Bochy explains ’pen calls
LOS ANGELES — Giants manager Bruce Bochy spoke expansively before Monday’s loss about his team’s bullpen failings, even where he believes he fell short, but adamantly rejected the notion that he stuck with Santiago Casilla at closer too long out of loyalty.
“That’s wrong,” Bochy said at Dodger Stadium. “We’re putting out who we think are the best guys to win ballgames.”
Casilla has blown saves in three of his seven appearances in September and nine overall, the most by a Giants reliever since Robb Nen in 1999. In another game, at Colorado, Casilla started the ninth inning and allowed a Nolan Arenado homer in a two-run game before Joe Nathan was charged with a blown save in a 6-5 loss.
Where fans might see a manager sticking with a core reliever because of past glories, Bochy sees a pitcher who still throws in the mid-90s with good secondary pitches and a history of success, even this year.
“He did save 31 games and he was hot for a while,” Bochy said. “He saved us. There were a lot of games I put him in a tough spot, like New York, when I brought him in with two guys on (in the 10th inning of a win against the Yankees). People forget how good this guy was for us.”
Bochy said roles need to be earned and noted the Giants lost to the Padres when he sent Hunter Strickland to save a game in the ninth with a threerun lead.
Bochy got into a conversation about the bullpen answering a question from a national reporter who asked if this was his most difficult year managing relievers.
“It’s been the most trying season for me getting the bullpen in order,” Bochy said, acknowledging that constantly playing matchups might have put more pressure on relievers thinking they might face one hitter.
“Sometimes you may overthink it a little bit because you’re struggling,” he added. “I think I have a couple of times with the closing situation. I’ve tried to mix it up where something can work. To be honest, it hasn’t gone well.” Title aspirations: Bochy publicly has stressed the Giants are still eyeing a division title.
“We’ve talked about it,” Bochy said. “We know our work is cut out for us. We understand that. There’s time left. The most important thing is to go out and win ballgames. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”