Billy Butler, whose nickname on Baseball Reference is "Country Breakfast" meaning this was probably the last time I'll be visiting Billy Butler's BR page, is scheduled to hit with the potential winning run at first and one out.
Butler had been having another good season in a career full of good seasons - .285/.375/.418 coming in - and with 24 doubles and 14 home runs there was a decent chance he'd be able to drive in the winning run, or perhaps just get that runner to third with less than two outs. Instead, KC manager Ned Yost decided to pinch-hit with Pedro Ciriaco, whose nickname is "Doesn't Deserve Breakfast".
Ciriaco had been claimed off waivers from San Diego on July 16 after hitting .226 (26-for-115) for Boston and the Padres.
Apparently, THIS was the time to get the Pedro Ciriaco in KC Era™ underway. Chance Ruffin was out of the Seattle pen to make his first appearance since 2011.
"Finally, Ruffin vs. Ciriaco!"
- Baseball historian Darren Durly
Ruffin got the better of Ciriaco in their first match up, getting a three-pitch strike out. Kansas City wouldn't score in the inning.
Oh, almost forgot to mention one other thing about Butler: in his first five plate appearances he had gone 5-for-5.
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ReplyDeleteYou're a moron.
ReplyDeleteCiriaco pinch ran for Butler in the 9th when Butler led off the inning with a single.
While I had my doubts about pulling a quality hitter like Butler who was 5 for 5 in a tie game, the decision is far more rational than you make it sound.
If you had actually checked the play by play, you would have noticed that Ciriaco stole 2nd with one out, which gave the Royals two shots at a walkoff win---something the slow-footed Butler could not have done.
Maybe this is reason no. 124,332 why you're a blogger and don't have a real job writing.
JohnnyV13, you're right. I had missed Butler being pinch-ran for in the ninth. Thanks for catching it.
ReplyDeleteI still stand by my Ned Yost is an idiot tag and my brilliant I don't know what I'm doing poster.
johnnyv -- you are absolutely right. I was at that game and to pinch run Billy was the right thing to do -- figured we'd get the "W" before he'd even have to bat!
ReplyDeleteSorry for being so harsh Derwood. I'm a Yardbarker blogger too, and I was a bit annoyed my story didn't get picked up by Fox in favor a guy who got his facts wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut, to tell the truth, I've gotten facts wrong too.