Watching the World Series reminds me...

Sometimes the game is not won or lost in the 9th inning. If your lead is in jeopardy in the 6th, 7th or 8th (or whatever) then shouldn't you use your "closer" then? I mean bases loaded, no outs, 4 to 2 lead in the 6th? The opposition may not get a better opportunity in the final 3 innings, so why not bring on your stopper, the big stud of the bullpen? We all know that if a manger uses the stopper in the 6th and some other guy blows the game in the 8th or 9th, the manager will lose his job. Just not if I was the owner. If the game is lost in the 6th when the closer is relaxing in the bullpen and you send in your 5th best reliever... well that manager should lose his job, too, don't you think? Why not stock your bullpen with more than one "closer"? Just kidding... just use the one you have when the game is on the line. If the game is on the line again later... so be it.

Tonight, the game was on the line, and so LaRussa bring in his closer in the 8th, with one out and a man on 2nd and a one run lead. No problem. Okay so he gave up the tying run, but you had your big guy in there to do the job. If Inge had doubled off Joe Schmo to tie the game, LaRussa would (or should) have been skewered. Win with you best, lose with your best. No problem. Of course, this ignores the fact that Wainright is a closer in the World Series, but thats someone elses story. At least he isn't one of the closers who has to come in at the start of an inning (hello, Huston Street).

And one other thing... Eckstein gets a hit because Granderson fell down? We all know he would have caught it if he hadn't fallen, so it shouldn't be a hit. But to give Granderson an error because he slipped on the sloppy wet field is cruel. So what do you call it? On base due to unexpected forces? Environmental assist?

Its like when a shortstop makes a great diving grab, fires to first and the first baseman can't quite sccop the throw, and the runner goes to second. Or the outfielder makes a great throw to the plate but it takes a bad hop and the catcher can't grab it and make the tag. Has an error been committed? Often times one is given. Mostly on the throw. But thats total B.S. The great play, or trying to make the hard play, and it doesn't work out... how about, no error, or "team" error, charged to no individual player, but an error on the team? If everyone played like Eckstien... just making the play, nothing spectacular... there would be fewer errors, but the game would be nowhere as exciting as it often is. I would rather see Torii Hunter try to make the impossible play...and miss it, than watch everyone just pull back to take the easy route.

Okay, so what am I ranting about? The game is often won or lost (in theory) in innings other than the 9th. Treat it that way. And sometimes, a hit isn't deserved, and neither is an error. Something needs to be done so that events that are not claerly hits or errors can be classified as somw thing other than "hit" or "error".

And don't get me started on "lucky" hits.........