The Last Druid wrote:Joe Maddon screwed up in game 7. I was rooting for the Cubs but they deserved to lose after his boneheaded 5th inning quick hook of Hendricks. Hendricks got screwed by the umps. He threw four strikes to Carlos Santana who walked because the ump called two strikes balls. Hendricks was pitching masterfully and had thrown something like 63 pitches according to the Buck/Smoltz. So Maddon, who was clearly anxious to yank Hendricks, brings in Lester who could barely find the plate and gives up two runs immediately.
It was an exciting game for sure, but it shouldn't have been. It was only made exciting because of bad calls by the home plate ump and a really bad decision by Maddon to quick hook Hendricks.
Yep, you hit the nail on the head, I nearly went ballistic when the ump did not ring him up and then could not even comprehend why Maddon was pulling him. It could have gone down as one of the single worst managing blunders in World Series history. Instead we manage to win and all is forgiven.
I also, hand to heaven, told my wife, "If the Cubs lose I bet that ump is gonna receive death threats." (disclaimer: not from me).