4/20/07 NY 6 Red Sox 7 (8-7)

This game will be remembered for Mariano blowing the save, and the Redsox scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th. However, with two outs in the 9th, Jason Giambi's spot in the lineup came up with a runner on first and a chance to take the lead (or tie the game, or prolong the inning). I say "spot in the lineup", because Giambi had been removed for a pinch runner an inning earlier with no outs. If this was a combination of "pinch runner, and defensive replacement", I could tolerate it. But Giambi is the DH. However unlikely, there was a non-zero chance that his spot in the order would come up again in the 9th (in a meaningful way). The fact that Torre just refuses to account for this scenrio is what gets him the loss today, and the ire from me in general.

Torre 7-8
# of times bullpen has been misused: 5
# of times of poor lineup construction [not counting damon leading off]: 3
# of times Giambi pulled too early: 3