521 replies to this topic

[RichardZ]

I don't think it bothers him much at all.  He gets asked about it, all the time and he just accepts it.

If it didn’t bother him and he accepted it he wouldn’t be trying to create this narrative that there is more to the story.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Its obvious there is more to the story. Not narrative

[Mike B]

If it didn’t bother him and he accepted it he wouldn’t be trying to create this narrative that there is more to the story.

I don't think it is a narrative at all.  I have never heard him bring it up, at all.  

I think there is something we as fans do not know about and frankly, it means nothing to me.

I think Buck did a hell of a job to get that team to the playoffs.

[makoman]

Its obvious there is more to the story. Not narrative

Even if true, it's just as obvious that we're never going to get the real story, as if we were we would have by now, so I might as well keep believing my assumption that Buck screwed it up trying to be too cute or something. I have nothing to say otherwise if none of the people involved are going to talk about it.

[weird-O]

Except you left out a key parameter. Ubaldo was not good in first innings. That same season I saw him in Tampa. Gave up 3 runs in the first and made you wonder if he'd be lucky enough to get through 4. Well he pitched a complete game. So yeah his era was very good but his first inning number were not.

That was my memory of his season. But I wasn't sure if I was remembering correctly, and I didn't want to have to do the research. 

[Mike in STL]

Other than someone's family being held hostage with threats of violence if Britton entered the game, there isn't anything that excuses what happened. 

[RichardZ]

Its obvious there is more to the story. Not narrative

Obvious? No player, coach, or anyone has ever said anything about something else going on. Britton said he was fine and ready to go in. Buck, after the game said there were no issues. He explained his strategy which included saving Britton to close out the game on the road. You want to believe there is something else going on. There is ZERO to support that except some cryptic comments by Buck years later. Someone should tell Buck that what he’s now doing isn’t “wearing it”. You have people questioning whether Britton wanted to pitch or not.

[RichardZ]

I don't think it is a narrative at all.  I have never heard him bring it up, at all.  
I think there is something we as fans do not know about and frankly, it means nothing to me.
I think Buck did a hell of a job to get that team to the playoffs.

Buck was and is a good manager. This is at least the second time within the last year or two he made cryptic comments about that game. That doesn’t mean he’s perfect or immune from being sensitive about his legacy. That game hangs over him and I bet he hates hearing about it. The problem is we have no idea what Buck is alluding to but the only thing that comes to mind is that Britton wasn’t ready, able, or willing to come in. You’d have to believe that Britton has been lying all these years and Buck is protecting him. Don’t buy it.

[makoman]

Britton pitched 1.2 innings on Oct 2nd, two days earlier, throwing 20 pitches and 16 strikes. He pitched on 0 or 1 days rest 37 times that year. Doesn't seem like an obvious problem. I assume at the time you could have a separate playoff roster for the WC game, if he wasn't going to be available for the one game I'd think they'd pick someone else, that's not really a thing that requires gamesmanship IMO. So the only thing that would make sense is he was available and then became unavailable during the game, which is pretty unusual.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Could be that he was available, but not for more than one inning, and Buck wanted to wait for a save situation.

 

Once Ubaldo came in, weren't the O's pretty thin on remaining pitchers?  Britton, Bundy, and Hunter?  If you take Ubaldo out, there's a real chance of running out of pitchers in an elimination game, which I guess would have been pretty humiliating, too.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Even if true, it's just as obvious that we're never going to get the real story, as if we were we would have by now, so I might as well keep believing my assumption that Buck screwed it up trying to be too cute or something. I have nothing to say otherwise if none of the people involved are going to talk about it.

I think Buck may elaborate one day. Not while he still has some chance to manage. Its all interesting to me because there is something about it all that really gets Buck hot. You can see it in that exchange and it was less than 2 min. Cant comment on the Buck who managed the Yanks, DBacks, and Rangers but the Buck who managed the Os and Mets went out of his way to protect and praise his players. As an example, and Im 100% fine with Hyde doing it, Im not sure Buck would have came out and directly said Hicks missed a hit and run sign.

[Mike B]

Buck was and is a good manager. This is at least the second time within the last year or two he made cryptic comments about that game. That doesn’t mean he’s perfect or immune from being sensitive about his legacy. That game hangs over him and I bet he hates hearing about it. The problem is we have no idea what Buck is alluding to but the only thing that comes to mind is that Britton wasn’t ready, able, or willing to come in. You’d have to believe that Britton has been lying all these years and Buck is protecting him. Don’t buy it.

I am not sure we will ever know the story, but what I know, is Buck manages a BP as well as anyone I have ever seen, and it seemed totally out of character for him to mismanage the pen in a big game.  I also think after 8 years, I really don't care anymore.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I am not sure we will ever know the story, but what I know, is Buck manages a BP as well as anyone I have ever seen, and it seemed totally out of character for him to mismanage the pen in a big game.  I also think after 8 years, I really don't care anymore.

I think you are mis remembering what Buck is/was known for. He was the master at managing a bullpen over a long 162 game season. That is not the same thing as during the playoffs.

[Mike in STL]

I would make cryptic comments to insinuate there is more to the story too if I f***ed up royally.

There is nothing there. Stop looking for excuses to excuse him.

[You Play to Win the Game]

IMHO, that 2016 team wasn’t really that good at all, so this has never bothered me that much. Maybe it should’ve, I don’t know.

[BSLRoseKatz]

IMHO, that 2016 team wasn’t really that good at all, so this has never bothered me that much. Maybe it should’ve, I don’t know.

 

Yeah if they win that game they probably could've beaten the Rangers but Cleveland was pretty legit that year and we would've just spent the entire ALCS annoyed we didn't keep Andrew Miller 

[RichardZ]

I am not sure we will ever know the story, but what I know, is Buck manages a BP as well as anyone I have ever seen, and it seemed totally out of character for him to mismanage the pen in a big game.  I also think after 8 years, I really don't care anymore.

You don’t care but you offered an opinion which kind of aligns with Buck’s cryptic comments. Ok.

[Mike in STL]

IMHO, that 2016 team wasn’t really that good at all, so this has never bothered me that much. Maybe it should’ve, I don’t know.

Meh, if you’re in the playoffs you have a chance. The last 3 WS featured teams that won 88 games or less. The 2016 Os won 89.

[Mike B]

You don’t care but you offered an opinion which kind of aligns with Buck’s cryptic comments. Ok.

I should have checked with you before having an opinion.

[RichardZ]

I should have checked with you before having an opinion.

You missed my point.