Yasiel Puig started a nice 9-3 twin killing on defense Friday in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, but unfortunately for once, he was also killing the Dodgers on offense.
Puig turned in the first 0-for-6 performance in Dodger playoff history.
Friday’s game was the Dodgers’ longest postseason game by innings in 97 years and two days.
Friday’s game was also the first MLB postseason game to have at least two double plays started by right fielders since 1992. On October 11, 1980, there was a game with three double plays that began with the guy in right.
WBBsAs
LAT’d: There was constant media speculation that, in the post-season, Puig would do something foolish to cost the Dodgers a game but, to the best of my memory, none of those of those pundits suggested Mattingly might do so. At the risk of a Rule No. 5 violation, I would suggest that Don is like Karl Rove on election night, insisting that his side won because they did everything right.
Jon Weisman
There has definitely been questioning of Mattingly going into the series from SI.com and ESPN.com, and the Times has not been easy on him either.
WBBsAs
For concentrated strategic ineptitude, Don reached new lows last night. I realize AGon Yadier slows the running game, for instance, but Mattingly apparently wouldn’t even consider a hit-and-run. If you’re only playing station-to-station, there’s not much reason to use Dee unless AGon’s on third with less than two out.
Jon Weisman
Bill Shaikin @BillShaikin
Don Mattingly left his players to answer for the mistake he would not concede making: lat.ms/19GBWTS
dalegribel
It was a high risk gamble that didn’t payoff. I didn’t like it at the time and I don’t like it in retrospect. Then again, I didn’t like a lot of Chris Moneymaker’s plays either.
btimmer
Matheny didn’t have as many chances to screw up because the Cardinals had very few baserunners all night.
dalegribel
True, but I’m not laying this loss all on Mattingly. The fact that Dodger hitters could only score 2 times off of Kelly put the whole team in a bad spot. Kelly fields Puig’s comebacker cleanly and this is a 2-0 shutout.
Bob_Hendley
Seems over the top to me. Didn’t turn out, but its not like it belongs in the list of boneheaded moves by Donnie. As well, no player likes to be taken out of a game.
btimmer
It is an improvement on blaming a loss on the psychological condition of Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton.
WBBsAs
Is Don’s shrink traveling with the team?
Bumsrap
Looking at the list of players that enjoyed an 0 for 5 game, Puig is in very good company and by the time his career is over, his name might be at the top of other lists as well.
thescrounger
I know batting orders are not very important but I would still like this one better:
Crawford; Puig; Ramirez; Gonzalez; Uribe; Ethier; Ellis; Ellis; Pitcher. That gets all of our speed in front of Agon. I know that means he has no protection but if they’re going to walk him anyway, that really doesn’t matter…
WBBsAs
Tony Jackson has a comprehensive but balanced account of Don’s missteps: http://tinyurl.com/create.php
foul tip
Link goes to create tiny url instead of to story.
WBBsAs
I have edited above.
Bumsrap
Sorry for not reading much of the comments before commenting myself. When Greinke and Kershaw start, it seems that a good plan for their games would be based on pitching and defense. Putting a player the game that hasn’t played defense for weeks to get added offense would go against such a plan. And, as so often happens, the ball found that player and it cost the Dodgers 2 runs and the game.
foul tip
Puig is one of the few who could offset an 0 for 6 with a 6 for 6 next time out–or at any time.
Bob_in_Vegas
No doubt.
But I hope he doesn’t let his frustration out with an ill-conceived play in the field.
dalegribel
This might be the one time it is bad to be on the same list with Zack Wheat, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider.
dalegribel
In regards to the whole Gordon fiasco, isn’t the real question why he is on the roster to begin with? Considering that Molina is likely to catch every game, Gordon’s worth is now limited to pinch running from second or third in situations where that becomes a difference maker. In spots like that, is his marginal value of use that much more than Punto or Schumaker?
I think we all can agree that Mattingly did not set the roster alone. The blame for Don even having the option available last night has to be shared with Colletti and Kasten.
Jon Weisman
Today’s lineup:
25 – Carl Crawford, lf *
14 – Mark Ellis, 2b
13 – Hanley Ramirez, ss
23 – Adrian Gonzalez, 1b *
66 – Yasiel Puig, rf
5 – Juan Uribe, 3b
55 – Skip Schumaker, cf *
17 – A.J. Ellis, c
22 – Clayton Kershaw, lhp *
Jon Weisman
Friday’s game was also the first MLB postseason game to have at least two double plays started by right fielders since 1992. See revised post above.
btimmer
Game 4 of the 1980 NLCS would have been an acute Twitter meltdown.
Jon Weisman
Including postseason, the Dodgers lead the all-time series against the Cardinals, 1,018-1,017-16. (.50042)
Bob_in_Vegas
They need to end THIS series with at least a three-game lead — if my math is right.
foul tip
First read of the headline made me think Puig was hurt. Actually, only thing hurt was his pride.
Conditioning from all the injuries this season.
Jon Weisman
Sorry – it was a meant to be a play on “Pig out.”
Bob_in_Vegas
By the end of this series, hoping for a play on “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.”
foul tip
Which I appreciated–on second read. ;-])
Bumsrap
But, Puig didn’t pig out. He didn’t even nibble. I thought Puig Out was merely a simple reference to his 0 for 6.
WBBsAs
It may be selective memory, but I’m hard-pressed to recall any game in which Don outwitted the other manager.
foul tip
Which has caused more grief this year….his moves, or GIDPs? Tough call?
WBBsAs
Or the GIDPs he has set up with his moves?
Jon Weisman
Some would argue that it’s only been one game since that last happened.
Bumsrap
And if you add in the Torre years….
Jon Weisman
NPUT