Jose Reyes Makes Pitching Moves?
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From Ranting Grant
http://rantinggrant.blogspot.com
Jose Reyes steals bases. He hits for average. He has some power too. He plays great defense. He wreaks havoc on the basepaths.
And, apparently, he now has the ability to control opposing managers.
During yesterday's Mets game against the Brewers, Reyes came to the plate with two outs in the top half of the 6th inning, and Lastings Milledge on first. Milwaukee starter Chris Capuano had thrown only 88 pitches, but he had been laboring. He had allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk, and it was likely that Capuano - a lefty - would be lifted regardless of the outcome of Reyes' at-bat.
But Reyes singled for the Mets' 10th hit and Milledge advanced to third, putting runners on the corners.
Strangely, Capuano stayed in the ballgame. And Mets play-by-play announcer Howie Rose offered the explanation that perhaps the lefty, who has an exceptional pickoff move, was staying in the game to keep Reyes on first.
Wait, what? A pitcher was staying in the ballgame to keep a runner on first? Are you serious? That couldn't possibly be the reason why. Could it?
I thought for a moment, and it made sense. Capuano had thrown 93 pitches, just allowed a hit that put a runner in scoring position, and was facing a right-handed contact hitter with a reliever ready in the pen. Yet Ned Yost kept him the ballgame. As ridiculous as it sounds, there could not be any other reason than to prevent Reyes from going any further.
Regardless, Reyes stole second on the second pitch of the at-bat, but Castillo popped out to end the inning on pitch number three. Capuano's day was done after six.
Retrospectively, it still seems a little bizarre that a manager would keep a pitcher out there to hold on a baserunner who could only score if the batter he was facing reached base. But the numbers don't give any other reason for Capuano to have stayed in, especially with the game still a two-run contest.
Capuano's average/obp against is .256/.322 against lefties, and .275/.341 against righties, so that rules out justification for him facing Castillo. He has a .304 average against with two outs and RISP, so it's not like he buckles down in big moments. And when he throws pitches 91 and higher- his 91st was his fourth pitch to Reyes - he has a .333 average allowed. And the Mets have gotten to him this season to the tune of a .370 average against.
The stats provide zero justification for Capuano staying the ballgame, meaning only one thing - Howie Rose was right. Chris Capuano was in there solely to keep Jose Reyes at bay.
