Another two-inning appearance for Andrew Miller, another win for Cleveland.
Lester has walked twice this game. This happened seven times this year in the regular season but zero times in 2015 and twice in 2014.
Montero missed a cookie on 0-1. Whoops Blanton
apparently, Montero is a cookie monster.
This postseason is going to be known for the unorthodox, for this era, bullpen usage. Unless the Cubs win it all of course.
I don't think it's that unorthodox for the postseason. In 2004, when Gardenhire was second-guessed for trying to get 3 innings out of Joe Nathan in Game 2 vs. the Yankees, there were several other closers asked to go 2 or more innings. The Royals the last couple years would often go to their bullpen after 5 or 5 and a fraction innings. As far as Miller, he's not been used as a closer all year (he had 9 holds and 3 saves for the Indians), so it isn't unusual to bring him in the game earlier. The most unusual thing is using ace starting pitchers to close out elimination games, but Bumgarner did that 2 years ago in Game 7 and Randy Johnson pitched in relief of Game 7 in 2001 (although it was to keep the game close instead of close it out). In 1987, Bert Blyleven was warming up in Game 7 when Frank Viola allowed a couple early runs. Blyleven had pitched in Game 5 three days before.
Jansen was brought in very early, with the knowledge that there was a good chance he wouldn't be able to finish because of it.
I know that managers play a lot more fast'n'loose with the closer role in the postseason, but this season does feel different.
Previous seasons it's common for managers to have the closer pitch more but it was limited. This postseason, every single manager of the remaining teams is having their closer pitch more and earlier. Andrew Miller has pitched 7.2 innings in only four appearances. In 2014 and 2015, he pitched 8.1 innings in six appearances. Even this regular season with Cleveland he had 29 innings in 26 appearances. The Dodgers did a bullpen game for the deciding game of the NLDS and at the last inning decided to have Kershaw finish it.
I think it's fair to point out the Royals doing something similar last year. Yost had a great bullpen but he still had roles for them. This year, managers don't have that same depth so instead have increased their flexibility of using the closer or ace reliever.
Another two-inning appearance for Andrew Miller, another win for Cleveland.
Lester has walked twice this game. This happened seven times this year in the regular season but zero times in 2015 and twice in 2014.
Montero missed a cookie on 0-1. Whoops Blanton
apparently, Montero is a cookie monster.
This postseason is going to be known for the unorthodox, for this era, bullpen usage. Unless the Cubs win it all of course.
I don't think it's that unorthodox for the postseason. In 2004, when Gardenhire was second-guessed for trying to get 3 innings out of Joe Nathan in Game 2 vs. the Yankees, there were several other closers asked to go 2 or more innings. The Royals the last couple years would often go to their bullpen after 5 or 5 and a fraction innings. As far as Miller, he's not been used as a closer all year (he had 9 holds and 3 saves for the Indians), so it isn't unusual to bring him in the game earlier. The most unusual thing is using ace starting pitchers to close out elimination games, but Bumgarner did that 2 years ago in Game 7 and Randy Johnson pitched in relief of Game 7 in 2001 (although it was to keep the game close instead of close it out). In 1987, Bert Blyleven was warming up in Game 7 when Frank Viola allowed a couple early runs. Blyleven had pitched in Game 5 three days before.
Jansen was brought in very early, with the knowledge that there was a good chance he wouldn't be able to finish because of it.
I know that managers play a lot more fast'n'loose with the closer role in the postseason, but this season does feel different.
Previous seasons it's common for managers to have the closer pitch more but it was limited. This postseason, every single manager of the remaining teams is having their closer pitch more and earlier. Andrew Miller has pitched 7.2 innings in only four appearances. In 2014 and 2015, he pitched 8.1 innings in six appearances. Even this regular season with Cleveland he had 29 innings in 26 appearances. The Dodgers did a bullpen game for the deciding game of the NLDS and at the last inning decided to have Kershaw finish it.
I think it's fair to point out the Royals doing something similar last year. Yost had a great bullpen but he still had roles for them. This year, managers don't have that same depth so instead have increased their flexibility of using the closer or ace reliever.