This story is old, and it is the same. Once again Joe Maddon has decided to rub it in the fan's face, an not only use Andy Sonnanstine and his career ERA of 5.18 starting tonight, but he refused to pull him until he gave up a 5-0 lead and 8 runs in 3 innings. How can he continue to be so loyal to a AAA pitcher? B. Francisco on the Indians has a career of 8 for 9 against Sonnanstine, with 5 HR, 12 RBI'S, but Joe lets Sonny pitch to him again twice tonight, and a 3 run home run, and RBI single later, and the Rays blow a 5-0 lead, and are down 8-7 after 3 innings. To top it off, Maddon brings in Joe Nelson. the most ineffective reliever, all year when trying to keep the score close, and he gives up 4 runs to make it 12-7. We understand that most of the bullpen has imploded this year, but that is why you have long-relief pitchers, and Maddon could choose to demote some of the bullpen and starters and flat out cut others, but they already started doing that with Kaz and Percy, and it has to continue. People have to start coddling Maddon for his genius, he is anything but a genius, and his constant micro-managing has killed this team. Why keep using pitchers that can't pitch, AAA can't be worse at this point, really. That's why you groom players. The RAYS are 6 out after tonight, amazing considering this is the 12th game Maddon has mis-managed and cost the Rays a win. 4 losses in a row, and don't blame injuries. This team could have won 3 of the last 4 if Maddon didn't mis-manage, so let's not blame injuries. Pitchers aren't performing, Upoton is terrible, but the bottom line is Maddon keeps using the players that don't produce instead of the ones that do. It's time for an overhaul from AAA, bring up Joyce, Ruggiano, Davis, and keep Thayer for a bit. Demote Sonny, Upton, and Balfour if need be, and do whatever they can with Nelson. This team is going nowhere as it is. 10 Runs should win a game on Monday, 7 runs should win on Wednesday, but not with Joe Maddon and his micro-managing and use of pitchers. This 3 year extension is going to cost the Rays their season ticket sales, and game day sales starting Friday. Several season ticket holders have already listed their tickets on Stubhub, you can check it out at stubhub.com, and it will only get worse until the Rays decide they actually give a damn about this team and the fans. Enough is enough, if Maddon is so sold on his moneyball and stats, why is Sonny pitching period, and why is he pitching to Francisco? These stats are only good to Maddon when he wants to make a point for his methods, but his inconsistent use of these same stats he claims to be his Bible, show that he really is clueless and only uses stats for match ups, when he wants to. The whole thing is a farce, and it clearly has blown up in his face, as true fans are watching and paying attention, and Joe Maddon is slowly but surely becoming on of the worst game day managers in baseball. Winning teams simply don't keep giving away games with bad decisions daily, game after game. There is a reason that Joe Torr, Terry Francona, Mike Scioscia, and Charlie Manuel, to name a few consistently win and stay on top. They make changes when necessary, and don't baby their players when they don't perform. The Rangers hired Nolan Ryan as team President and he is clearly transforming the Rangers and the way they pitch, and actually teaching pitchers to pitch innings, and more than 100 pitches. Why did Mike Butcher leave the Rays after one year with Maddon and go back to Anaheim? He clearly saw a better organizational plan. The Angels have lost 5 starting pitchers this year, and they are still only 3 games back. They actually have a manager and pitching coach that know how to teach and manage, and adapt. Maddon and Jim Hickey have destroyed Kazmir, tinkered with Ed Jackson, who now is successful in Detroit, are trying to ruin Price, ruined Sonnanstine, ruined Balfour, and hopefully don't now ruin Wade Davis. Maddon apologists will keep telling you it's not his fault, but the proof is there, and it's all in those stats Maddon loves so much. I'm sure he won't use those stats however, as they don't conform to his constant stubborn methods of taking a good team and making it a bad team.
Click here for the update list of 12 losses now due to Maddon's mis-managing, and the 6 Wins he tried to give away, but the Rays came back to win.
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