Scioscia considering 'minor adjustments' to Angels lineup
ANAHEIM --- Angels manger Mike Scioscia, his team still smarting from a 4-1 loss to the Red Sox night in Game 1 of the American League Division Series Wednesday night at Angel Stadium, said today he was going to look at making some slight adjustments to his lineup.
``We're considering a few things and the core of our lineup will remain the same,'' Scioscia said. ``We have a lot of confidence in what our guys can do on the offensive side and if you look at the last 60 or 70 games that we played I think you saw an offense that can grind it out or hit the home run and break games open.''
Wednesday night, however, was not one of the those games.
Despite getting nine hits (including six off Red Sox starter Jon Lester), the Angels were unable to manufacture more than one run (against Lester) . More pressing, though, was the lack of production the Angels got from the bottom third of its order, which went a combined 0-for-9 with three strikeouts against Lester.
Among the tweaks Scioscia was said to be considering were in the outfield.
``Well, the field is cut down a little bit with Vlad [Guerrero] DHing and the bats were going to look at are either Gary Matthews or Juan Rivera and Kendry Morales,'' Scioscia said. ``I don't think it's going to come down to one player, as far as the whole lineup, we need to pressure teams every inning and it's going to have to be as a cohesive unit and if one player brings continuity, sure, it can have an impact but we'll examine some things and there will be some minor adjustments, yes.''
One minor adjustment Scioscia divulged was that reserve catcher Jeff Mathis would play Game 2 after Mike Napoli, the Game 1 starter, took a fouled pitch off his left knee cap. Napoli told reporters in the Angels clubhouse he was sore but still ready to play, if called upon.
``Obviously, Jeff Mathis is going to catch tomorrow,'' Scioscia said. ``We're going to look at a couple of other things but I'm sure that there will be some slight adjustments to our look, but the core of our offense will be intact tomorrow.''
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If Scioscia were managing the Yankees, he would be in Steinbrenners office right now explaining why he did not pinch run for Guerrero in the 8th inning of game 1. Trailing by one run late in a playoff game is not the time when you want a lumbering DH with bad knees standing on first representing the tying run. Vlad tried for third because he knew he couldn't score from second on a single, for him scoring position was third base or nothing.
"If Scioscia were managing the Yankees, he would be in Steinbrenners office right now explaining why he did not pinch run for Guerrero in the 8th inning of game 1."
Hindsight is 20/20. Unfortunately, that bit of common sense will never get through to the armchair managers of the world. If Vlad had made it to third, it would've been hailed as a heads up play with admirable and aggressive determination.
Simple fact of the matter is that, in a game that tight, you do not pinch run for one of the best hitters in the AL when you're that tight and going into a war of two good bullpens. If it's a tie game and the bottom of the ninth (Or extra innings), then you run for him, but if they pinch ran for Vlad and were only able to plate the tying run then people would be calling Scioscia an idiot for taking one of his best hitters off the table and pretty much breaking his lineup (Anyone but Vlad in there removes protection from both Tex AND Hunter).
Scioscia didn't do anything wrong in that spot. The blame falls squarely on Vlad for committing a huge base running blunder. If Vlad stopped at second, he probably would've been able to cross the plate and tie it up while still being available to hit in a potential key situation a few innings later. The manager can't go out there and run for his players.
I see what your saying, but was vlad even going to come up in the bottom of the 9th?
Scioscia's bigger blunder was leaving the totally unimpressive Shields in for way too long. I agree, you don't pinch run for Vladi in a 1 run game. He might have had another AB coming and you can't lose his bat!
I can't imagine Scoscia changing the lineup in any meaningful way. Afterall his Angles knocked around Dice-K for 3 runs in 4/2/3 last October and 6 runs in 5 innings about 9 weeks ago. He seems to be able to mount a very credible offense against the Dice-Man.
Completely agree with Jonathan. It's bad enough that the keyboard managers are still scrutinizing Francona's every move despite somehow being able win two World Series championships, but now they are micromanaging the opposition with the 20/20 lenses as well.
Don't know if that's a mis-print in your story, but it really was "Red Sox Night" at Angel Stadium on Wednesday!!!!!
GO RED SOX! SWEEP 'EM UP ....AGAIN!!!!!
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