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Well, it was smart not to use him in either of the first two games, I assume you would agree. We won both and didn't need him.
So the only game so far where we could have used him was last night. We had Ross Mitchell going, so I would think you wouldn't want us to start him in that game. And we got done quickly, so it was smart not to put him in then. What if you put him in down 3-0, he shuts them down for 6 innings, then you only score 2? Well, you just wasted him. And after we tied it, they immediately went back up 6-3, so again, it wouldn't have made sense to put him in at that point.
So the only time it would have made sense last night to use him would have been after we tied it in the top of the third. But then we would have just pulled our top SP after two innings; it wasn't really until he started getting hit in the third that it was obvious Mitchell needed to be out of the game. So you're asking for a tough decision there, and it was still a tie game in a situation where we knew we had one more even if we didn't win that one.
So now we're facing an elimination game and he's still available. And he will be in at the first sign of trouble, ensuring that he will be throwing in a very meaningful situation, at least as meaningful as the situation last night when tied 3-3. So what is the issue?
If we started him, we'd have to use someone on the back end anyway.
You are acting as though we might not get him in tonight until we're already down 5-0. I promise you Lindgren will be in the bullpen to start the game and if Laster allows a couple of baserunners right off the bat, he'll start warming up. Cohen is not going to risk letting this game get away before Lindgren comes in, I assure you. He'll come out to the mound and stall as much as possible if he needs Lindgren to warm up quickly.
Lindgren will throw some before the game knowing he'll be pitching. He won't be ice cold.
Looking like a great decision now!!!!