FanPost

Like it's the Last Game of the Season?

9/6: "I'm going to manage every game like it's the last game of the season," said manager Ned Yost

9/10: The game is essentially over at 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh (LI: 0.13, WP: 3%). So it's a good time to save your bullpen and let your LOOGY face a RHB. Unless of course you are managing like it's the last game of the season. Then you'd never, ever want this matchup:

Brian Shouse (LHP)
vs. RHB .304/.388/.451
vs. LHB .214/.273/.330

Freddy Sanchez (RHB)
vs. RHP .290/.330/.404
vs. LHP .380/.414/.532

So, Yost, let's acknowledge, (A) that we are not managing every game as though it were the last of the season, or (B) you really don't get platoon splits after all.

Wait, he did what? He didn't let Shouse finish the inning to save the bullpen? Huh. Weird. Why did Shouse start the 7th then if you weren't giving up on the game?

Was it to gain the platoon advantage against McLouth, or Laroche? Cause maybe you forgot to look at their splits first before making that decision... The only platoon advantage to start the inning was a RHP vs. Sanchez...

Pick one and stick with it Yost, try to win, or try to save the bullpen. It seems to me that you manage not to get blown out.