The Situation

[sikeston bulldog2]

The issue is the K from Nootbaar. The one thing that he can’t do in that situation is strike out. With Scott on second, Nootbaar has to put the ball in play. So many things would have allowed Scott to get to 3B with one out but striking out just can’t happen.

Strike out. Come backer. Pop up. Three killers of a RISP.

[rockondlouie]

Bottom 10th, down 5-4, fastest runner on 2B, 0 outs, 1,2,3 batters due up......

Are you managing in this situation to ensure you tie at the very least? Or, are you managing to win with no regard to at least tying?

I am ensuring the tie and then going for the win.

You have to tie it first before you can win it.

I'd have had VSII stealing during Noot's PA but Oli keeps putting a boat anchor on him.

VSII steals 3rd and you have two shots at a sac fly, three shots w/a hit.

Poor managing by Oli.

[scoutyjones2]

Bottom 10th, down 5-4, fastest runner on 2B, 0 outs, 1,2,3 batters due up......

Are you managing in this situation to ensure you tie at the very least? Or, are you managing to win with no regard to at least tying?

I am ensuring the tie and then going for the win.

How about I’m managing to win, but my first priority is the tieing run.

So if I bunt it looks as if I’m playing the run, but I gotta tie before I can win. So I bunt minimum.

Why bunt. Only three real outcomes can stop me from moving that runner- K, come backer, pop out.

To assure moving the runner you bunt.

Cards players suck at bunting though

It is a fundamental.

How do you fix fundamentals? Whose job is it to fix fundamentals?

Players.

[scoutyjones2]

Bottom 10th, down 5-4, fastest runner on 2B, 0 outs, 1,2,3 batters due up......

Are you managing in this situation to ensure you tie at the very least? Or, are you managing to win with no regard to at least tying?

I am ensuring the tie and then going for the win.

You have to tie it first before you can win it.

I'd have had VSII stealing during Noot's PA but Oli keeps putting a boat anchor on him.

VSII steals 3rd and you have two shots at a sac fly, three shots w/a hit.

Poor managing by Oli.

So you have Argo steal 3b against a RH pitcher with no outs ?
And the top of the order up???
LoL
Noooo. That's ridiculous.

[bccardsfan]

Bottom 10th, down 5-4, fastest runner on 2B, 0 outs, 1,2,3 batters due up......

Are you managing in this situation to ensure you tie at the very least? Or, are you managing to win with no regard to at least tying?

I am ensuring the tie and then going for the win.

You have to tie it first before you can win it.

I'd have had VSII stealing during Noot's PA but Oli keeps putting a boat anchor on him.

VSII steals 3rd and you have two shots at a sac fly, three shots w/a hit.

Poor managing by Oli.

So you have Argo steal 3b against a RH pitcher with no outs ?
And the top of the order up???
LoL
Noooo. That's ridiculous.

I'm with Scouty here. LH batter, easy throw for the catcher. You cannot run into the out there. Given that Noot has been stone cold I would have had him bunting, but I would not have VSII trying to steal. The one thing Noot cannot do there is K, but he has been doing that a LOT lately. Lots went wrong in that game. VSII normally catches that dinger for example. RH has been mediocre at best this season... etc.... Donnie put a good 2 strike swing on that last ball, but just missed it.... These things happen. Why Vilade was in the game was certainly a head scratcher. Just when you think Oli has started to be OK....he makes some bone headed moves....

[rockondlouie]

Bottom 10th, down 5-4, fastest runner on 2B, 0 outs, 1,2,3 batters due up......

Are you managing in this situation to ensure you tie at the very least? Or, are you managing to win with no regard to at least tying?

I am ensuring the tie and then going for the win.

You have to tie it first before you can win it.

I'd have had VSII stealing during Noot's PA but Oli keeps putting a boat anchor on him.

VSII steals 3rd and you have two shots at a sac fly, three shots w/a hit.

Poor managing by Oli.

So you have Argo steal 3b against a RH pitcher with no outs ?
And the top of the order up???
LoL
Noooo. That's ridiculous.

Huh, NOT ridiculous at all.

Of course I let VSII, who's stolen 17 base in 18 attempts, steal 3rd which almost every great base stealer will tell you is EASIER to steal than 2nd.

At the very least you let him go after Noot failed to advance him!

I know your new thing is to stick up for Oli but you have to do it when warranted and not ad hoc.

[bccardsfan]

Also... why is Vilade on this team? He is terrible at the plate. Why didn't they put Donnie in LF and bring up Saggese, who can actually put the bat on the ball? Then why does Oli put Vilade in for Gorman, who has actually started to show signs of life at the plate.....?

[JDW]

Bunting against MLB pitchers isn't easy or a sure thing.
Neither is the stolen base, but I think VS2 is 17 out of 18 so far.
It's hard to keep a runner close to 2B, and the limit on disengagements favor the baserunner. I'd consider the SB a higher success probability than getting the bunt down and successful, and having VS2 at 3B with NOBODY out is a pretty high probability for at least tying the game.
Granted, if VS2 is out at 3B there will be a LOT of 2nd guessing and teeth gnashing, but VS2 might be elite with the SB skill. Take advantage of that elite skill with a different approach than it was Arebado at 2B in the same situation as an example.
It'd be a gutsy call for sure, but in hindsight ...................

Oops, unintentional misspell early, but think I'll leave it.

[Eyelids64]

Nootbar was absolutely in a must bunt situation. 1 Noot is in a very bad K slump situation. If anybody was on the bench that was worth something I would have PH. 2. Once Noot failed the steal becomes critical. Victor could have stolen 3B. Of course the whole mess would have been avoided had Helsley did not blow it. Bottom line is Cardinals not good enough to overcome these disasters.