MLB: Maddon about renouncement of Closer Davis: Needed him only for the Save

Cub’s manager Joe Maddon abandoned Closer Wade Davis in NLCS’s 4-1 defeat in game 2, but lost the match in the ninth inning.Would Davis have had to pitch without a leader?Maddon then explained his decision.

nearby

Usually, the closer is the best relief pitcher of a team.Normally, this best pitcher is used above all or even exclusively only in the ninth inning to bring a guide to the finish line in perfect condition.

But this tradition has been increasingly criticized in recent years, thanks in part to the growing importance of analytics: Shouldn’t the best man be used in the most important situation, regardless of inning and score?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relied on his closer Kenley Jansen at the stand from 1:1 after eight innings.He pitched a flawless ninth inning.Maddon left his closer in the bullpen, John Lackey gave Justin Turner’s 3-run homer.

The 63-year-old, who certainly can’t be dismissed as a stubborn manager of the old “We’ve always done it this way, basta!”school, didn’t regret his decision, but not.”I’ve only used[Davis] for the save today,”he explained,”He only had a certain number of pitches in the tank.He could only have pitched one inning, and under these circumstances he would not be warmed up and then he would have stayed outside:” If you had achieved the lead,”he would have pitched.That’s all.”

Maddon’s decision did not work, however.Lackey, actually a starter, had already been punched out of the bull pen the day before.For the first time in his 15-year career, he went to the Mound for two days in a row – and this time he didn’t make a single out.”I put my money on his experience,”Maddon explained.”I really thought John wouldn’t let himself be influenced by that moment.”

Davis, who had thrown 44 pitches in Game 5 against Nationals over 2.1 innings, more than ever before this season, didn’t want to criticize his manager,”You take the ball when the manager asks you to take it,”he just explained.Now the 32-year-old gets another day off.And he will hope to get to Mound with a guided tour on Tuesday in Match 3 in front of his own audience.SPOX shows game 4 on Thursday night at LIVESTREAM FOR FREE.