San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin was criticized in many corners for a decision he made — or perhaps did not make — in the 8th inning of Game 5 of the NLCS Sunday.
Melvin was widely criticized for not bringing in closer Josh Hader to face Bryce Harper with one on and one out in the eighth inning of Game 5. Melvin instead stuck with reliever Robert Suarez, who gave up a go-ahead two-run home run to Harper.
Criticism of Melvin began almost immediately, and many had even first-guessed the decision to leave Hader in the bullpen.
The Twitter account for MLB podcast “Starting 9” even compared the moment to the Atlanta Braves infamously leaving Craig Kimbrel in the bullpen while blowing Game 4 of the NLDS in 2013.
One can easily figure out what Melvin was thinking. He was wary about using Hader for five outs, which, as The Athletic’s Dennis Lin noted, is not something Hader has done in three years.
For Melvin, this is a fair concern. However, Hader has been electric all postseason, and the Padres made a massive trade to get him in July. There is no doubt that was the decisive at-bat of the Padres’ season, and it was shaping up that way even before Harper hit a home run. At a certain point, you have to challenge their best with your best and figure out the rest as you go, eve if it just means using Hader in the eighth and someone else for the ninth.
Unfortunately, postseason decisions are magnified, especially when it comes to bullpen management. Melvin will not be the last to take this kind of heat and endure this level of second-guessing.
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