They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack.
  -James Earl Jones "Field of Dreams"
and don't go mistaking paradise for that home across the road
  -Bob Dylan "Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest"

Monday, May 28, 2007

Really poor choice

The Diamondbacks were winning 5-1, José Valverde had been warming up, but since the Dbacks scored 2 in the top of the 9th, it was no longer a save situation. Melvin puts him in anyway. I immediately say that this is a bad idea, that he will not be focused, that he will end up giving up runs and ultimately screwing up his confidence. The guy is really fragile, and although he is leading the league in saves, he was riding high last year before he fell apart and got sent down to AAA. Sure enough, he walks the first batter, the second gets a hit. After retiring Philly's big bopper Ryan Howard and the red hot Aaron Rowand, he gives up a home run to the next guy and it is a 5-4 nailbiter. Two baserunners later, Valverde is pulled for Brandon Lyon, who gets the last out. This was all Bob Melvin's fault, he never should have put Valverde in that situation. We can only hope that this doesn't screw up the big tater's psyche.

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