I nominate my little league coach to replace Boch-meister

I was 12 when it happened.

There was a runner on 2nd, no one out and my mom screaming loudly at some other mom in the stands. It was just me and the pitcher.

Just like Barry Bonds I stared down the 4′2” noodlearm, but then my coach called me back and asked if I knew how to bunt. I explained to him I don’t bunt, I hit for power. He then explained to me I hadn’t had a hit all season.

Nevertheless, he shook his head and said “just get the runner over”. I had never seen Barry Bonds bunt before so I was confused.

Anyway, the count was 2-1 when I swung as hard as I could — it dribbled slowly down the first base line. I got out but the runner moved over.  I did just as coach asked and as I walked back to the dugout I acted as if it was on purpose. I recieved my high fives and the next week I batted first in the lineup!

Bochy, please don’t read this story and think you can do the same. Please.

This brings me to the point of the story: A little league coach, who batted me as a leadoff when my only hit was when I got drilled in my buttocks, had enough sense to tell me to BUNT THE RUNNER OVER.

I don’t get why after about seven similar situations (three involving Rowand striking out) that you finally decided bunting would be beneficial.

In fact I think it’s karma that the first two times you decide to do it, we get out.

Let’s look at a classic game situation: Sept. 6, 2009. We have runners on first and second no one out in a 1-0 ballgame. Instead of bunting the runners over he lets Rowand hit. And what does Rowand do? Oh just your every day 5-4-3 triple play.

Same game, top of the 9th. Schierholz has a little speed and in a 1-1 game we need to get something going. Instead, he doesn’t send the runner and we don’t score.

Bochy, if our team is obviously showing that we cannot score then why not jump-start the offense to get something going? In the words of Mike Krukow: “This is the big leagues.”

Same game, he pulls Runzler after a dazzling performance of 2/3 of an inning because of a walk; yet Bobby “Walk-off the field” Howry not only is allowed to walk someone and get the bases loaded, but he pitches with the bases loaded and nearly walks in the winning run. Thank you Pablo for your save.

Then, with Affeldt (who leads the league in holds) in the pen he decides to bring in Merkin “fastball, fastball, fastball” Valdez.

Here is a real convo with the co-founder of this site during the game:

“Where is Affeldt? Where if Affeldt?” I said.

“Dude.. wtf does he just want to go home?” he said

“Where if Affeldt, where -” at this point Prince hit a fastball down the middle over the fence.

“DFHDSIFJSODIFJSDIOJoijdsfoisdfjsdiofjsdoijsodifjsdighsdiofhjosdifhjsdoigs” I said.

I’m glad the rest of baseball is finally watching these games and not just our records to find out Bochy is not a manager. He just isn’t. He has screwed us out of countless games this season – especially lately when he is under pressure and decides to pull pitchers at horrible times (oh wait, the matchups i forgot. How are these matchups working Boch?)

I’m going to calm down before I break my Jon Miller bobblehead.

Anyway, back to my little league story: We won that game by one run, and one day I will tell my grandkids of how I hit a walk-off homerun to end it, and how in 2009 Bochy led us to the World Series.