With a runner on third and one out in game four of the ALDS, Angels manager Mike Scioscia made a critcal decision. His ninth hitter Erick Aybar stood at the plate with Reggie Willits on third. He was ahead in the count 2-0 on Red Sox pitcher Manny DelCarmen.
Scioscia could have let Aybar try and swing away and possibly get a pop fly to center or right. He instead opted for the suicide squeez, Aybar missed the bunt, Willits was tagged out and the inning ended with an Aybar strikeout.
The Red Sox (unfortunately, much to my dismay (I am in a much more mild-mannered mood then I was before)) went on to win 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth.
So the debate is raised: should Scioscia have called for the suicide squeeze?
I'm going to go with No.
Although Aybar is a good bunter and led his team with sacrifice bunts this year, you have to let him try and drive in the runner. The infield was drawn in. A slash single could have gotten the job done. A pop to center would have done it as well. He just had to make contact. Who's to say that DelCarmen does not fall behind 3-0 in the count and put two runners on base for Chone Figgins? Then the double play is almost out of the question and any ground ball puts ahead the game-winning run.
I understand that had it worked a suicide squeeze would have been the perfect thing to do, but I am against a suicide squeeze. There is too much that can go wrong as shown by Aybar missing the pitch completely. Aybar needs to do whatever he can do to get the ball down and he couldn't. What if the pitcher throws up and in and the batter has to duck. The runner is an easy out, as was Willits.
The Angels again just did not show up to play the Red Sox. They got out-hit, out-pitched and just looked like dogs again for the third straight time against Boston.
That's why the Yankees need to get into the playoffs next year: to knock the damn Red Sox off their high perch.
LET'S GO YANKEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!
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