Saturday, April 14, 2007

Um, maybe the hook was too quick?!

Can someone please explain why Manny Acta was so quick on hook in tonight's game? We're all for avoiding undue strain on John Patterson's arm, but pulling him with one out in the fifth when he'd only thrown 76 pitches and the Nats were leading 2-1? It's not like the Nats have a bullet-proof bullpen. Yanking your ace so that the worst mop-up crew in the majors can take over isn't a good strategy. Not surprisingly, Micah Bowie couldn't hold the lead and Patterson walked away without a decision.

Of course, this might be the perfect strategy, if the Nats plan on trading Patterson. Keep him well rested and keep his numbers down and maybe by the All Star Break you've positioned him well for a trade. Is that what's on Acta's mind? Of course not, but let's at least try to find some rationality in Nats' management.

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