Yankees reacquire Sergio Mitre setting off a storm of hilarity.
Because Sergio Mitre is seen as manager Joe Girardi‘s pet, there’s a neverending wellspring of jokes at the righty’s expense.
But as far as middle-relievers who can pitch multiple innings, spot start and pitch in a blowout, is it that funny? No. Mitre’s not that bad.
Yes he gives up homers and when he gets hit, he gets hit hard; but he was pretty good for the Yankees in 2010; and he’s pitched well enough for the Brewers this season functioning with a horrible defense behind him. That won’t be a problem with the Yankees.
He is what he is and what that is isn’t worthy of the ridicule heaped upon him for being Sergio Mitre.
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Managerials.
The Mets-Tigers game from last night will be shown in managerial courses everywhere.
No such thing as “managerial courses” you say? Maybe I’ll start one.
It’ll be shown for glaring examples of what not to do.
The two most bizarre/egregious gaffes came when Mets manager Terry Collins called for lefty reliever Tim Byrdak to pitch to Tigers pinch hitter Andy Dirks.
Sound strategy except for the fact that Byrdak wasn’t aware he was supposed to be warming up. He’d warmed up the prior inning and wasn’t ready.
It looked like a Benny Hill skit as Byrdak grabbed his glove and came running out of the bullpen. Dirks hit a floating curveball—that I think I could’ve hit—out of the park; a livid Byrdak slammed the resin bag onto the mound and was yanked right after that bit of satire.
As far as the blame game for that goes, hey, these things happen. Managers and coaches are human beings and human beings make mistakes. The Mets won. No harm, no foul. Don’t let it happen again.
On the other side, Tigers manager Jim Leyland brought utilityman Don Kelly in to record the final out of the Mets half of the 9th inning.
Why?
I dunno.
Maybe he wanted to loosen up his tight and struggling club; maybe he was telling his relievers they were so terrible that he was bringing in a position player to pitch.
I didn’t understand it even though Kelly retired Scott Hairston on a fly out.
If the Tigers win today maybe Leyland will be credited for being the grizzled, veteran manager who had his fingers on the pulse of his team and sensed they needed a laugh; in reality, if the Tigers win today, it’ll be because Justin Verlander is pitching.
But whatever works!
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PAULLEBOWITZ.COM 
I tuned in right as Kelly was warming up and I thought, “gee, maybe I’ve had one too many beers tonight cuz that looks like Don Kelly on the mound.”
Turns out Leyland probably had me by a beer or three.