It Is Just Not That Easy

Almost every time the Astros lose I get a number of emails or tweets criticizing a player or the manager for allowing it to happen. Folks, it is just not that easy. Most criticisms deal with how a player was used or not used in a particular game. While those thoughts work fine perhaps for football or just about any amateur kid's version of sport they just don't often apply to the professional level.

Both major league baseball and professional basketball are based on a very long season. Manager's, coaches and players are aware going in what their roles are expected to be. Some hoopsters will be starters and others will come off the bench. All know about how many minutes and when they will be used. It is all based on the professional idea that roles are won and selected based on track record and reasonable expectation.

The same goes for baseball with a little twist when it comes to pitchers. Pitchers arms are fragile and must be protected. That is not only for the pitchers but for the game outcomes themselves. The sport is a game of percentages. Over the long season the percentages almost always come into play.

Matt Lindstrom blew a save Friday night. He has rarely done it this year, but this time he didn't have it. There is no way of knowing in advance he might be off his form. But the 9th inning of a game in which the Astros are leading his his inning. Percentages of success are very heavy in his favor. No percentage is 100%.

Carlos Lee has a lifetime batting average of .291. He has been a very consistent hitter throughout his career. He has never hit less than .300 or driven in less than 100 runs or hit fewer than 26 home runs as an Astro. So, he continues to play every day even though his numbes this season have been well below his norm.

Sure, someday he will be in decline. Maybe it has started this season just as it was evident for Lance Berkman. But the Astros have a lot of money invested in Lee and they have to be sure. So he has to keep playing. And, by the way, if you have been keeping track he has been hitting much better the last month or so.

The point of all this is that unlike amatuer sports where coaches pull players for missing two shots in a row or bring back their best pitchers to work in relief the major league professional game is not or cannot be played that way.

Carlos Lee will have some 0-5 games and make errors. Matt Lindstrom will even occasionally blow a save. That is simply part of the game and we all must move forward to the next game.

That is exactly what I am doing. Astros vs Brewers 6:05 Sat night on FS Houston.