Batter's Box is pleased to introduce a new feature- You be the Manager. From time to time this season, we will post a difficult managerial hypothetical situation, and you, our loyal readers, will give us your answers. You may not always be the Manager of the Blue Jays in our hypotheticals, but you will always be in charge!
That means doing any research you think is necessary, and explaining your decision. On to our first situation: the Nervous Ninth.
It's 3 weeks into the season, and the Jays sit at 13-7 and tied for the division lead with the Yankees. Roy Halladay starts for the Jays against Randy Johnson in a Friday night game opening a series in Yankee Stadium after a Thursday off for both teams. Halladay has previously made 4 fine starts, sits at 3-0 and in his last start went 8 innings and threw 95 pitches. He seems to be showing no ill effects of his leg injury. The Yanks score first in the second inning when Jason Giambi slams a double off the centerfield wall and Hideki Matsui follows it up with a double up the left-centerfield gap. The Jays take the lead in the top of the 5th on a 2 run homer by Aaron Hill and Halladay makes the lead stand up through 8. His line at that point is 4 hits, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts, and has thrown 80 pitches. In the bottom of the 8th, he sets down Jeter, A-Rod and Sheffield in order on 2 Ks and a groundout. His mechanics look absolutely perfect. B.J. Ryan, who has been unscored upon in 5 appearances during the season with 6 strikeouts in 5 innings, warmed in the pen in case of trouble, but there was not even a thought of it in the eighth.
Johnson sets the Jays down in the top of the ninth and sets the stage for the rousing bottom of the ninth. The Jays lead 2-1. Giambi (who's 1-2 with a walk), Matsui (also 1-2 with a walk) and Posada (1-3) are due up. So, your questions for the day are:
a. who starts the ninth- Halladay or Ryan?
b. if you decided to leave Halladay in and Giambi draws a walk on a close 3-2 pitch, who faces Matsui?
c. would your answers have been different if the Yanks' run had been scored on doubles by Jeter and A-Rod?
d. would your answers have been different if the score was 3-1? 1-0?
Over to you, Bauxites.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060324112757187