October 28, 2002
1965 World Series:
Last night I really questioned Dusty Baker's strategy of not having a reliever ready to replace Hernandez at the first sign of trouble (See this post and this post and this post). This morning, I was flipping through the channels and came across the 7th game of the 1965 World Series, LA at Minnesota. Jim Kaat is starting for the Twins. The announcers point out that in the first six games, all the winning pitchers recorded complete games. As Kaat is throwing to the first batter, Maury Wills, the TV cameras show that there are two pitchers warming up in the Twins bullpen! Somehow, the Twins knew in 1965 what Baker didn't know yesterday; that even a great starter can break down quickly, and you have to be prepared for it.
I want to be clear on this. I don't think it was a mistake to start Hernandez over Rueter. But I do think it was a huge mistake not the have Rueter ready to go the second Hernandez showed signs of not being right on. And that happened in the first inning. How Baker didn't have someone ready at a moment's notice is beyond me.
Posted by David Pinto at
07:18 AM
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Baseball