I am dead serious. Manuel’s decision to pinch hit Eric Bruntlett simply because he happens to rest the bat on his right shoulder as strikes fly by him is insane, wreckless and downright stupid. I’m sorry, I’m a Charlie Manuel fan, but there is simply no rational explanation for letting Chris Coste sit on the bench while the worst player in Major League baseball comes to the plate in a crucial situation in the 7th. Not that Coste is a great hitter this year himself, but at .248 his batting average is over .100 points higher than Bruntlett’s, and his OBP is over .130 points higher. It was bad enough that in a one run game he let Bruntlett hit in the 7th, but then with two outs in the 9th Charlie let him hit again, despite the fact that he was 2 for his last 23, and one of those hits was against the Reds shortstop. Of course, that wasn’t as bad as his previous slump, when he went 1 for May! Was Mayberry a better option? He is only batting .205 and striking out constantly, but hell, I’d rather send up Eddie Gaedel than Eric Bruntlett.

Maybe Charlie thought that by bringing in a right-handed (ahem) batter, Dusty Baker would bring in a right handed pitcher to face him, then then Charlie would counter with Matt Stairs. But why in the hell would Dusty Baker worry about a lefty/righty matchup when he could set up a tee at home plate and Bruntlett would still strike out? Charlie Manuel was outcoached and outclassed in this game, and if he ever pinch hits Eric Bruntlett again he should be fired, I don’t care if he won the damn World Series.