Padres' Melvin ripped for bullpen management in NLCS loss

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Padres manager Bob Melvin ripped for bullpen management in NLCS loss

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 10/23/22

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.

Classic case of the save being in the 8th. Why no Josh Hader for Realmuto/Harper/Castellanos??

— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) October 23, 2022

That AB is why you get Josh Hader

— woods (@thestevenwoods) October 23, 2022

Hader gonna be fresh for spring training at least

— Jim Russell (@JimRussellSD) October 23, 2022

Look, San Diego, if you're not going to use Josh Hader in moments like this, you might as well give him back https://t.co/FND45s8tT1

— Reviewing the Brew (@ReviewngTheBrew) October 23, 2022

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.

Josh Hader pic.twitter.com/CQEG5heuE0

— Starting 9 (@Starting9) October 23, 2022

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.

Josh Hader has not gotten at least five outs in a game since September 2019. The Padres are in quite the pickle here.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) October 23, 2022

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.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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