Game 45: Blue Jays 7, Astros 5

Jose Bautista loves Astros pitching.

DISCLAIMER: The following post is rant that is likely to be full of information and opinions that avid readers have probably already heard and most likely criticized. However, due to the nature of the Astros' most recent loss, the author has deemed it necessary to examine the failings of the manager, one Brad Mills, to assist the team in any way possible. So, if you don't feel like reading this kind of stuff again, we don't blame you. Turn back now, or forever hold your peace.

That's right, Brad Mills. You ruined another game. The bats were fine against the Jays on Saturday afternoon; the pitching and the defense were not. However, I am choosing not to blame this loss on either of those factors, rather, I put this one squarely on the back of Mills and his inability to manage a game.

Sure, you can sign me up in the "Fire Brad Mills!" club, simply because I'm starting to think that he really is the most inept skipper in the league. I've chosen not to blame him too much so far, because it's overly apparent to any novice Astros fan that the tools he has to work with aren't exactly, shall we say, stellar. However, the two games so far against Toronto have proven that Mills doesn't seem to know what he's doing out there. Exhibit A- Having essentially been given an extra position player because of the stupidity of the designated hitter in American League ballparks, Mills still refused to start Brett Wallace against a lefty, even if it's Jo-Jo Reyes, he of the 27 consecutive non-wins, opting instead to place Jason Michaels in left field and Matt Downs at first base. Don't get me wrong, I like both Michaels and Downs, but neither of them are really essential to this team's future. Wallace is. It makes no sense to me that the manager will sit the young up-and-coming player who might soon be the face of the franchise against every single lefty pitcher, choosing even to ignore the fact that precious Carlos Lee will still get to bat as the DH. It's just plain wrong.

While that managerial choice didn't exactly change the outcome of the game, the ones that Mills botched today did. It seems like every single night, he chooses to take out the starter at the wrong time, either leaving the slumping Brett Myers in for too long against the Jays, or taking Wandy Rodriguez out against the Braves in the 9th when Rodriguez had pitched four hit baseball for eight innings. While the defense wasn't helping Myers out, Mills still chose to leave him in the game after Jose Bautista destroyed a pitch in the 6th for a 3-run bomb. The 7th inning Myers pitched resulted in a long flyout to center, a couple of singles that tied up the game, and then a homer by Yunel Escobar to give the Jays the lead for good. Then, of course, Mills decides to hook Myers. The supposed ace of the staff has shown all year that once he starts getting into trouble, he will give up hits and runs in bunches. So why not pull him after the 3-run jack surrendered to Bautista? The Astros would have still had the lead, and Myers' fantastic start would have only been marred by an unwarranted homer by the best hitter in baseball. While it's true that leaving the game to the Houston bullpen is not very smart, it was still bad timing by the manager. And that was before he botched another decision in the 8th.

The lead had been surrendered, but the Astros were still within striking distance with the score standing 6-4. Mills chooses to bring in Jose Valdez. I posted something almost identical to this when he brought in Valdez against the Pirates, when they were only trailing by two runs in the 8th in one of the games in Pittsburgh. Well guess what? Repeat performance. Valdez gave up another homer to Bautista, essentially setting the game out of reach, despite's Angel Sanchez's valiant efforts in the last of the 9th. Bringing in the young Valdez at this point is basically waving the white flag, as he's sporting a 6.94 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. He should be relegated to mop-up duty, but for some reason unbeknownst to everyone, he's still entering in situations where the game has not yet been decided. As far as I'm concerned, I would have sent him down before Fernando Abad. And that's saying something.

I just remember the winter of 2009, pleading that the Astros would hire Brad Mills as the new manager instead of the enigmatic Manny Acta. Well, now we can all see how that worked out, as Acta is leading the best team in baseball at the moment, while Mills is leading the worst. Baseball is a cold, cold game.

Wandy Rodriguez matches up against Kyle Drabek in the series finale tomorrow at 12:07 pm.