Francona and Timlin: A Match Made in Heaven

So I was watching the Red Sox/Phillies game last night, and I had the misfortune of doing so on a TV with sound. If you’ve never listened to ESPN’s live coverage of a baseball game, don’t. Yesterday’s specialty was Steve Phillips and Someone Whose Name I Never Knew, and Lord Almighty, were they ever atrocious.

There was one point, in the top of the sixth, where the cameras panned over to Terry Francona. Steve Phillips started talking about how Francona has come a long way from his days in Philly, when he was just an ineffective, clueless manager, to now, in Boston, where he’s baseball’s preeminent manager. He motivates his players, he manages the media with ease, he keeps the clubhouse calm and focused, and at the Red Sox World Series party last year, when Theo Epstein forgot to bring enough bread and fish for the whole team, Francona managerially said “Don’t worry, there will be enough for everyone.” And lo! there was plenty, and all in attendance rejoiced.

The pole polishing continued for a few miuntes, as Francona replaced S.S. Bartolo Colon with Mike Timlin. Now, I’m not a manager. Nor am I a baseball analyst. But I know that Timlin is no longer a good pitcher. He once was, but now he’s just mediocre. His K rates have gone down for years, and his flyball rates have gone up. These are not good trends. If I know that, shouldn’t Terry Francona know that?

He should, but I’m guessing he doesn’t. Because into the game comes Mike Timlin, into the close game at Citizen’s Bank Park (a major hitter’s park).

Timlin gives up a series of line drives and a walk. His first out comes on a Cole Hamels sac bunt. Keep in mind, these line drives and the walk came from the bottom of the Phillies order. Wouldn’t it be prudent to take Timlin out before the top of the lineup has a chance to blow the game open?

Francona does nothing, Timlin gives up six runs in total and puts the game out of reach.