Good post. I didn’t have a problem with playing the infield in, Maddon figured the Phillies would be agressive and he was right. The ball was just placed perfectly, that’s all.

As far as the pitching, I know what he was doing. He was trying to hold off Price for as long as he could in the event the game went into extra innings. It was a close game, one run in either direction so that was a distinct possibility. My emphasis is just on getting my top guy in the game while he can still be a factor in an elimination game. If the series is tied 2-2, I probably think more like he did. Maddon is still the manager of the year in my book. He did a great job by showing some guts in giving Price the ball against the Red Sox (something managers of his generation are hesitant to do). I have great respect for him, if you couldn’t tell with all of my Gene Mauch references – (who is another guy I deeply respected as a manager even though he never won it all).