In many ways, playoff baseball is a different game than regular season baseball. The stakes are higher, every personnel decision is made with future matchups in mind and, often times, managers can overthink situations.
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais appeared to fall into that trap during Tuesday’s Game 1 of the ALDS in Houston. And it backfired in a huge way.
While the Mariners have used a closer-by-committee for much of the season, Paul Seward had emerged as the most reliable closer for Seattle. He recorded 20 saves with a 2.37 ERA, but he had struggled in a couple recent outings and clearly lost Servais’ trust. When he got in trouble once again in the ninth inning and Yordan Alvarez at the plate with two outs, two on and a two-run lead, Servais opted to go for the lefty-lefty matchup.
He turned to starting pitcher Robbie Ray — on two days rest — who had never recorded a save in his big-league career. He was also coming off a rough spell of allowing six home runs in his past three appearances. Guess what happened …
Yordan rules. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/yaQAKx8bFw
— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2022
On an 0-1 count, Alvarez completely smoked a 93 mph fastball from Ray for a walk-off, three-run homer to give the Astros a comeback 8-7 win.
Again, this was a ridiculous move from Servais who over-managed the matchup at the worst possible time. Starters are starters and closers are closers. He chose to mess with that dynamic in a playoff game with one of the AL’s best power hitters at the plate. There’s no way to defend it.
Even with the benefit of hindsight, MLB fans were right to crush that decision.
This was how Twitter reacted
Robbie Ray coming to close out the game against Yordan Alvarezpic.twitter.com/SAJJPXj2rH
— Carlos (@TheFeebleEmpire) October 11, 2022
Bringing in Robbie Ray to throw two meatballs to the best hitter in the sport is literally a crime against humanity
— Max (Julio Rodriguez ROTY) (@MaxC_206) October 11, 2022
Robbie Ray’s pitch to Alvarez: pic.twitter.com/CNwKM0IHrb
— DΛVΣ (@DoyersDave) October 11, 2022
Once the Mariners put in Robbie Ray, I knew the Mariners were losing. I just watched the Blue Jays crush this man on Saturday. Trust your closer. That was weird.
— Raheem Palmer (@iamrahstradamus) October 11, 2022
Scott Servais bringing in his coldest pitcher to face the other team’s hottest hitter pic.twitter.com/FJqpGsq8a9
— Ryan Perry (@rynprry) October 11, 2022
From Reddit:
Robbie Ray is the worst pitcher in baseball against the Astros. Scott Servais decided to use him against Yordan Alvarez to close a game. #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/7x19B6nzd5
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) October 11, 2022
Robbie Ray can lose the game in the first inning or the ninth. He’s versatile.
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) October 11, 2022
bro Scott Servais needs to be fired before the press conference, i don’t think i’ve ever seen a dumber move in the history of professional or amateur sports lmaoooo
— Not Hoodie Maybin (@HoodieMaybin) October 11, 2022
Managerial masterclass by Servais
— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) October 11, 2022
Mariners fans: “We’re up by two runs in the ninth inning, what could possibly go wrong?”
Robbie Ray: pic.twitter.com/GdICE68EAT
— Brian Y (@byysports) October 11, 2022
Servais just absolutely choked this game away. Complete choke job. Mariners should be ashamed
— YouGonLoseYoJob (@InTheMiddleLib) October 11, 2022
Who did it worse? Pete Carrol or Scott Servais? pic.twitter.com/B2wDGIRl8M
— Schizzie (@Schizziee) October 11, 2022
If the Mariners don’t come back in the series, it’s going to be impossible to overlook that decision. Just an unreal mistake.
