Comments on: High Leverage situations http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/high-leverage-situations/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Sun, 20 May 2012 07:46:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/high-leverage-situations/#comment-247 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:15:56 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/high-leverage-situations/#comment-247 Well then you'll be pleased to know that Terry Francona is paying attention. In the first game of the Angels seriesn last week, the Sox were ahead 4-1 in the top of the 8th inning - men on 1st and 3rd, one out, Vlad Guerrero and Garret Anderson coming up. Papelbon is rested. Francona brings in Papelbon - potentially for a five-out save (like he'd done in the Rangers series)... realizing that *this* was the high-leverage situation. Papelbon strikes out Vlad on four pitches. Anderson lines out to LF on two pitches. Total of six pitches in the inning, and the three-run lead preserved. Sox score six runs in the bottom of the eighth, so Papelbon is pulled for Mike Timlin (returning from injury, having missed much of spring training, perfect situation to get some work). If Francona "saves" Papelbon exclusively for the ninth inning, that game could've turned out far differently i.e. it would've been too late to bring Papelbon in the ninth, as someone else from the Sox bullpen could've easily given up hits to Vlad and Anderson (decent hitters they). Excellent job of managing, and obviously, excellence of execution from Papelbon. Well then you’ll be pleased to know that Terry Francona is paying attention. In the first game of the Angels seriesn last week, the Sox were ahead 4-1 in the top of the 8th inning - men on 1st and 3rd, one out, Vlad Guerrero and Garret Anderson coming up. Papelbon is rested. Francona brings in Papelbon - potentially for a five-out save (like he’d done in the Rangers series)… realizing that *this* was the high-leverage situation.

Papelbon strikes out Vlad on four pitches. Anderson lines out to LF on two pitches. Total of six pitches in the inning, and the three-run lead preserved. Sox score six runs in the bottom of the eighth, so Papelbon is pulled for Mike Timlin (returning from injury, having missed much of spring training, perfect situation to get some work).

If Francona “saves” Papelbon exclusively for the ninth inning, that game could’ve turned out far differently i.e. it would’ve been too late to bring Papelbon in the ninth, as someone else from the Sox bullpen could’ve easily given up hits to Vlad and Anderson (decent hitters they).

Excellent job of managing, and obviously, excellence of execution from Papelbon.

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