Matt Williams planned quick hook with Jordan Zimmermann

Matt Williams made a controversial decision in Game 2 of the NLDS as the Washington Nationals lost to the San Francisco Giants in 18 innings. He pulled Jordan Zimmermann with two outs in the ninth inning, a substitution that many people have questioned.

Jordan Zimmermann was in control in the top of the 9th inning. He was one out away from a complete game shutout. He had allowed just three hits, issued a single walk, struck out six hitters, and allowed zero runs. He had thrown 100 pitches.

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With just a single runner standing on first base, Nationals’ manager Matt Williams lifted Zimmermann in favor of closer Drew Storen. That decision did not work out, as Storen promptly surrendered a single to Buster Posey and a double to Pablo Sandoval that tied things up at 1-1. The Giants would go on to win 2-1 in 18 innings, the longest game in MLB postseason history.

The decision to remove Zimmermann was not just second-guessed after the fact: it was first-guessed at the time. Did Williams really not believe Zimmermann deserved a chance to finish the shutout? Did he not believe that his staff ace gave him the best chance to win anyway? Was Williams really that concerned because Zimmermann had just issued his first walk of the night?

When asked after the game, Williams said that he planned to have a quick hook with Zimmermann all along. As provided by Andy Martino:

Williams: “Why did we decide to take him out? Because if he got in trouble in the ninth and got a baserunner, we were going to..." contd
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 5, 2014

"We were going to bring our closer in. That’s what what we have done all year."
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 5, 2014

So...did you see anything that concerned you in the Panik at bat, or was that just the plan?
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 5, 2014

"That was the plan."
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 5, 2014

Zimmermann’s night would have been done if he allowed a baserunner no matter what. For a manager to not allow for flexibility in that spot when your ace is dealing is a philosophy that is subject to criticism, and you better believe Matt Williams will receive plenty of it in the coming days.

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