@22and25 posted:The world where it makes sense is the world where your catcher batted .179 in the regular season and is 3 for 37 in the post season coming into the game. The dude couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.
Greinke comes out and goes 1 for 2 and once he is pulled you know you will pinch hit for any reliever that comes up in the lineup. Hard to argue it wasn’t the right decision.
If you need one hit and your only two options are Grienke and Maldonado, who are you sending to the plate?
Greinke career BA .225
Maldonado career BA .212
Maldonado is probably still a better hitter than greinke, you have to factor in sample size plus greinkes Wrc+ as a hitter is 59 (very good for a pitcher but still about about billy Hamilton level) and Maldonado is at 73.
Greinke was a talented hitter in HS (hit like 450 with 20 bombs or so in his HS career) but he is 38 and has barely hit the last years as he played in the AL.
Maldonado isn't a good hitter but still the better decision than greinke because he got regular at bats the last years and not like 30 at bats a year or so like greinke.