that the suicide squeeze play was the percentage play. There was a 2-0 count on the batter, so a pitch-out was unlikely. The batter was the number nine hitter, with no power, meaning that he was unlikely to hit a fly ball deep enough to score the runner. The batter was also a good bunter. The odds are greatly in favor of either a good bunt, scoring the runner or a fouled bunt attempt, giving the batter two more strikes to try to drive in the runner. The batter HAS to get the bat on the ball in that situation, and it is the batter and not the manager who is to blame for not executing. Baseball is a game of playing the percentages, and sometimes the correct play does not work out.
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10-07-2008 @ 9:34AM
john said...
What if the play did work?,What wolud he be known as now? In any sport you as a coach,manager,etc...You make decisions,This one was a bad one,,thats just the way it is.
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10-07-2008 @ 10:47AM
MLBCLUBBIE said...
First of all please know the rules. Tek tag him out and he landed on the ground the ball came out. Further more the ground can not cause a fumble or anything like that.
So the ANGELS SUCK anyways you win 100 games in reg season what does that give you nothing but the Rays Vs. Red Sox ALCS.
And you can go back to Anaheim with aqua man ...
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10-14-2008 @ 5:43AM
ronpizz said...
mlbmcclubbie=------A fumble??????? this was a BASEBALL game.There are no fumbles in baseball, only in the vivolent game of football do they heve fumbles
10-07-2008 @ 11:14AM
Paul said...
Dropped Ball? Sorry that does not wash. The suicide squeeze should never have been called for. Bottom line is that if there is no squeeze play then the Angels have two chances to score and could very well have done so with a hot Chonce Figgins on deck. K-Rod could have closed it out and the series would have been tied. The squeeze took that chance away, this was a questionable move by Scioscia. If it had worked people would say he is a genius but in my mind was an unneccesary risk.
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10-07-2008 @ 11:31AM
Brad said...
Now the fun begins! Sox vs Rays. The little guy who plays with guts and determination against the fat cat big wallet team that buys whatever they need.
Classic American story of rooting for the underdog against the big bucks bully. Very interesting.
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10-07-2008 @ 11:40AM
mike said...
after the tag start counting 1001,1002,1003 then the ball came out tek didnt drop the ball he was out "nuff said" so go back to la and change your team name again
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10-07-2008 @ 11:44AM
Randy Miller said...
Mike made the right call for the team. It didnt work out, but so what! QUIT YOUR WHINNING AND MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING. He got them there. What have you done with your life but criticize people. What an asshole!
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10-07-2008 @ 11:47AM
mycroft717 said...
First...The Umpire made the right call...The ball came out after the tag...2) with all of the screwed up calls made in the NFL this season...what are you going to watch...NASCAR ? 3) Aybar is one of the best bunters on the team...and it was a percentage play...The blame should rest ...not with Scioscia but with Aybar. 4) Yeah...I know...there were half a dozen options for scoring the runner from third...Why a squeeze play...? Maybe that was the one that was LEAST expected...It's all relative...Boston won...rather than The Angels lost...and for the Sox fans who are rubbing Angels fans noses in it...Y'all suck...To the Red Sox fans ...It should be an interesting series with the Rays...I think the Sawx have a pretty good shot at two in a row...Good Luck
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10-07-2008 @ 11:57AM
IKNOWBB said...
less than two out with a runner at third!!! HOW MANY WAYS CAN THE RUNNER SCORE... STUPID, STUPID CALL!!! Well my Detroit Tigers are rebuilding this winter and maybe we can benefit with some of these trades during the winter respite!!! TAMPA ALL THE WAY
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10-07-2008 @ 12:12PM
nick said...
For you ass holes who don't like RED SOX nation could it be they are alot more baseball savoy than the ANGLES? They RED SOX's are the team to beat until someone takes them off the mountain top. So you suckers from the Yankees, Rays, Dodgers eat and weep suckers.
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10-07-2008 @ 12:29PM
Hilton Block said...
Lifetime Angels fan but NO DROPPED BALL, not even close. I not only question the squeeze but Kendrick bunting the man to third in the first place....LEADOFF man doubles,, NO OUTS. 3 chances to score him, why waste any of them..I like Scoscia but bad mistake.....
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