Bob Melivin and Tony Pena = BAD CALL

[football24/7]

Way to go Pena. Why the hell did Melvin take out Cruz for this hack. Cruz sailed through his inning, and he gets yanked. This game will come back to bite us in the butt bigtime!!!! Bad move there Melvin

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Melvin got Lyon up in the bullpen but then left Pena in...

 

[Lefty]

Bob Melvin is an incompetent manager. Did you see the look on his face after that 3-run homer? He is a freakin' moron. Is this the guy we really want to manage this team?

 

[Brian]

Melvin is an idiot. Let's see. Padres already won. D-Backs JUST took the lead 5-3 after being asleep all night at the plate. What do you do?

Pena: 1st pitch, hit batter. Runner on first.

Pena: 1st pitch, 6 feet high (Ball one). 2nd pitch, bounces 4 feet in front of the plate, (ball two). 3rd and 4th....same result. runners on first and second.

Me? I pull Pena NOW. He obviously doesn't have it tonight and the Padres have already won. Melvin? uhhhhhhh, hey better get Lyon warmed up.

Pena: Home run to Randy Winn. Giants take the lead 6-5.

Melvin? Stand there and twitch, pick face, cross arms, piss pants.

Pena: Gives up a double.

Melvin? Hmmmmmmm, maybe I should do something. Aw, the heck with it. Pena will pull it together. He's my boy. Besides, what's a little hit batter, walk on 4 pitches, home run, and a double? Just a string of bad luck.

Pena: Gives up ANOTHER home run. (Eric Byrnes has now hit Melvin over the head with a 34 oz. bat and made the call to the bullpen). Melvin lies on the dugout out floor twitching, picking face, crossing arms, and pissing pants.

Enter Nippert. Retires the Giants with no further harm done.

Melvin is a genius.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Way to go Pena. Why the hell did Melvin take out Cruz for this hack. Cruz sailed through his inning, and he gets yanked. This game will come back to bite us in the butt bigtime!!!! Bad move there Melvin

Are we talking about the same "hack" that had previously given up a grand total of one run in his last 11 appearances? Except for about a two week stretch a while ago, the guy has been an absolute rock in the late innings and a huge reason why the Diamondbacks have such a great record in close games. On top of that, he was well rested, only pitching once in the last week, so to suggest that this would have been easily predicted prior to his inning tonight is quite a jump. Its unfortunate that he had such a brutal outing tonight, but that's just part of the package with relievers.

 

[Lefty]

Are we talking about the same "hack" that had previously given up a grand total of one run in his last 11 appearances? Except for about a two week stretch a while ago, the guy has been an absolute rock in the late innings and a huge reason why the Diamondbacks have such a great record in close games. On top of that, he was well rested, only pitching once in the last week, so to suggest that this would have been easily predicted prior to his inning tonight is quite a jump. Its unfortunate that he had such a brutal outing tonight, but that's just part of the package with relievers.

Pena pitched an inning and a third yesterday.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Pena pitched an inning and a third yesterday.

Correct. Lyon pitched an inning as well.

 

[Brian]

Are we talking about the same "hack" that had previously given up a grand total of one run in his last 11 appearances? Except for about a two week stretch a while ago, the guy has been an absolute rock in the late innings and a huge reason why the Diamondbacks have such a great record in close games. On top of that, he was well rested, only pitching once in the last week, so to suggest that this would have been easily predicted prior to his inning tonight is quite a jump. Its unfortunate that he had such a brutal outing tonight, but that's just part of the package with relievers.

Totally agree. I had zero problem with Pena coming in. I have every problem with Melvin leaving him in when it was obvious that tonight Pena didn't have it.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Are we talking about the same "hack" that had previously given up a grand total of one run in his last 11 appearances? Except for about a two week stretch a while ago, the guy has been an absolute rock in the late innings and a huge reason why the Diamondbacks have such a great record in close games. On top of that, he was well rested, only pitching once in the last week, so to suggest that this would have been easily predicted prior to his inning tonight is quite a jump. Its unfortunate that he had such a brutal outing tonight, but that's just part of the package with relievers.

With that once being last night for an inning and a third. Perhaps it was a bad call, perhaps not. But what I do know is the lead is one game, and IMO tied after tomorrow. To me, not a happy ending. It doesn't really matter. The team has neither the pitching and certainly not the hitting to do anything in the playoffs. Just making it would have been cool, though. The major problem is is that it keeps Melvin around. Not good, again, IMO.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Yeah it was for sure not a smart leaving pena in their that cost us the game.... We better win the next two games or else were in major trouble

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

With that once being last night for an inning and a third. Perhaps it was a bad call, perhaps not. But what I do know is the lead is one game, and IMO tied after tomorrow. To me, not a happy ending. It doesn't really matter. The team has neither the pitching and certainly not the hitting to do anything in the playoffs. Just making it would have been cool, though. The major problem is is that it keeps Melvin around. Not good, again, IMO.

And Lyon (ie. the alternative in the 8th inning) pitched an inning yesterday. As for writing the team off for tomorrow as well, you're entitled to your opinion but that's a pretty pathetic attitude to have for a first placed team that most predicted to go nowhere. Remember back to when everybody claimed that the team was dead a few months ago? Well, they were wrong then and they'd be wrong to claim the same now.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

And Lyon (ie. the alternative in the 8th inning) pitched an inning yesterday.

Who cares? Bring him in and see what he's got. That's the point.

Pena came in, hit a batter and walked the next on 4 pitches. Even if you don't pull him after the next batter...you've got to pull him after he gave up the first (huge) homer.

Pena showed that he didn't have his stuff tonight, but Melvin chose not to pull him. Bad decision. Period.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

And Lyon (ie. the alternative in the 8th inning) pitched an inning yesterday. As for writing the team off for tomorrow as well, you're entitled to your opinion but that's a pretty pathetic attitude to have for a first placed team that most predicted to go nowhere. Remember back to when everybody claimed that the team was dead a few months ago? Well, they were wrong then and they'd be wrong to claim the same now.

So then there is hope, so don't be so upset up there on your horse! You said it yourself, that "most predicted to go nowhere". So if people are still predicting that, then why does that bother you? I will agree that no game is an absolute no-holds-barred must win until it is the mathematical elimination game, but these games at home against the dregs of the division who just limped out of PetCo are huge. The DBacks showed just about as little fire as possible tonight. Who are the fans supposed to get behind? This is supposed to be entertainment, and it just not that entertaining - and unfortunately by head count it seems that most of the available ticket purchasers agree. If we are going to be bad, then play the future. Why does Byrnes play every night? He is not exactly all that spectacular. I will stay interested to see Upton play, but with Salazar and Byrnes at the corners, not so much. Just one of several frustrations.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

So then there is hope, so don't be so upset up there on your horse! You said it yourself, that "most predicted to go nowhere". So if people are still predicting that, then why does that bother you? I will agree that no game is an absolute no-holds-barred must win until it is the mathematical elimination game, but these games at home against the dregs of the division who just limped out of PetCo are huge. The DBacks showed just about as little fire as possible tonight. Who are the fans supposed to get behind? This is supposed to be entertainment, and it just not that entertaining - and unfortunately by head count it seems that most of the available ticket purchasers agree. If we are going to be bad, then play the future. Why does Byrnes play every night? He is not exactly all that spectacular. I will stay interested to see Upton play, but with Salazar and Byrnes at the corners, not so much. Just one of several frustrations.

You haven't found this season entertaining?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Who cares? Bring him in and see what he's got. That's the point.

Pena came in, hit a batter and walked the next on 4 pitches. Even if you don't pull him after the next batter...you've got to pull him after he gave up the first (huge) homer.

Pena showed that he didn't have his stuff tonight, but Melvin chose not to pull him. Bad decision. Period.

I wasn't arguing that Pena shouldn't have been pulled, just disagreeing with the original poster's statement that Pena shouldn't have been in the game in the first place.

 

[Brian]

Who cares? Bring him in and see what he's got. That's the point.

Pena came in, hit a batter and walked the next on 4 pitches. Even if you don't pull him after the next batter...you've got to pull him after he gave up the first (huge) homer.

Pena showed that he didn't have his stuff tonight, but Melvin chose not to pull him. Bad decision. Period.

Exactly.



I don't know of too many other managers in that situation who wouldn't have given him the hook.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

You haven't found this season entertaining?

In some ways yes, but it is not my dollar that the team is after. I was born and raised in Mesa, but no longer live in the valley. I catch the games on FSNAZ whenever I can. I have been elated during a game only a few times this season. Perhaps it was just the ones that I have seen. I do check scores, I DO WANT THE TEAM TO WIN. But without offense, baseball is just too boring to watch on TV. A pitchers duel is OK in the park. I will watch young guys struggle in favor of veterans struggle. There is some interest there for me. But when I see that Upton is not playing, or that Young has been pulled, meh...

 

[Brian in Mesa]

We're going to the game tomorrow. Sitting where we usually do - just above the left field bullpen. Expecting to have a blast and hope to see a win. Most of the games we've gone to this year were wins, including the 16 K game by Peavy.

Go Diamondbacks !!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

We're going to the game tomorrow. Sitting where we usually do - just above the left field bullpen. Expecting to have a blast and hope to see a win. Most of the games we've gone to this year were wins, including the 16 K game by Peavy.

Go Diamondbacks !!

ASFN is counting on you then.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

ASFN is counting on you then.

We'll do what we can !!

 

[az240zz]

This was going to be a tough game to win from the beginning. This line up was terrible.. You have Drew, hitting below .230, as leadoff and then Salazar batting second was a disaster. If Young isn't going to lead off than the lead off batter has to be who ever is playing second base with Young batting second aND Drew batting 8th.

I have also noticed that Melvin rarely has a second pitcher warming up in the 7th or 8th innings. Its like he thinks that Cruz and Pena are invincible and that there is no need to have someone ready in case they are off. Tonight he should have had a left hander warming up, in case Pena was off, to pitch to the lefty Winn and then have another righty ready should the left get Winn.

The Giants did this in the bottom of the 7th and held us to only 3 runs. Maybe with a little forsight we might have won this game.

Could it be that the team is feeling the preassure and that the players and manager are tighting up?

We will see during this homestand.

az240z

 

[AZ Sports Native]

Bob Melvin is an incompetent manager. Did you see the look on his face after that 3-run homer? He is a freakin' moron. Is this the guy we really want to manage this team?

Melvin is an idiot. Let's see. Padres already won. D-Backs JUST took the lead 5-3 after being asleep all night at the plate. What do you do?

Pena: 1st pitch, hit batter. Runner on first.

Pena: 1st pitch, 6 feet high (Ball one). 2nd pitch, bounces 4 feet in front of the plate, (ball two). 3rd and 4th....same result. runners on first and second.

Me? I pull Pena NOW. He obviously doesn't have it tonight and the Padres have already won. Melvin? uhhhhhhh, hey better get Lyon warmed up.

Pena: Home run to Randy Winn. Giants take the lead 6-5.

Melvin? Stand there and twitch, pick face, cross arms, piss pants.

Pena: Gives up a double.

Melvin? Hmmmmmmm, maybe I should do something. Aw, the heck with it. Pena will pull it together. He's my boy. Besides, what's a little hit batter, walk on 4 pitches, home run, and a double? Just a string of bad luck.

Pena: Gives up ANOTHER home run. (Eric Byrnes has now hit Melvin over the head with a 34 oz. bat and made the call to the bullpen). Melvin lies on the dugout out floor twitching, picking face, crossing arms, and pissing pants.

Enter Nippert. Retires the Giants with no further harm done.

Melvin is a genius.

Could not agree more with you guys. I've been debating this with anyone who will listen since this guy was hired (out of desperation because of the Wally Backman debacle). He is the worst manager in baseball in my opinion. This team wins DESPITE him. Why did he take Cruz out? Cruz was locked in and pitching great... why mess with this? Why is Drew hitting in the lead-off spot? This is a guy hitting below .230 for an ENTIRE FREAKING SEASON!! He should have been sent down months ago! At the very least, put him down in the bottom of the order where he belongs. Melvin managed to take a very good Seattle team and destroy them, now we are stuck with him. Fire him now and promote Kirk Gibson.

I shall now step off of my .

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Interesting take from Nick Piecoro, his intro sure makes you wonder if he reads these boards from time to time. He brings up a good point that if you pull Pena for Lyon, you effectively make both of your 8th inning guys unavailable for tonight.

Since a lot of folks are jumping all over Bob Melvin for his handling of Tony Pena in the eighth inning last night – “What was he thinking leaving him in so long?” – I figured someone has to come to his defense. I don’t think Melvin was wrong in his thinking here.

I’m not saying he was entirely in the clear – he made some judgment calls. But there are a lot of factors to consider when wondering why he did or didn’t make a pitching change.

Before going any farther, let me say I wasn’t at the game last night. I didn’t see who was up in the bullpen other than what they showed on television. This is just me thinking along with the manager, with no additional info.

Here’s how it all unfolded, an inning that began with Pena on the mound and the Diamondbacks leading 5-3:

1) First pitch drills Kevin Frandsen in the back.

2) Four-pitch walk to Dave Roberts.

Obviously, there are alarm bells going off at this point, so Melvin gets Brandon Lyon up in the bullpen. It’s still a two-run lead, so he’s probably thinking that Pena is gone if someone else reaches base.

3) Pena strikes out Rajai Davis on three pitches. The first two were fastballs that probably would have been strikes that were fouled off on failed bunt attempts, the third pitch a perfect slider out of the strike zone that draws a swing-and-miss.

So, at this point, Melvin leaves Pena in to face Randy Winn. Easy call. Pena has been one of the team’s most valuable relievers (in my opinion, at least as valuable as Jose Valverde, if not more so) and he appears to have settled down with a three-pitch strikeout.

4) Throws a 95 mph fastball away to Winn, who fouls it off. Good pitch. Strike one. Throws a beautiful slider that Wynn can’t check his swing on. Strike two. So that’s five straight strikes, all very good pitches. Then comes the mistake: 0-2 fastball over the middle. Winn crushes it. 6-5 Giants lead.

OK, now things have changed considerably. Lyon was up in the bullpen and, yes, it is still a one-run game.
But if you go to Lyon here, you are essentially taking him out of play for Tuesday night since Lyon pitched on Sunday. Not once this season has Lyon, who has a history of arm problems, pitched three consecutive days.

So Melvin gets Dustin Nippert up in the bullpen. (Or at least this is when I assume he got him up. They did not show it on television and didn’t talk about it, either.)

5) Pena throws two pitches and gets an easy groundout from Bengie Molina.

6) Three pitches to Nate Schierholtz. Two sliders, one very good, then a fastball that gets drilled for a double.

Decision time again. Do you go to Lyon for just one out and take him out of play for Tuesday night’s game? Yes, this was an important game, but at this point, they were already losing. Personally, I don’t go to Lyon there, and instead anticipate using him in the late innings on Tuesday.

Also, I’m assuming you can’t go to Nippert yet – he probably wasn’t quite ready, and pitching coach Bryan Price had already gone to the mound to talk to Pena earlier in the inning, so you can’t kill too much more time.

This was a span of five pitches that were thrown since Nippert had been told to get warm (we’re assuming). And it all happened very quickly. Watching the video again, Pena gives up the home run to Winn and, two minutes and 30 seconds later, Feliz stepped in. Not much time at all.

7) Feliz hits a first-pitch hanging slider for a two-run home run.

8) Melvin removes Pena for Nippert.

And if you’re going to say he should have had someone else ready just in case, well, managing a bullpen just doesn’t work that way. You can’t have everyone up and ready at all times.

This is a long season, guys’ arms are tired at this point. Asking guys to warm up, even if they don’t enter the game, is still asking them to throw. A lot of relievers ice their arms after games in which they only warm up.

Yeah, Melvin could have done it differently. Things didn't work out. Oh well. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt here. He has handled this bullpen and team pretty well throughout the season -- well enough that a lot of folks consider him the manager of the year favorite.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NickPiecoro

 

[Brian in Mesa]

We're going to the game tomorrow. Sitting where we usually do - just above the left field bullpen. Expecting to have a blast and hope to see a win. Most of the games we've gone to this year were wins, including the 16 K game by Peavy.

Go Diamondbacks !!

ASFN is counting on you then.

We'll do what we can !!

WOOHOO !!

 

[Black Jesus]

get over it. he got to 0-2 with two good pithes and had one bad pitch... yeah it cost the dbacks the game, but he has definitely been the best pitcher out of the bullpen for us in terms of the whole season, with Lyon second to him and then Valverde.