Reprinted without permission.
There was no Bartman, no Leon Durham error, didn't face Will Clark batting 500 in post season... and there was no goat. Well not a literal goat but the whole team played like one.
No one in the lineup showed up to play. They looked lost and as if they didn't want to be at the plate when things mattered. They hit into more doubleplays in game 3 than runs scored in the whole series. Ramirez was hitless. Soriano only had 2. All 3 sluggers hit into a dp at crucial parts. Not one person got a hit in a key moment in a game. And they had many chances. The pitching wasn't perfect but was good enough in at least 2 of 3 games.
Sadly I think Pinella (whom I normally love) is alot to blame for this lack of wanting to be at the plate when things mattered. What are you telling a team when you aren't playing to win game 1 but are scared about game 4. Now Zambrano won't have to pitch on 3 days rest...rather he will have nearly 6 months rest before he has to report in the spring. This was just flat out embarrassing.
No one in the lineup showed up to play. They looked lost and as if they didn't want to be at the plate when things mattered. They hit into more doubleplays in game 3 than runs scored in the whole series. Ramirez was hitless. Soriano only had 2. All 3 sluggers hit into a dp at crucial parts. Not one person got a hit in a key moment in a game. And they had many chances. The pitching wasn't perfect but was good enough in at least 2 of 3 games.
Sadly I think Pinella (whom I normally love) is alot to blame for this lack of wanting to be at the plate when things mattered. What are you telling a team when you aren't playing to win game 1 but are scared about game 4. Now Zambrano won't have to pitch on 3 days rest...rather he will have nearly 6 months rest before he has to report in the spring. This was just flat out embarrassing.
