The Stros won at San Diego last night, but a situation during the game highlighted another among the many problems with this particular Stros team — manager Phil Garner.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Garner’s less-than-average ability as a Major League Baseball manager is nowhere near as big a problem as the Stros’ chronic hitting woes or this season’s overall lackluster pitching performance. Moreover, he is a genuinely nice man who is impossible to dislike personally. But the fact of the matter is that he is not a good manager. Among recent Stros managers, not as bad as Jimy Williams, mind you, but certainly not as good as Larry Dierker.

The Stros 7th inning in last night’s game was a case in point. Luke Scott led off with a double with the Stros leading 1-0 (which turned out to be the final score). Unfortunately, the next four hitters in the Stros lineup included three of the worst hitters in the National League — Adam Everett (-16 RCAA/.303 OBA/.335 SLG/.639 OPS), Brad Ausmus (-23/.300/.294/.594), the pitcher’s spot and then leadoff man Willy Taveras (-14/.315/.321/.637). Thus, manufacturing a run was going to be difficult under the best of circumstances, but Garner managed to make the situation worse.
What does Garner do? First, he has Everett — who had already driven in the only run of the game with a sacrifice fly — attempt to sacrifice-bunt Scott to third, resulting in a pop-up to the pitcher. After Ausmus — who swings as if he is afraid that he is going to hurt himself these days — made the second out by flying weakly to short centerfield, Garner then pinch-hits the Stros one stud hitter, Lance Berkman (40/.403/.613/1.016), in the pitcher’s spot to try to drive home Scott from second base (Berkman was available to pinch-hit only as he continues to rehab a sore groin muscle).
Now, say you’re a National League manager late in a close game with the opposing team’s runner at second base, two outs, first base open, the second-best hitter in the league coming to the plate and one of the worst hitters in the league following him in the order. What would you do?
Well, I know what I would do. Exactly what Padres manager Bruce Bochy did — intentionally walk Berkman to get to Taveras, who promptly struck out. As an aside, why on earth does Garner insist on putting a hitter who has a .315 on-base average (26 points below National League average) and a -14 RCAA in the leadoff spot in the order?
To make matters worse, Garner then had to waste Eric Bruntlett to pinch-run for Berkman so as not to risk further injury to Berkman’s groin.
So, in a close game that could easily have gone into extra innings, Garner wastes his best hitter and another potential pinch-hitter so that the other team could have the opportunity of pitching to one of worst hitters in the National League with two outs. Think that one through next time, Phil.
Although not as important as player performances, managerial decisions can make a difference. Jimy Williams’ disastrous decision to platoon the extraordinarily productive Morgan Ensberg with the notoriously unproductive Geoff Blum during the 2003 season may well have cost the Stros a playoff berth that season (the Stros finished one game behind the Cubs in the National League Central race). Thus, even though the Stros won last night, managerial gaffes such as Garner’s last night — particularly in a close race for a playoff spot — can be the difference between playing in the post-season and packing one’s bags after the regular season. I know one thing for sure — this Stros club is not good enough to overcome such mistakes and pull out the NL Wildcard Playoff berth.