So, I guess Buck's honeymoon is over?

[DrungoHazewood]

Thanks, and I forgot one: our bullpen has an 11-10 record. Yep, as mediocre as the group is, and with only three guys who are worth a damn, Buck has somehow nursed that group into a winning record.

And of course, that just reinforces my opening point about the starting pitching, which is 24-32 and forces the bullpen to pitch 3.2 innings per game.

I'll note than an average bullpen has a record significantly better than .500 because of the nature of the win rule. A starter can't get a win when he goes less than five innings, but he can lose. So almost all come-from-behind wins are credited to the bullpen.

[LookinUp]

I'm surprised to come on here and not see people questioning Buck last night.

Bottom of the 8th, one out, two on base and down by three runs. Why doesn't he pinch hit for Andino there. Scott was waiting for his shot. What reason do we have to save him, or to leave Andino in the game? Andino promptly GIDP.

[OFFNY]

Yes, the honeymoon is over. Trying to be as objective as I can, a 35-43 record in the toughest division in baseball is bad, but not disasterous. Buck has his work cut out for him for the final 84 game of the season. Yes, we'll be asking a lot of him to get this team to finish with a winning record when all is said and done, but that is (the reality of) what we are asking for.

[DrungoHazewood]

Not to mention a guys like Gregg becomes invested in this sort of system. He is not a better pitcher than koji but will get paid a premium for his role.

That's the part I don't understand. Management has not only been willing to very tightly define how pitchers are used, limiting the number of innings and increasing the number of pitchers required, but on top of that they've made many closers much more highly paid than they otherwise would be.

[O'sFanThruJune]

I'm surprised to come on here and not see people questioning Buck last night.

Bottom of the 8th, one out, two on base and down by three runs. Why doesn't he pinch hit for Andino there. Scott was waiting for his shot. What reason do we have to save him, or to leave Andino in the game? Andino promptly GIDP.

I think StL had a lefty warming up in the bullpen in anticipation. I'd guess that Buck was thinking about the L-L matchup, the fact that Scott is hurt and has been hitting poorly, and the fact that Andino was 3-for-3 on the night, and decided to take his chances with Andino. I probably would have gone with Scott there, but I didn't really have a problem with the decision. I was upset when Scott was in the on-deck circle in Reimold's place right before that. If you decide to pinch-hit there, it HAS to be for Andino, not Reimold. Glad he let Reimold hit.