The San Diego Padres were locked in a tight one with the New York Mets in going into the seventh inning last night. After getting into a little bit of trouble later that inning, Friars’ manager Andy Green popped out of the dugout.
Green made the choice to pull his starter, Clayton Richard, after just 88 pitches in favor of Craig Stammen, who has been virtually lights-out all season. Stammen (2.63 ERA) gave up a first-pitch three-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera that put the Mets up 4-0.
As with all managers, coaches, and even bosses, in all walks of life, sometimes decisions backfire.