While riding to the Stros-Cardinals Game 3 of the National League Championship Series today, one of my sons asked whether I thought that Stros manager Phil Garner would play red-hot Chris Burke, who has continued to hit well after his walk-off yak last week to win the National League Division Series over the Braves.
“No,” I said. “He’ll probably play Lamb at first base today because he hits (St. Louis pitcher Matt) Morris well. That means Berkman moves to left field and Burke sits. What Garner should do is put Burke in centerfield and bench Taveras, who is a marginal player. But he will never do that because everyone thinks Taveras is good, which he is not.”
So, what does Phil Garner do? He starts Burke in centerfield in place of Taveras.
Stros win a 4-3 nailbiter to take a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series against the Cards.
I kind of liked Taveras running down that deep fly ball to center with two out in the 8th inning today. 🙂
Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. It’s no use talking sense to a sabermetric freak. If it’s not measurable by a number, it doesn’t exist. This is why the Oakland A’s win the World Series every year. It’s not our place to question their wisdom.
The A’s haven’t won a World Series, despite having one of the best records in MLB over the past five seasons. But the Red Sox won their first World Series last season in a very long time, and it’s no coincidence that their GM is a stathead who used to work for the A’s and that he hired Bill James as a consultant for the club. Stats aren’t the only criteria that one should use in evaluating a ballplayer, but they are a pretty darn accurate starting point.