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packerzrule
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
Vote and discuss
I went with the homer vote of Counsell considering the SP he has had to work with.
Not today. Counsells plan backfired.I really like that Counsell is not a slave to a plan; he is constantly analyzing the game second by second and reacting appropriately as situations arise and before things go south.
He also seems to have the true pulse of his team; it seems like nearly each time fans/media criticize/question a move he makes, his decision works out.
I don't know if Counsell is #1 of the four yet, but I think Counsell has out-managed Roberts in this series.
Not today. Counsells plan backfired.
I disagree.
He did something no one in the history of playoff baseball has ever done - claim a temporary starter to psyche the other manager into setting a batting order according to that "starter" then pull him after one batter to give his true "starter" a more-"friendly" order to pitch against. That's thinking! Counsell knew his team would have an uphill climb in game 5 against Kershaw after just having blown through his bullpen - the strength of his team - in a 13-inning game 14 hours ago. The guy he put in to pitch - Woodruff, a guy who only had 4 starts and 42 IP all season - did a great job of eating innings and striking out Dodgers (8K, 1BB in 5.1). Counsell's plan also costed Roberts Freese and forced him to shuffle his position players all game.
The Dodgers won the game with the cards stacked in their favor. Counsell did all he could to even the playing field, but it just wasn't enough to get the Game 5 win. Certainly can't put the L on Counsell.