According to Brian Anderson, "Greg Aquino has been lights out so far this season," leading to some disbelief in the booth last night as Aquino melted down and allowed several inherited runs and a couple of his own.  According to Ned Yost, "We put [Aquino] out there to do a job, and he didn't get it done. He's been doing the job lately. This was one of those nights that he didn't."

Has he been doing the job lately?  Many of us seem to remember differently than Ned, so I went back through the MLB play-by-play data to see if maybe we owe Ned an apology.  I don't think we do.  Aquino's record suggests that he was likely to allow inherited runs, and Ned's comments that he "didn't get the job done," are clearly intended to defect attention from Yost's gross mismanagement of the inning.

The play-by-play data appears below the jump.  In summary, Aquino had issues in his first game, allowing 2 hits and then walking the pitcher to load the bases, after which Shouse bailed him out.

Then, in games against the Marlins and the Cubs, Aquino pitched some good innings, notching several strikeouts.  He did not inherit any runners in these games.

In Aquino's last 2 outings, he did inherit baserunners, and in both occasions, he allowed those runners to score.

When Yost sent Aquino to get the last out with the bases loaded, it was a bad idea.  It was grossly negligent and unforgivably stupid to not have another reliever ready to go if Aquino failed.  And Aquino's recent history showed that he would fail in that situation.

Don't blame Aquino.  He's a decent middle reliever who can chew up a couple middle innings for you.  He is not a closer-type reliever who can come in and get an out in high leverage situations.  Ned Yost is supposed to be smart enough to know that.

Apr 3  LAD

Top 6th
o Luis Gonzalez flies out to Bill Hall
o Matt Kemp flies out to Bill Hall
o Wilson Betemit singles to left
o Ramon Martinez singles to left, betemit to 2nd
o Randy Wolf walks (the pitcher).  Betemit to 3rd, Martinez to 2nd.
o Shouse comes in and induces a groundball from Pierre, Martinez out at 2nd.

APR 7  CHC

Top 8th
o Murton grounds out, Hardy to Fielder
o De Rosa grounds out, Counsell to Fielder
o Blanco lines out to Bill Hall

Top 9th
o Daryle Ward single to center
o Soriano called out on strikes
o Izturis double play, Hardy to Weeks to Fielder

APR 9  @FLA

Bottom 7th
o Amezaga strikes out swinging
o Uggla grounds out, Graffy to Fielder
o Cabrera flies out to RF Mench

APR 10 @FLA

Bottom 10th
o De Aza flies out to Bill Hall
o Ross ground out, Counsell to Fielder
o Amezaga ground out, Counsell to Fielder

Bottom 11th
o Uggla strike out swinging
o Cabrera strike out swinging, Estrada to Fielder
o Jacobs strikes out swinging

APR 14 @STL

Bottom 7th

o Miles single to RF Hart.  Edmonds scores, Molina to 3rd
o Eckstein walks.  Miles to 2nd.
o Duncan pops out to Graffanino foul.

APR 16 @CIN

Bottom 6th
o Encarnacion single to Bill Hall.  Phillips scores, Dunn scores.
o Castro flies out to RF Hart