More Dodger Frustration

Two More Losses

More Dodger Frustration

You’d think that Brooklyn would turn it around after getting their first win.

You’d be wrong.

Brooklyn went into Shibe Park for a doubleheader with the Phillies on April 24th. They went in with high hopes, and came out with lowered heads.

Game 1

Any hopes that the Dodgers would turn things around fell to the ground with this pop-up to Jackie Robinson in the third inning of the first game:

Philadelphia took an early 3-0 lead, and wound up dominating. Brooklyn simply didn’t come close, and Robin Roberts pitched masterfully:

Game 2

I had one of those special managerial moments in the bottom of the 5th of the second game.

Phillies starting pitcher Curt Simmons came up with runners on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out. The game was scoreless. I think the obvious play here would be to bunt — and so I decided to swing away:

Philadelphia wound up with a 3-0 lead, and Simmons pitched brilliantly.

More Computer Manager Issues

The Diamond Mind Baseball computer manager, on the other hand, performed less than superbly.

The Phillies were up 3-0 in the top of the 9th with two runners on and two outs. Brooklyn reliever Carl Erskine came up to bat. This was the last chance for the Dodgers, who had only won one game to this point all season and were in desperate need of some kind of offense.

The computer manager decided to let Erskine bat for himself:

It makes no sense to me at all. Erskine wasn’t much of a hitter that season, and the Dodgers had more than enough good hitters on the bench. Their bullpen wasn’t exactly taxed, either. This was absolutely painful to watch.

And that was that. The Dodgers are now 1-6.