Yes.
Supposedly Hill said “keep an eye on me”, so he walks a guy on 3-2 count, no big deal. Comes back and strikes the next guy out on 4 pitches and looks great doing so. We’re in the 7th inning, Hill has allowed ONE hit, zero runs and thrown 90 pitches. He just struck the last guy out with ease, so that’s the time to pull him? It’s just so effing stupid. You introduce variability for no reason, exactly what Boston wants to happen.
Not to mention you just ate up your bullpen the night before. Every additional pitcher you use in a game increases the probability that you’ll hit on one that’s not got his best stuff
I judged Roberts negatively..until I heard the story behind it and Hill really started to backtrack.
You don't tell a coach/manager/Dr/Trainer to "keep an eye on me" if everything is going great. When he told Roberts that, and I am no buying HIll's explanation after he got vilified, he basically was telling him...'I am almost done'.
Roberts jogged out to the mound, not something you do when you take a guy ou tand Hill gave him the ball without even asking for it.....so Hill took himself out.
In talking to other coaching buddies the last couple of days since then we all pretty much agreed there are diff thoughts/reasons going through your head when you go out there;
1. Times you KNOW you are taking him out, no matter what.
2. Time you are just going to talk strategy, slow down momentum with no intention of taking him out.
3. Unsure. YOu are going out to guage how he looks, acts, talks , demeanor and body language. Many times a pitcher takes himself out in not so many words by how he acts.
We always had a nonverbal with the catcher. If I looked at him when I got out there and he shook his head yes then that mean he was still good.
Hill took himself out NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT and his narrative changed only when he was mocked for taking himself out.
WHile I hated Roberts not having the HR hitters in the first two games even though it worked in season, this is NOT ON HIM taking HIll out
Also, Bosox were the better team