Hart in the doghouse?
That's a serious question, because I can't tell. I was at the game today, so there may be some other explanation that's been discussed that I remain unawar of. But the mid-inning double switch that resulted in Hart jogging from right field to the dugout looked pretty strange. Hart sat on the opposite end of the bench from Yost after leaving the field, and Yost made a very deliberate trip down to Hart's end where he had a very short, very one-sided conversation with his right fielder before walking away. Yost's post-game comments on Hart's blunder in the field last night included the following:
"That's his job to know the warning track and the park," he said. "It doesn't matter if the warning track is a mile long or 2 feet long. Especially in your home park, it's your job to know what it is."
Looking at the game situation today, the mid-inning timing of the move itself is hard to figure (at least for me). Stetter opened the inning and retired Izturis before walkng Schumaker, at which piont Yost pulled Hart in the double switch. Wainright had already been pulled by the Cards for Thompson, a righty. Hart had just grounded into a double play the previous half-inning, and like most of the roster, he hits lefties much better than righties.
Stetter's 1st batter was Izturis, so if the intent was simply to do the double switch for offensive purposes alone, the move could have easily been made two batters before. If the move had a defensive purpose to it, at least partially, it makes no sense to leave Hart in for the first two batters, both lefties who would pull to RF, and then hook him for the right hander.
That leaves a couple of possibilities (and maybe more I haven't considered): 1) Yost could have intended to let Stetter have the whole inning initially and thus thought he would have the chance to do the double switch after the top of the 6th, but then changed his mind once Stetter put Schumaker on, thus forcing his hand mid-inning if he still wanted the double switch; 2) Yost either forgot or didn't think of the possibility of a double switch at the top of the inning; 3)Yost wanted to send a message to Hart.
Option 3 would sound completely ridiculous to me if Yost hadn't inexplicably left Hart on the bench for much of late April and May 2007 (blaming a wrist injury that seemed to me to be of mysterious origin, severity and duration). I'm a Hart fan, and I'm probably a little bit paranoid. Option 1 seems to be the likely explanation of what happened today. I didn't see or hear any quotes from Hart after the game, but for what it's worth (and that may not be much), the view through the zoom lens on my camera suggested that Corey didn't much care for being pulled off the field in the top of the 6th inning. There weren't any thrown gloves or anything, but Hart clearly tried to stay away from Yost and then made no eye contact with him when he approached.
It'll be interesting to see how Ned handles the OF now that Gwynn is back, and even more interesting to see what he'll do when Cameron's available. My guess is that Hart's starts and ABs will drop a bit as RF will be the most convenient place to get Kapler and/or Gwynn starts.
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10 comments
Comments
Interesting
Personally, I think he is the first guy they should sign to a long term contract.
by ol Pete on Apr 22, 2008 10:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed
agreed, agreed, agreed
yosted, again!
by SunglassesAtNight on Apr 22, 2008 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're may be making something out of nothing
I just think ned wanted this win and he has to manage kind of strangely with so many pitchers on the team.
Turns out the move worked, only 6 innings later than expected.
by brewfan2 on Apr 22, 2008 11:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think your subject line is probably accurate,
but I don’t see how having 14 pitchers on the roster results in that double switch being made in the middle of the inning. And you’re right, Kapler and Gross did come through in the end.
"He just needs to eat some bananas." - Lou Piniella
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 23, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By doing the double switch at that time
they could then have riske go more than one inning and I believe Gross was the next one up the next inning. So, he wasn’t taking braun out, if he double switched for Gross there would be 2 pinch hitters the next inning, and Corey was the only one left.
As for the 14 pitchers, for whatever reason, the announcers were trying to make the point that the bullpen was being worked too much and Ned probably wanted Riske to eat up some innings.
by brewfan2 on Apr 23, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I understand why he pulled Gross instead of Hart once he decided to make the double switch,
but the move wasn’t required to happen at that exact moment for Riske to go more than one inning. He could have pulled the double switch when Stetter came in to start the inning just as easily, and then pulled Stetter mid-inning for Riske or whoever when the moment came and left them in for as long as he liked. No, the 14 pitchers makes for strange managing doesn’t wash.
"He just needs to eat some bananas." - Lou Piniella
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 23, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like to get into Ned's Head
but maybe he felt with an 8-3 lead, he didn’t need Corey’s offense.
All I know is that Corey is a huge part of this team, and he will be playing. I do have to say, if he’s not in the lineup tonight, it could be because he is 0-7 with 4 k’s against Hamels.
by brewfan2 on Apr 23, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well Cory is not one of Neds "Boys"
Hart had to fight his way into the line up last season so I would not put it beyond Ned to judge Cory by a different standard.
Yes Hart had a bad game the other night it happens he will make up for as the season goes on using his length to pull a few home runs back into Miller Park like last years Phillies game.
I am on board with Pete and SGN he needs to be signed speed and pop in his bat I would rather sign him long term than weeks
Its all about the Bullpen this season that is the key.
by WSB Chris on Apr 23, 2008 8:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ugh!!
I really hope not. And I understand that you’re only speculating.
Corey has been my favorite Brewer over the last couple of years, and I always get the distinct impression that he is not Ned’s. I’m reminded not only of the weirdness last April and May, but also of 2006. I remember Geoff Jenkins and Brady Clark sucking up a lot of ABs through the year, while Hart languished on the bench.
Hopefully we’re just being paranoid, but you just get the sense that Yost doesn’t like him.
Don't try to do too much with it. Just take the ball the other way.
by shooty babitt on Apr 23, 2008 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Corey
Has been one of my favorite Brewers since I saw him play at spring training in 2005. I really want to see him signed long term.
by SunglassesAtNight on Apr 23, 2008 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
























