Jake Peavy picked up his fourth win of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, but it didn't come easy.He allowed 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings, gave up a 3-0 lead and started carving into his 7-3 lead as well.
Part of me was hoping for a more definitive stinkbomb. I wanted to see Buehrle start, considering the Rays' apparent struggles against pitchers who can't break 90.
But moreover, Guillen allowing Peavy is the continuation of a trend in which people in decision-making positions defer to those less qualified. Nick Swisher was traded for nothing because the clubhouse didn't like him, with no effort from the higher-ups to mend fences. Kenny Williams let Guillen decide whether to pursue a full-time DH. Guillen lets a guy who recently complained about a tired arm forego a day of rest, only to look mediocre once more.
And who knows who has the authority to hire and fire coaches anymore. Hell, maybe the only person who can fire Greg Walker is Greg Walker.
It's letting the inmates run the asylum. Granted, you can go too far in the other direction. If Jerry Manuel let Mark Buehrle start at Yankee Stadium instead of Neal Cotts, his job might have been spared.
I don't know if a fire sale is the right way to go, because the guys who could be traded are the guys who won't net that much. Yet at this point, I would almost welcome it. At the very least, an abrupt change of direction would show that somebody wants to man the wheel.
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Speaking of Sunday, I met up with winningugly, the South Side Sox comment leader and (too) infrequent commenter here. He's a prince of a guy, and wrote up a recap of the day.
I'll share some more Trop thoughts after I make my way up the Coast.
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Minor league roundup:
- Charlotte 8, Indianapolis 4
- Daniel Hudson allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings, striking out three.He allowed a homer, and his start was cut short by a rain delay.
- Jordan Danks broke out of a forever slump, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.He was also hit by a pitch.
- Stefan Gartrell hit a solo shot and added two singles.
- Dayan Viciedo went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Indianapolis 3, Charlotte 2 (12 innings)
- Danks continued his rebund, going 3-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- No such relief for Tyler Flowers, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Dayan Viciedo hit a solo shot and was hit by a pitch over six plate appearances.
- Lucas Harrell had a nice game, allowing a run on four hits and two walks while striking out two.
- Huntsville 6, Birmingham 5 (6 innings)
- Charlie Shirek allowed four runs on six hits over two innings. One walk, no strikeouts.
- Brent Morel went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, and was also hit by a pitch. He committed his eighth error.
- Kinston 5, Winston-Salem 2
- Brandon Short drove in both runs with a single.He struck out twice.
- Eduardo Escobar went 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Jon Gilmore went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Justin Greene singled and walked.
- Terry Doyle allowed four runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, striking out two.
- Santos Rodriguez was good (1 IP, 1 K). Dan Remenowsky had a rougher time (1 IP, 1 H, 1 Er, 2 BB, 1 K).
- Kannapolis 7, Charleston 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Brady Shoemaker homered twice, drove in five and drew a walk on top of it.
- Trayce Thompson went 0-for-3; Kyle Colligan went 1-for-2 with a walk and a steal.
- Miguel Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Cameron Bayne allowed one unearned run over six innings, striking out five.
- Charleston 10, Kannapolis 6 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Colligan went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
- Thompson doubled and struck out.
- Andre Rienzo struggled: 3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
- Jimmy Ballinger allowed his first two earned runs of the season over 1 1/3 innings of work.
