Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin has worked wonders with his roster throughout the 2018 season. It led to 97 wins during the regular year and a spot in the American League Playoffs.
Unfortunately, Melvin’s in-game decisions in the AL Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees were questionable, at best.
Not only did the skipper go with Liam Hendriks as the “opener” at Yankee Stadium, he decided to bring in an erratic Fernando Rodney instead of All-Star closer Blake Treinen with the A’s down just 2-0 in the bottom of the six.
Rodney ultimately let both men he faced each base while throwing a wild pitch in the process. Once Treinen did come in, the Yankees were up 3-0. He’d allow three more runs to score before the sixth was even over.
Needless to say, Twitter didn’t cut Melvin any slack.
https://twitter.com/916WingsFan/status/1047672944598478848
https://twitter.com/jpeebs98/status/1047673176212353024
Classic Bob Melvin, puts @Athletics best pitcher in when game is already over. Farting around w garbage pitchers early just psychologically puts his young players in a hole. Shulda started Treinen. Guys been losing games on pitching decisions his whole career.
— Dan Amofo (@TenHanger) October 4, 2018
The Fernando Rodney Experience is brought to you by Bob Melvin.
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) October 4, 2018
This is price Melvin has to pay for going to Rodney in the first place.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) October 4, 2018
“I want to thank the Good Lord for telling Bob Melvin to put Fernando Rodney into the game and giving up a run” -Lou Gehrig
— Harry (@YankeeNation14) October 4, 2018
Me when Bob Melvin brought Fernando Rodney in pic.twitter.com/NhRWlNs9fz
— Kevin Stewart (@_Kevin_Stewart) October 4, 2018
As much as I love Bob Melvin, his poor bullpen management in the playoffs has cost us again this year! No way should Rodney have pitched this inning! #athletics
— Adam Hilton (@ajhilton7) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/ParanoidGamerYT/status/1047671546809004032?s=20
https://twitter.com/its_treys/status/1047670915243397120?s=20
It is absolutely unfathomable that Oakland would bring in Rodney with the bullpen they have. Aaron Boone has to have a sex video of Bob Melvin. #WildCard
— Tyler George (@tylertgeorge) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/JATayler/status/1047671798823886848?s=20
https://twitter.com/MLBDonaldTrump/status/1047673342508056578