Stretched Into the 5th Inning

Pip at Fungoes takes Tony LaRussa to task for stretching Kip Wells into the 5th inning of a game he was pitching miserably in just to try and get him to qualify for a win.

I have mixed feelings on this one. On the emotional side of managing a baseball team showing faith in one's players can build trust and loyalty between the players and management which never hurts a team over the seven month grind that is the major league baseball season. Then again, what were the chances that if Wells does hold the 3-2 lead that the Cards would've been able to hold on the next four innings without giving up a run.