Game 152: Francona, Gagne Blow Late Lead… Sox Lead In AL East Cut to 2 1/2 |

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Game 152: Francona, Gagne Blow Late Lead… Sox Lead In AL East Cut to 2 1/2

By Administrator | September 19, 2007

To all of you Terry Francona apologists: this loss is owned by the manager, as well as by Eric Gagne. Maybe moreso!

Eric Gagne has had exactly ONE flawless inning of relief since being acquired by the Red Sox… and in nearly 1/2 of his outings he has allowed at least one run (he has allowed 13 runs in 14 IP since being acquired by Boston). So, in my opinion, Tito had almost no business bringing Gagne into a one-run game this evening — and he had NO BUSINESS bringing him in with anything but the shortest of leashes.

Do NOT tell me that Gagne retired the first two batters in the inning and, thus, Francona was justified in giving the big righty the extra latitude. Poppycock! Francona’s job is to minimize the potential for implosions like tonight’s — and he did NOTHING but sit back and look on. Like Nero fiddling. IF the manager felt compelled to use Gagne (we gave up Kason Gabbard and David Murphy for this guy?), then he SHOULD have been prepared to yank him — just in case.

Remember, Gagne has allowed runs in nearly half of his outings since arriving in Boston.

The first batter tried to reach on a bunt and the next batter ripped a line drive to shortstop… hardly an overwhelming performance by the reliever to that point. If Tito had not had another reliever warming in the bullpen when the inning began, he certainly should have had someone out there when Gagne walked Frank Thomas… or when Aaron Hill singled to left field. Finally, Papelbon was told to begin warming up after Gagne walked Matt Stairs (whom he got ahead of 0-2, but then threw four consecutive balls — NONE of which were close to the plate).

And because Papelbon wasn’t ready to come into the game, Gagne walked the next batter (Greg Zaun) to force in the tying run.

Time to pull Gagne, yet? N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! Tito left the poor SOB out there to get raked for the game winning double by light-hitting Russ Adams.

Oh yeah… Gagne never did record the third out in the inning… Zaun ran into the third out by getting thrown out at home on the Adams double. Otherwise, Gagne might still be pitching and we all might still be watching the tortured nightmare.

It was an embarrassing performance by our manager… or, should I say, LACK of performance by our manager. His post-game comment? “That’s (Gagne’s) inning to get out of”.

Are you kidding me?

The late-inning implosion by the reliever and the manager wasted a nice outing by southpaw Jon Lester — who threw three-hit ball over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two walks and two hits, including an rbi-double by Alex Rios, in a rough first inning but then settled down to pitch a relatively solid game, albeit inefficient ( he walked four and threw 108 pitches in 6 2/3 IP).

The Red Sox took a 2-1 lead on rbi-doubles by Jason Varitek (4th inning) and David Ortiz (5th inning)… otherwise, the offense left five men stranded in scoring position over the first five innings and hit into two double plays. After surrendering the lead, Blue Jays starter A J Burnett then retired twelve Red Sox in a row from the fifth inning through the ninth inning — until Julio Lugo touched him for a solo HR with two outs in the final inning. Lefty reliever Scott Downs then came into the game and struck out Jacoby Ellsbury to end the game.

Gee, Toronto had a reliever warming in the bullpen to replace a starting pitcher who had retired twelve straight batters… yet, we didn’t have anyone warming up to support Eric “Gag-Me” Gagne.

[Similarly, tonight in LA, Angels manager Mike Scioscia pulled starting pitcher John Lackey from the game in the top of the ninth inning -- while pitching a shutout -- as soon as the big Texan allowed ONE baserunner in the inning. This despite having a 2-0 lead. But in Toronto it was Gagne's inning to get out of... argh!]

The Red Sox were out-coached in this game… and as a result, our lead in the chase for the best record in the AL has been sliced to 1/2 game (it was four games a week ago). If I were John Henry, I would be talking to Joe Girardi as soon as the World Series is over (you see, I believe the Sox will win it all again, IN SPITE OF Francona).

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After the game, Francona said: “It looked like he wanted to throw it through the backstop instead of remembering what makes him Gagne. He got a little revved up. Johnny (pitching coach John Farrell) tried to go out and slow him down and it didn’t end up very well”.

Jeez!

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After the game, Jason Varitek spoke of the final Blue Jays at-bat: “(Gagne) made some pitches that could go either way and he didn’t get any of those calls”. Ummm, sorry Jason, but from where we sat at home the umpiring looked pretty good… it was the pitching that left something to be desired!

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Former Red Sox OF Matt Stairs played in his 1,532nd career game, passing Terry Puhl for second-most played by a Canadian-born player… Larry Walker (1988) tops the list.

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Topics: Sox Games, Sox Players |

2 Responses to “Game 152: Francona, Gagne Blow Late Lead… Sox Lead In AL East Cut to 2 1/2”

Greg Says:
September 19th, 2007 at 1:40 am
Besides leaving Gagne in WAY WAY too long, where’s the outrage for not pinch hitting for .192-hitting Moss in the 9th? From the line up to the 9th inning inaction, this whole game was a managerial boner.
FrankInNH Says:
September 19th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
“Otherwise, Gagne might still be pitching and we all might still be watching the tortured nightmare.”

This line made me laugh. Not a happy laugh, but a laugh nonetheless.

I was only able to watch the initial two innings. I guess I was lucky.

I’m very disappointed in Tito. Everyone who has followed the Sox (even marginally) must have been squirming in their seats when Gagme was brought in. He has been nothing but a Titanic-sized disaster. Why Tito felt it necessary to give him the inning, no matter what, is just beyond comprehension. I almost feel sorry for Eric - I imagine he was glancing over at the dugout, wondering when Tito was gonna’ pull him out of his misery.

Does Francona hate him that much?

I hear you Greg. And I’ve sen about as much of Hinske as I can take. He almost makes me yearn for Wily Mo. Almost.

–F