Bring In The Morse Code

Are you satisfied with your current telephone service provider?  The St. Louis Cardinals are.  But they're not happy with the Texas Rangers' provider, as two misinterpreted phone calls blew a tie game in the 8th inning from the Cardinals, drastically swinging the series into Texas' favor.

Octavio Dotel came in to the game to begin the bottom of the 8th and gave up a double to Michael Young, struck out Adrian Beltre, and intentionally walked Nelson Cruz before being yanked so that Mark Rzepczynski could face the left-handed David Murphy.  As usual, Tony La Russa had played the matchups in his favor and got the double-play ball he wanted, but Rzepczynski got in the way.  The ball lined off his leg, eliminating any outs they might have gotten.

Mike Napoli, who had one of the best offensive seasons ever for a catcher, was coming to plate when La Russa called for the heat in Jason Motte who had only given up three baserunners in 10 innings pitched so far in the playoffs.  The bullpen, where Motte wasn't even warming up yet, replied that he wasn't ready because they didn't know he was supposed to be warming up.  In a panic, La Russa, who then realized he wouldn't get his perfect matchup this time, was forced to let Rzepczynski pitch to Napoli.  Napoli crushed a two-run go-ahead double.

Disgusted and frustrated, La Russa let Rzepczynski pitch to the lefty-hitting Mitch Moreland who struck out.  Finally, he went to the mound to bring in Motte to end the inning.  Coming out of the bullpen, however, was rookie Lance Lynn!  The inning couldn't have been more frustrating for La Russa.  When Lynn arrived to the mound, La Russa asked him, "Hey, what're you doing here?!"  Napoli was still on second base and La Russa didn't want to trust his rookie to face the dangerous Ian Kinsler.  Lynn intentionally walked Kinsler before Motte finally came in and struck out Elvis Andrus, but it was three batters too late by that point.

As the travel day left a entire day for the media and blogosphere to discuss the fiasco, the story gradually unfolded as to how the Cardinals could have such terrible communication issues for a La Russa team that, in theory, would not be one to have such issues.  What actually happened, and how did two phone calls make all the difference?

Rewind the inning to the Young at-bat leading off the inning.  La Russa called the bullpen using the dugout phone, ordering Rzepczynski and Motte to start warming up.  However, the bullpen coach heard Rzepczynski's name and somehow heard Lance Lynn from Jason Motte.  Then, when Murphy got on base on the shoulda-been double-play ball, La Russa called the bullpen to tell them he wanted Motte.  The bullpen, however, said Motte wasn't ready because he hadn't been warming up.  A confused and frustrated La Russa decided to let his trusted lefty Rzepczynski pitch to Napoli instead of the rookie Lynn, who would come in anyway after Rzepczynski blew the tied score.  Lynn threw four balls in the intentional walk before being yanked for Motte.

For all the scheming and obnoxious moves Tony La Russa makes, I'm glad this happened to him.  The Cardinals lead the league annually these days in complaints in all categories.  If La Russa hadn't been making his 147th pitching change of the seven-game series, perhaps the odds of this happening to him would be significantly reduced.  Napoli may be a complete beast (which he is, for the record), but Motte and his 98 mph fastball aren't too hitter-friendly, especially for right-handed sluggers.  If Motte is in the game then, the Cardinals get out of the inning.  This critical communication error may have cost the Cardinals the World Series.  Because if the Cards are leading 3-2 and head back home to St. Louis, there's an 80% chance they win the Series in my opinion.  Now, trailing 3-2, it's probably something more like 40%.  For lack of a better system, looks like dugout and bullpen will have to be hooked up with the ol' Morse Code.