Why does Hurdle even leave the clubhouse during the games?

[bjf1984]

8th inning....tie game....Red's give the Buccos a gift by walking Cutch to lead off the inning.

Then Hurdle has him nailed to first base as if it's against the rules to steal a base.......while Walker bounces into another double play.


Unreal.

McCutchen is on base a ton.
You got a clean up hitter with all of FOUR home runs on the year.....yet Hurdle insists on nailing Cutch to first base waiting for a homerun to score.

THREE stolen bases in 70 games.

I just did the Sabermetrics....Hurdle's game day decisions add up to a -5.0 WAR.

 

[nits74]

8th inning....tie game....Red's give the Buccos a gift by walking Cutch to lead off the inning.

Then Hurdle has him nailed to first base as if it's against the rules to steal a base.......while Walker bounces into another double play.


Unreal.

Well, that may be on Cutch. I don't know, but with all his speed stealing bases has never been a big part of his game. And I think that's his choice.

 

[bjf1984]

Well, that may be on Cutch. I don't know, but with all his speed stealing bases has never been a big part of his game. And I think that's his choice.

I imagine it is.....but Hurdle is the manager. Doesn't he have a sign for GO? LOL

I think the guy does a real god job of "managing" the team.....playing time, getting guys rest, etc. The kind of stuff that IS important over a 6 month grind.

But his game day may be the worst I have ever seen. It is GD laughable.

8th inning of a tie game.......leadoff walk to a guy with outstanding speed, and two base hits, and ZERO runs.

I hate to say it, but as far as game day is concerned, Matheny vs Hurdle is worth 10 games per season.

 

[Diego Badman]

8th inning....tie game....Red's give the Buccos a gift by walking Cutch to lead off the inning.

Then Hurdle has him nailed to first base as if it's against the rules to steal a base.......while Walker bounces into another double play.


Unreal.

McCutchen is on base a ton.
You got a clean up hitter with all of FOUR home runs on the year.....yet Hurdle insists on nailing Cutch to first base waiting for a homerun to score.

THREE stolen bases in 70 games.

I just did the Sabermetrics....Hurdle's game day decisions add up to a -5.0 WAR.

Truthfully, Cutch is not a good base stealer. I think he has trouble getting started, and the first 10 feet down the base path are very ordinary. Where he shines is when he gets up to speed and can take that extra base. Last night he hit a ball in the gap that, I think, should have been a double. He only ended up on first.

 

[UncleLar]

Truthfully, Cutch is not a good base stealer. I think he has trouble getting started, and the first 10 feet down the base path are very ordinary. Where he shines is when he gets up to speed and can take that extra base. Last night he hit a ball in the gap that, I think, should have been a double. He only ended up on first.

They are also protecting his legs from wear and tear. He had noticeable issues at the beginning of the season that appear to have gone away - but the last thing you want during a pennant/post-season run is to have a center fielder with bad wheels.

 

[psu_83_drummer]

I thought he should have had the four home-run clean-up hitter bunting Cutch over to 2nd to stay out of the DP.

 

[bjf1984]

I thought he should have had the four home-run clean-up hitter bunting Cutch over to 2nd to stay out of the DP.

That......or a hit-and-run (Walker actually is a pretty reliable guy wrt being able to make contact.......though I think I can count on one hand the number of hit-and-run plays the Buccos put on in an entire SEASON)....either of those would have been fine as well.........but this "sitting around with their thumbs up their butts" nonsense is just ludicrous - especially when you are in a situation where score one run = win game. Its not like there is a concern with running yourself out of a potential big inning.

For a team that supposedly was on the cutting edge wrt "defensive shifts", "valuing pitch framing" etc. they sure are out of touch wrt "maximizing chances to score a run" (LOL).

 

[cavic]

You're right, Lar, Cutch clearly was hurt -- out & out hurt -- at the beginning of the year. While they should be thinking of ways to leave gas in his tank some Sept/Oct, nothing undermines that effort more than running him out like they did the 1st month of this season. They're lucky he didn't wind up hurting himself worse. By comparison, it is foolish to try to save his wheels by chaining him to first in a clear running situation like that was in the 8th

In addition to Walker hitting into that DP, what an absolute $h!thead play to be doubled up on that liner in the 12th. The guy has solid baseball smarts, but that was as bad a baserunning blunder as you'll see all year. You just knew we were somehow gonna find a way to lose the game after that.

 

[bjf1984]

You're right, Lar, Cutch clearly was hurt -- out & out hurt -- at the beginning of the year. While they should be thinking of ways to leave gas in his tank some Sept/Oct, nothing undermines that effort more than running him out like they did the 1st month of this season. They're lucky he didn't wind up hurting himself worse. By comparison, it is foolish to try to save his wheels by chaining him to first in a clear running situation like that was in the 8th

In addition to Walker hitting into that DP, what an absolute $h!thead play to be doubled up on that liner in the 12th. The guy has solid baseball smarts, but that was as bad a baserunning blunder as you'll see all year. You just knew we were somehow gonna find a way to lose the game after that.

Regarding Walker.....if you recall, earlier in the game he drew a leadoff walk.

Then, on a ground ball Kang hit into the SS hole (nice play by the SS to get to the ball) .......Walker slows up 30 feet from the 2nd base bag to "watch" the play.
The SS has no play at first, but throws to second to get the force on Walker (by INCHES).....thanks to Walker shutting it down and becoming a spectator. So, instead of 2 on none out, its runner on first with one out.

His bone head plays on the base paths are getting as bad as Pedro's running around like a chicken with his head cut off on defense plays.

 

[UncleLar]

In addition to Walker hitting into that DP, what an absolute $h!thead play to be doubled up on that liner in the 12th. The guy has solid baseball smarts, but that was as bad a baserunning blunder as you'll see all year. You just knew we were somehow gonna find a way to lose the game after that.

I don't know about that - Polanco and Kang tried to top it with their bad base running tonite.

 

[TheGLOV]

8th inning....tie game....Red's give the Buccos a gift by walking Cutch to lead off the inning.

Then Hurdle has him nailed to first base as if it's against the rules to steal a base.......while Walker bounces into another double play.


Unreal.

McCutchen is on base a ton.
You got a clean up hitter with all of FOUR home runs on the year.....yet Hurdle insists on nailing Cutch to first base waiting for a homerun to score.

THREE stolen bases in 70 games.

I just did the Sabermetrics....Hurdle's game day decisions add up to a -5.0 WAR.

Just a few games ago, Cutch had attempted 5 steals: Success 3 times, thrown out two times.

He was safer NOT stealing.

Let me know when the Pirates call you for advice.

 

[Stargellfan]

8th inning....tie game....Red's give the Buccos a gift by walking Cutch to lead off the inning.

Then Hurdle has him nailed to first base as if it's against the rules to steal a base.......while Walker bounces into another double play.


Unreal.

McCutchen is on base a ton.
You got a clean up hitter with all of FOUR home runs on the year.....yet Hurdle insists on nailing Cutch to first base waiting for a homerun to score.

THREE stolen bases in 70 games.

I just did the Sabermetrics....Hurdle's game day decisions add up to a -5.0 WAR.

First of all, Hurdle is not nailing McCutchen to first base. That is all on Andrew. He is allowed to run anytime he wants. I also find it interesting that you are using Sabermetrics to nail Hurdle on this one because most Sabermetricians argue stolen bases are vastly overrated.

 

[bjf1984]

First of all, Hurdle is not nailing McCutchen to first base. That is all on Andrew. He is allowed to run anytime he wants. I also find it interesting that you are using Sabermetrics to nail Hurdle on this one because most Sabermetricians argue stolen bases are vastly overrated.

Uh......#1 - I certainly expect Cutch has the "green light" in most instances. That isn't the point. The point is it is SUPPOSED to be the role of the manager to manage the game. ie, whether or not a player "takes off on his own", it is the role of the manager to determine when HE feels certain actions should be undertaken. It is up to the manager, when he feels it would be beneficial, to TELL the baserunner to go.....to put on a hit and run....to sacrifice....to "whatever". Telling everyone "do what you want, when you want" does not absolve a manger of responsibility......does it? The net result of Hurdle's game day stuff is that the team plays like it is sleep walking on the bases.

#2 - As for the guy talking "sabermetrics"....or whatever the heck you want to call it.....do yourself a favor, and bark up another tree (trust me). Every situation if different, and when you have a "next run wins" situation, with a guy on first with average or better base-running skills, even Billy Beane and the Fat Kid would say GO GO GO!!! (despite what you may have seen in the Money Ball movie). LOL

 

[PSU-Knocker]

I am extremely happy with Hurdle. I'm beginning to get disillusioned with the hitting coach.