Well, I’d love to see what the Maddon lovers have to say now. Today, May 17, 2009, the Rays manager, Joe Maddon, decides to put 2 third basemen in the lineup. One was supposed to be a DH. That DH was to be Evan Longoria, who just happens to be hitting among the tops in the majors in many offensive categories, including leading the majors in RBI. But Joe made a bonehead move on the lineup card, and the lineup had to be corrected. Ben Zobrist was the starting third baseman on defense, so he had to stay in the lineup and couldn’t be replaced by Longoria. Instead of having a normal-looking American League lineup with a DH, we had to use Andy Sonnanstine in the offensive lineup. I know that it was probably an honest mistake, but it is a STUPID mistake to have happen in professional baseball. Longoria will be available for substitution later in the game. So, we have that going for us. But having to hit Sonnanstine in the #3 spot in the order is a huge problem. I’ve been critical of Maddon for a while now, and this just adds to it. I’m not saying he should be fired or anything, but I wouldn’t be against it. There is NO EXCUSE for something like this to happen!
NECO
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reader(s)
May 18th, 2009 at 7:00 am
Bonehead,NO, mistake Yes
STUPID,NO, mistake Yes
How ridiculous to call him Bonehead or Stupid.
Guess what? Sonnanstine won the game with his BAT. Should I call Maddon Genius? No, LUCKY
May 18th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I guess instead of who’s on first…it’s who’s on third!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I won’t apologize for calling it a bonehead mistake, because it was. He should have had someone look over it. I’m a high school coach myself, and I have my assistant look over it every game before I leave the office. Yes, Maddon got lucky because our best pitcher happened to be pitching. But if we had lost that game, nobody would have been happy about the mistake. He owned up to it, and I appreciate him doing that. But he should be given crap for it because at the professional level, that should never happen.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
According to May 17,2009 THE HEATER
UPDATE, 1:58: Because the Rays listed both Zobrist and Longoria at third base on the lineup card, they will have to play without the DH, meaning pitcher Andy Sonnanstine is hitting third. Evan Longoria is not in the game and can be used as a substitute.
The lineup is manager Joe Maddon’s responsibility, but he has a quality assurance coach, Todd Greene, and a bench coach Dave Martinez, who are involved in the process as well.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I agree with A.J. The lineup is one of the more important things a manager will have to do in any baseball level. Mistakes happen but the higher the level, the harder it hurts a team. Rays caught a huge break with the circumstances benefiting them regardless.