By Jared Trexler
The Phanatic Magazine
Jeff Francis, as well documented by BP and Hardball Times, changed his approach during Wednesday's Game 1 of the NLDS.
Getting pounded in two of baseball's most unforgiving parks doesn't exude a sense of confidence. Francis didn't last through the fifth in either of his two poor starts against Philadelphia this season, including a disastrous outing that didn't get through the fourth at Citizens Bank Park back in mid-September.
Yet, the man went with a new approach. And strangely enough, he faced a lineup seen frequently in mid-May as the Phillies floundered but rarely in September as the 'Fightins rallied.
Francis relied less on his sinker, instead throwing a cut fastball (a pitch that rarely topped 87 miles per hour) through the mid-afternoon shadows to complement a change-up and Grade A curveball. The southpaw's fastball ran in on right-handers and away against Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the duo combining for six strikeouts with Francis on the mound. He threw both of his breaking pitches for strikes, basically dictating the tempo of each at-bat.
More importantly, Charlie Manuel overmanaged before the first rally towel was even waved. Inserting Shane Victorino into the second spot boggled the mind. The speedy outfielder's splits aren't much different, and Jayson Werth raked southpaws for the better part of September. Chase Utley found comfort behind Jimmy Rollins, and Pat Burrell -- he of the all world second half -- rediscovered his thump breaking up the two lefties.
Especially against a left-handed starter. Instead, Manuel went with Victorino in the second spot and made Clint Hurdle's job much easier by bunching Utley and Howard late in the game.
On Thursday, against another southpaw in youngster Franklin Morales, Manuel needs to reinsert Werth, move Burrell into the three spot and only pinch run Michael Bourn if he's put on base for a purpose (i.e. attempt to steal a base).
Francis changed his approach with abundant success. Manuel's maneuver, on the other hand, failed miserably.
The Phanatic Magazine
Jeff Francis, as well documented by BP and Hardball Times, changed his approach during Wednesday's Game 1 of the NLDS.
Getting pounded in two of baseball's most unforgiving parks doesn't exude a sense of confidence. Francis didn't last through the fifth in either of his two poor starts against Philadelphia this season, including a disastrous outing that didn't get through the fourth at Citizens Bank Park back in mid-September.
Yet, the man went with a new approach. And strangely enough, he faced a lineup seen frequently in mid-May as the Phillies floundered but rarely in September as the 'Fightins rallied.
Francis relied less on his sinker, instead throwing a cut fastball (a pitch that rarely topped 87 miles per hour) through the mid-afternoon shadows to complement a change-up and Grade A curveball. The southpaw's fastball ran in on right-handers and away against Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the duo combining for six strikeouts with Francis on the mound. He threw both of his breaking pitches for strikes, basically dictating the tempo of each at-bat.
More importantly, Charlie Manuel overmanaged before the first rally towel was even waved. Inserting Shane Victorino into the second spot boggled the mind. The speedy outfielder's splits aren't much different, and Jayson Werth raked southpaws for the better part of September. Chase Utley found comfort behind Jimmy Rollins, and Pat Burrell -- he of the all world second half -- rediscovered his thump breaking up the two lefties.
Especially against a left-handed starter. Instead, Manuel went with Victorino in the second spot and made Clint Hurdle's job much easier by bunching Utley and Howard late in the game.
On Thursday, against another southpaw in youngster Franklin Morales, Manuel needs to reinsert Werth, move Burrell into the three spot and only pinch run Michael Bourn if he's put on base for a purpose (i.e. attempt to steal a base).
Francis changed his approach with abundant success. Manuel's maneuver, on the other hand, failed miserably.
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