Roberts lost the series last night, no one else. As Peter said, even a casual fan knows you put Maeda - your best reliever in first - and then finish with Baez and Jansen (or just Jansen). You don’t put in a starter who sucked in the postseason when he was the best pitcher on the planet. And I am certain Kelly hasn’t gotten through two clean innings in one game all year. When you consider how bad the Nats’ pen is, there was no reason to hold back any pitchers. This game was over by inning 11 one way or another.
And Roberts has overmanaged for each of the past three seasons, especially when you recall him pulling Rich Hill early twice, and watching as the overtaxed pen imploded. They will never win a WS with him as he just doesn’t have the basic smarts to manage.
PS Bellinger is the position player Kershaw. Useless in another postseason. Munch and Turner are the heart of the team. Bellinger’s D is tops but he is no clutch hitter. I hope he ends up third in the MVP race because that’s the best he deserves.
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