***Official 2021 STL Cardinals Thread***

[Rams Fan]

There was literally no good option unless you trusted Mikolas coming out of the bullpen in that situation.

That's an indictment on Mo.

I would have had no problem with Mikolas or Kim starting the 9th, but to put them in a situation like that, which they aren't used to in the middle of an inning, is asking for disaster.

Hudson or Flaherty would've resulted in Wacha 2.0

Retrospect: Shildt should've just done an opener strategy with Lester, then have Wainwright or Mikolas come in.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

There was literally no good option unless you trusted Mikolas coming out of the bullpen in that situation.

That's an indictment on Mo.

I would have had no problem with Mikolas or Kim starting the 9th, but to put them in a situation like that, which they aren't used to in the middle of an inning, is asking for disaster.

Hudson or Flaherty would've resulted in Wacha 2.0

Retrospect: Shildt should've just done an opener strategy with Lester, then have Wainwright or Mikolas come in.

If you go with Mikolas, you're facing Lux and probably McKinney. I like facing Pujols and Souza quite a bit more there. Additionally, Gallegos finger thing popped up fairly quickly and so Mikolas wouldn't have had a ton of time to get warm. Why go to a starter yet when you have an effective lefty reliever already warm who can burn some of the Dodgers (already short) bench? And there's really no good argument starting Kim in the 9th over McFarland, who's significantly out-pitched Kim of late.

I'm not just throwing shit at the wall here - I've gone through this before I said something as stupid as "Why not Happ or Lester?!?!". He had 2 choices, - Reyes and Whitley. There aren't very good arguments in favor of literally anyone else we had available.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

If you go with Mikolas, you're facing Lux and probably McKinney. I like facing Pujols and Souza quite a bit more there. Additionally, Gallegos finger thing popped up fairly quickly and so Mikolas wouldn't have had a ton of time to get warm. Why go to a starter yet when you have an effective lefty reliever already warm who can burn some of the Dodgers (already short) bench? And there's really no good argument starting Kim in the 9th over McFarland, who's significantly out-pitched Kim of late.

I'm not just throwing shit at the wall here - I've gone through this before I said something as stupid as "Why not Happ or Lester?!?!". He had 2 choices, - Reyes and Whitley. There aren't very good arguments in favor of literally anyone else we had available.

I am throwing shit out there because I literally have no idea what else could have been done to avoid that situation(start of the the 9th) other than doing something like that, praying you get to extras. Or go to an opener strategy.

I still wouldn't want Mikolas or Kim coming in the middle of an inning.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

I am throwing shit out there because I literally have no idea what else could have been done to avoid that situation(start of the the 9th) other than doing something like that, praying you get to extras. Or go to an opener strategy.

I still wouldn't want Mikolas or Kim coming in the middle of an inning.

Right - I'm not criticizing you. You've been even-handed here.

I agree that if you go with Mikolas or Kim, it's to start the inning. I'm simply pointing out that I've even considered that possibility and I don't see either of those as better options than going with a lefty who's forced himself into the circle of trust and who really created some issues with the Dodger bench. Additionally, he was the best suited guy to get out of the inning clean because if he gets the two pinch hitters out, he's facing a guy in Bellinger who was, I shit you not, worse than Matt Carpenter this year. Folks, Cody Bellinger had a .383 OPS against lefties this year. Not OBP, Not SLG - his O.P.S. against lefties was .383.

Of COURSE you look to a lefty to start that inning. You force Roberts to burn a couple bench options and take out a couple starters. And you theoretically get the easiest AB of the game you'll get in a lefty vs. Bellinger matchup. McFarland walked him. Inning should've been over right then and again, Mike can't throw 'em for him. It was an awful walk at the worst possible time.

But the setup was right there. Shildt pulled the right lever starting that inning with McFarland.