Ok, maybe there was some strategy by Wedge, but some KEY strategical moments were missed.

Since I only got to see portions of the three games, I'll focus on one key moment from the third game that disappointed me.

In the pivotal sixth inning the Indians had runners on first and second and Ben Broussard up.

Those who watch the Indians closely know that whenever Ben drives in a run with a single and the throw goes home, Ben goes to second on the throw home, EVERYTIME!

Bens one of the most adventurous at always getting that extra base, and he usually succeeds.

So tonight, when Ben hit the single to the outfield with runners on first and second, SKINNER SHOULD HAVE SENT THE LEAD RUNNER HOME! Even if the lead runner is thrown out at the plate, we'll still have runners on second and third, and only one out.

If Skinner had made that move, the next hit by Casey Blake would have have driven in one or two runs, probably two.

We walk out of that inning scoring at least two or three runs rather than one. The out at home is never as tragic when multiple runners are already on base because each runner will move up a base on the throw home.

Here's proof at how ill thought out Skinners decision to not send the runner was. When we have runners on first and second, no outs, and we sac them over, what's the result(well, usually we can't get the bunt down, but when we do...)???

The result from a successful sac bunt would runners on second and third, one out. So If Skinner sends the lead runner and he's thrown out, but Ben takes second on the throw home and the runner who was on first naturally goes to third, the end result is runners on second and third, one out, WHICH IS THE SAME RESULT AS IF WE HAD LAID DOWN A SUCCESSFUL SAC BUNT!

So the worst thing that can result from sending the runner home on a single is no different than if we had excecuted a SUCCESSFUL sac bunt!!!!

Why the heck not "risk it" at the plate if the worst that can happen is what happens when you SUCCESSFULLY sac two runners over!

Determining whether you send a runner home should not just be predicated on whether one thinks they will make it, it should also be determined by HOW MANY baserunners you have AND if they can get the extra base on the throw home.

We only scored one run that inning and it was ill-advised station to station baserunning that did in the inning.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 23, 2005 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>