Ausmus Answers Second-Guessing After Tuesday Night Loss
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
Hindsight is 20/20.
That's why, in the aftermath of the Tigers' 6-2 loss to the Twins on Tuesday night, Brad Ausmus came under fire for a slew of fatal decisions.
First, the skipper chose to leave Anibal Sanchez in the game to start the seventh inning. Sanchez had pitched well through six, as well as he has at any point this season, and had struck out the side in the previous two frames. At 92 pitches, Ausmus figured he had some gas left in the tank.
"The sixth inning was strong, and he was facing the bottom three guys in the lineup," Ausmus explained.
But Sanchez walked Kennys Vargas before allowing a single to Kurt Suzuki. That spelled the end for the right-hander, and set the stage for Ausmus' second key decision.
With men on first and second and none out, he brought in middle-reliever Bruce Rondon. As for why he didn't turn to one of his more trusted set-up men, such as Shane Greene or Justin Wilson, Ausmus explained he was compelled by circumstance.
"I was trying to stay away from Wilson because he had gotten up two days ago twice in the bullpen, pitched the day before that, pitched [Monday], so I was trying to avoid him," Ausmus said. "Greene could've pitched but if I pitch Greene in the seventh and we take the lead, then Rondon has to pitch in the 8th, anyway. So I just felt like Rondon was the guy there – first and second, he's got the ability to get the strikeout and help you get out of the inning. It just didn't work."
Part of the reason it didn't work, of course, was because Rondon gave up three hits, including a two-run blast to Brian Dozier that pushed the Twins' lead to 6-0. But Ausmus conceivably had a chance to limit the damage three hitters earlier, when All-Star Eduardo Nunez stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third and one out.
Instead of intentionally walking Nuñez, who's batting .312, to go after the weaker-hitting Robbie Grossman (.282), Ausmus let Rondon attack the Twins' lead-off man. Nuñez singled to center to score Vargas and Suzuki. With one out and Joe Mauer in the hole, Ausmus explained, it was a pick-your-poison scenario.
"If you don't get a double play [after walking Nuñez] then you got Mauer. So you're assuming double play."
The decision to pitch Rondon was the one that did the Tigers in. A 1-0 deficit quickly ballooned to 6-0, putting the game on ice. But the move that drew the most ire from the fans, it seemed, was one Ausmus chose not to make.
Having cut the the Twins' lead to 6-2 in the ninth, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out against right-hander Brandon Kintzler. Next up was James McCann, hitting .200 on the season and a dreadful .165 against righties. With left-handed hitters Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Tyler Collins on the bench, both of whom have considerably more power than McCann, Ausmus stuck with McCann.
McCann promptly struck out.
That brought another right-handed hitter to the plate in Jose Iglesias. Again the fans clamored for Saltalamacchia or Collins. Again Ausmus declined.
Again Kintzler struck his man out.
But the stats, Ausmus pointed out, suggested it was the right move.
"I thought about [pinch-hitting], but if you look at Kinztler's numbers right-handers actually him a lot better than lefties, significantly better."
Indeed, Kintzler has allowed a .269/.290/.433 slash line against righties this season, compared to just .158/.179/.368 against lefties.
Ultimately, Ausmus' decisions backfired on Tuesday night. But his rationale was sound.
The failed move isn't always the wrong one.
