Counsell Fails to Play Small Ball, About to Blow it Late in Game Again. Villar Boots Easy Double Play Tag Out.
For the 3rd time in the last week Craig Counsell has failed to play small ball late in a game and it's cost him. Well to be fair this game is still up for grabs as the Brewers are tied 2-2 with the Cubs still batting in the 8th inning. The Brewers have just pulled in Corey Kenebel to replace Josh Hader in an inning that if not for a Jonathon Villar drop of an easy tag out would be over. In my mind though the game was over when the Brewers failed to extend their 2-1 lead the inning prior.
It goes like this, though Villar cost the Brewers a big run late in the game it was the inning before with the Crew at the plate where Counsell likely cost the Brewers the game. After a lead off double by Perez and the bottom of the order due up in a 2-1 game, Counsell elected to have them all swing away instead of trying to manufacture a run. Instead of pinch running for a slow Perez and bunting that pinch runner down to third, Counsell let's Jonathon Villar swing away! Strike 1,2 & 3 and the runner was still on 2nd base. The next 2 guys strike out as well and just like that the Crew had blown a golden opportunity to extend the lead to 3-1. What's especially heart breaking about Counsell's strategy not to manufacture a run is that he has his 2 bullpen aces fresh and ready to go. If the Brewers would have extended the lead to 2 runs you would have to feel good about their chances of winning with Hader and Knebel pitching the rest of the way. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Counsell has employed this strategy.
In the series versus the 17 win White Sox, Counsell elected to swing away in lieu of playing small ball late in the 2nd and 3rd games of the series. Luckily the strategy worked out for the Crew in the 2nd game. The Brewers won 5-0 even after failing to plate a run in back to back innings with a runner on 3rd and nobody out. Of course had the Brewers played small ball in the 2nd game it still likely would have worked out because the Sox ended up being shut out. Just because the Brewers won that game didn't make Counsell's strategy correct. He just got lucky in my opinion.
In the third and deciding game versus the White Sox the same strategy of swinging away late in the game with a runner in scoring position and nobody out likely cost the Brewers the game. Had the Brewers been able to manufacture a late run versus the Sox in that 3rd game and take the lead then we all know what would have happened next. Hader and Knebel would have come in and closed the door on the 17 win Sox. It was a mistake by Counsell that cost the Brewers not only a W in the Win column but may have cost them some confidence too!
Counsell's refusal to play small ball is incredibly thick considering he has the best bullpen in the majors at his disposal. It is mind blowing to me that he doesn't try to scratch across any and every run possible late in games. Lead off doubles by slow players should lead to an instant pinch runner with speed. Everyone should know how to bunt a baseball and bunt it well. Speed and small ball is a deadly combination late in games because it applies pressure on the opposition. The pressure is even greater on opposing teams knowing they'll have to face Hader and Knebel with a 2 or 3 run deficit.
All in all Counsell's refusal to play fundamental baseball in tight situations is going to cost the Brewers in the end. Great pitching doesn't allow too many home runs and if the Brewer's are fortunate enough to make the playoffs this year they are going to be facing great pitching. Learn to play some "Small Ball" Craig or the Brewers are going to waste a great season!!
Update: I called this Brewer's game! I said they were going to lose after blowing the 2-1 lead that should have been 3-1 and lose they did in the 11th inning! The Brewers ended up taking 2 of 3 in this series but it could have been and should have been a sweep. I should truly manage the Brewers!