Three nights after Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s bullpen management was questioned, it was Seattle Mariners skipper Dan Wilson’s turn to face the music.
After Bryan Woo put two on to start the bottom of the seventh with Seattle holding a 3-1 lead in Game 7, Wilson called on right-hander Eduard Bazardo to face George Springer. The right-hander promptly gave up what turned out to be the series-clinching three-run homer for Toronto.
Wilson’s choice of Bazardo over All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz in such a critical situation raised plenty of eyebrows. But he defended the choice by noting that Bazardo’s been a go-to reliever in those spots all season.
“Bazardo has been the guy that’s gotten us through those situation(s), those tight ones, especially in the pivot role, and that’s where we were going at that point,” Wilson said, according to ASAP Sports.
“(He’s) been doing it all season long and has been so consistent at it and he’s done such a good job all year. We felt really comfortable with him out there, the way he’s been throwing the ball, especially in this series, and it was a good spot for him.”
Bazardo emerged as a workhorse for the Mariners this postseason, and was used in several big situations during the team’s playoff run. However, he allowed two homers over 5 2/3 innings in the ALCS.
Muñoz, by contrast, didn’t allow a run in seven postseason appearances. He ended up pitching in Game 7 and tossed a scoreless eighth inning to keep it a one-run game.
Ultimately, Wilson stood firmly behind his choice, despite the fact that it sent Seattle home without a pennant for a 49th straight season.
“Yeah, I mean, you make your decisions, and sometimes you have to live and die with it,” Wilson said. “I think, again, the way Bazardo has thrown the ball all season long, we were comfortable with where we were and it just, again, didn’t go our way.”