Quote:
Originally Posted by jd1020
Forget the HR he hit. What about the 2 strike changeup he spit on just before hitting it.
The Phillies got a former MVP for $25M AAV when guys in his circle are starting to push $35M+. He then won another MVP for the Phillies. And after he hit that HR, even the ****ing Phillies owner told him he thinks he underpaid him.
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Or the 1-2 sinker that was exactly where Squarez wanted it that Harper fought off to stay alive.
Suarez will have nightmares about that AB for the rest of his life. There just wasn't a shitload he could do there. Maybe you argue that Suarez should've elevated that 1-2 fastball just a little bit more and perhaps Harper swings through it. But once Harper got into a 2-strike count, he was going to be really hard to retire away.
If there's a complaint there, it's pitch sequencing. Suarez was scared to death to come inside to him and Harper is clearly protecting at that point. Suarez had worked away the entire AB and still had a pitch to work with at 2-2.
He probably should've tried to back-door that sinker to see if he could get Harper to roll over it. You gave him too many pitches on the outer 3rd and let him get that oppo stroke dialed in. When he fouled off that 2-2 sinker, it was time to get in his kitchen. Especially after he laid off that change the next pitch.
At that point, you know you're looking to mitigate damage more than 'win' the AB. He see's seeing you well enough to just completely ignore your best pitch. So you're gonna play for a little but of luck or a single. Having just gone changeup away, flipping to sinker in might have gotten you that grounder to 2b you're looking for here.