Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Saving Pujols For What?!

By Kyle Jahner

There is a short list of absolutes in this world. But a precious few decisions have enough historical precedent as to render them so insanely idiotic that they should get a man reprimanded/fired/drawn-and-quartered. For example:

I should not have to explain to even the most hare-brained baseball fan about the last one. But Tony LaRussa, with a chance to finally end a 10-game winless streak against the American League, for some reason left on the bench the best hitter in the NL, maybe in the majors, over the last six-plus years.

Let's even totally bypass that he should have hit for Orlando Hudson, if not earlier. Orlando Hudson was a marginal all-star anyway, and with two on, two out, and Francisco Rodriguez on the mound, his odds of getting a hit were crappy at best.

But the baseball gods smiled on LaRussa. The O-Dog walked. Even better. Nowhere for the AL to put Pujols. You get him out, or you blow it, either losing or facing extra innings.

Every fan in America at this point has to wonder why Aaron Rowand was even on the on-deck circle with Hudson up. Every American League fan then began to rejoice: he actually walked up to the plate!They can't believe it. Neither can Senior Circuit fans, who are waking the neighbors with screams and throwing things at the television, pleading with LaRussa to regain consciousness.

Before this rant goes catatonic, let's try to be reasonable. This guy just won the World Series. He is the leading active manager in wins. He had to have a reason. Maybe:

Pujols is hurt. Didn't look hurt launching several 450-foot bombs in the Home Run Derby 24 hours ago.

Aaron Rowand needed an AB, fear of favoring his guy. Rowand had already struck out. And not one writer or fan from St. Louis to Philadelphia to Siberia would have criticized the move.

(Now Pujols is rightfully irritated that LaRussa didn't play him. So the two of them get to bring that baggage back to St. Louis, which is nice.)

Saving him for "later." The reason claimed by LaRussa. What "later" is he talking about? What more important future scenario requiring Pujols could he possibly envision? Derek Lee runs well, and would likely have scored the winning run on a mere base hit. A walk was virtually the only game-preserving outcome, and even then, against two of the most dominant closers in the game, IT'S A SPECTACULAR OUTCOME FOR THE NL.

Pujols is slumping. I would take Pujols with an advanced case of polio over Rowand on steroids any day. This season Albert is still statistically better with his worst half ever paired against Rowand's best. Comparing them historically in this space is insulting to Pujols and cruel to Rowand.

Gut instinct. With his track record, almost an argument. But a gut without a brain is just a wild guess.

No explanation that comes close. Pujols should have hit. There is no excuse. LaRussa has seen Pujols in person hit ninth-inning, game-winning homers off closers like John Smoltz and Brad Lidge. How could any other scenario been more appealing?

Aaron Rowand is a nice player. But he can't hold Pujols' metaphorical jock strap. And you know the feeling in K-Rod's gut would have been a little different if Pujols, in his intimidating stance, was glaring coldly back at him from home plate. By comparison, Rowand couldn't be scarier if he had a chain-saw and a Jason mask.

Everyone wanted to see it, too. Rowand himself probably contemplated telling LaRussa to pull him. So did the rest of the NL bench.

Imagine, one of the greatest moments in All-Star Game history. The NL's best hitter up against one of the most dominant closers of the last few years. Power vs. Power. Nowhere to put Pujols. The All-Star Game, homefield advantage for the World Series, and a ton of NL pride all on the line.

Here's the pitch ... and Aaron Rowand flies out to right.

We were robbed.

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