© Kyle Terada | 2020 Aug 15
Trevor Gott had a rough weekend.
Not that you need a reminder, the Giants (now former?) closer blew respective 5 and 4 run leads in consecutive ninth innings vs. the A’s, an unprecedented feat for a franchise that’s been around for over 100 years.
While you might think giving up nine runs in two innings would make things pretty straightforward when it comes to assigning blame, many looked at manager Gabe Kapler for not understanding how to mitigate the damage of his spiraling pitcher.
The primary criticism levied at Kap was that neither he, nor pitching coach Andrew Bailey, visited the mound during either of Gott’s meltdowns. It’s a curiosity that Brian Murphy brought up to Mike Krukow during his KNBR hit on Monday morning. Krukow wasn’t buying it. Here’s a partial transcript of the back and forth.
Murph: Another thing that’s being discussed by fans and us is something as simple as managing the momentum of an inning. I don’t know how much value you place in it, because there were no visits out to Trevor Gott, certainly not on Friday night until they went out to take him out of the game. Even Kapler’s on the phone in the dugout, talking to the bullpen when the TV catches him, we don’t see Andrew Baily go out and manage momentum of innings. Is that something you’ve noticed?
Kruk: What do you mean manage momentum of innings? What is a mound visit going to do?
Murph: We thought it would slow down the momentum. The stuff you just told us about how to pitch when you’re pissed is you go out and you say ‘hey let’s take a moment here.’ Every mound visit you’ve had in your life supposedly had a purpose right?
Kruk: Well I didn’t think so. I was kind of like ‘What the hell are you doing out here?’ I know what the job is, I know what I have to do, it’s just a matter of me doing it.
Murph: But Gott didn’t, you know what I mean? He’s so young and closing…
Kruk: You really think a mound visit would’ve been a difference maker?
Murph: Yes. That’s what we’re throwing out there, for sure.
Kruk: To me it’s a moot point.
Murph: Well whatever they did didn’t work, so…
Kruk: Yeah but I think you’re digging here. If you make a mound visit I don’t think it’s going to make a difference in a guy’s mindset. I don’t know. He’s not a baby, he’s not a kid, he should know how to do this. So if you’re digging for mound visits I don’t know if I agree with that.
Murph: Okay that’s why I asked. I asked and you said no. Simple as that. ‘Cause we’re going through all the things. ‘Cause Mike at a certain point the thing is what it is.
Kruk: Yeah but Murph, most mound visits are for one reason, it’s to get another guy loose.
Murph: Well again I didn’t bring it up as the leading reason, we’re deep into the conversation now, we’re 15 minutes in. I’m not saying that’s the reason they lost the game, I’m just throwing out different ways you manage a game.
Kruk: The whole point of bringing that up is not to talk about Gott, it’s to talk about Kapler, that he didn’t make that move.
Murph: We’re talking about all the different aspects that had to play a role in what happened. There’s one way you could say it? “S” happens. Stuff happens, or the other “s word” too. We could just say that and move on. Or we just try to parse why did it happen, and why is it happening so much, is what we fans are saying. Like what’s going on? So I’m just exploring all the different angles.
Kruk: Okay.
Murph: ‘Cause it happened. Or we just say that the A’s are the greatest team, tip our caps and move on. What you said about Gott is that he was pissed, he was hot and losing his location and he didn’t really know how to manage the situation.
Kruk: That’s exactly what I said.
Murph: I thought maybe Buster Posey could play a role in that, maybe Andrew Bailey could play a role in that, but you’re saying no.
Kruk: Well okay, a mound visit, I just don’t, look Murph…
Murph: Again I’m not saying they win if there’s a mound visit, I’m just talking about the various aspects of managing an inning.
Kruk: I just think it’s all hindsight Murph, I think you’re digging. I’m not on board with the mound visit.
While the effectiveness of mound visits were a point contention, Murph and Kruk agreed that Kapler probably should’ve pulled Gott on Saturday night after walking Matt Chapman to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
“That’s your option right there,” Kruk said. “If you’re looking at this guy overthrowing and this guy is missing up and pitches in the middle of the strike zone, then hell yeah. Get somebody in there who’s a different look but also a strike thrower. That’s your option.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear the above conversation, start from around 13:55.