This is how you make us feel, Ryan Theriot
Weird game, to be sure — Jaime Garcia was perfect through four innings then gave up three runs in the fifth, a tight hamstring that forced Nick Punto from the game and a hit-by-pitch that led to David Freese leaving led to Tony La Russa pinch-hitting Jon Jay for Tyler Greene in the top of eighth meant Albert Pujols played third base for the first time since Sept. 23, 2002.
But today’s loss can be directly attributed to one person: Ryan Theriot.
Theriot was up in the bottom of the sixth with bases loaded and only one out, the Cards still with a slim 4-3 lead. He grounded into a double play. At the time, Cards beat writer Joe Strauss tweeted: “If Cards lose this, Theriot DP ball pivotal play of game. That CAN’T happen, but did.”
Of course, we didn’t know at the time that Theriot would make a much more pivotal play in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Franklin was out for his second inning of work, having at last pitched a one-two-three inning in the eighth. Alex Gonzalez was up first and popped it up just onto the grass behind short. Theriot calls for it, goes to catch the ball … and it bounces off the heel of his glove onto the ground.
Error No. 7 for the year for Theriot.
Can’t Ryan Franklin EVER get a break from the defense? I mean, yes, his pitching has been questionable — but, really? No one can ever make routine catches when he’s in?
Anyway, and predictably, the Braves did just what they were supposed to do. Joe Mather hit a sacrifice that moved Gonazlez to second and, after a walk to Nate McLouth, pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad hit a single in between Colby Rasmus and Lance Berkman to give Atlanta the win, 6-5.
In bad news that we can’t blame on Theriot, looks like Freese has a fracture in his hand, according to the Cards official Twitter account, and will be evaluated back in St. Louis tomorrow.
So, yes, it was a successful road trip for the Cards as they went 4-2 in Houston and Atlanta. And they ended April with a record of 16-11 and with a two-game lead over the Reds for first place in the NL Central.
Still, walk-off losses suck — and there have been too many of those to deal with so far this season. And there is certainly no Ryan Theriot Fan Club gaining momentum on Twitter.
By the way, Blake Hawksworth has a 2.77 ERA in 10 games and 13 innings for the Dodgers with a 1.15 WHIP.
Hawksworth also has a 0.4 Wins Over Replacement Value already, Theriot is -0.5, which means he’s appreciable worse to date than a replacement-level infielder.
Guess the Dodgers knew what they were doing.
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Yeah… Tooty just sucks. That is all I can say. I really want to like him. REALLY. But, it’s not happening. Almost ready for Punto to take the reins, and let Tooty or Dan play 2B. Gawd. When does Skip come back! LOL
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