Fansided

3 Terry Francona mistakes that cost the Guardians Game 5

By Mark Powell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on prior to a game against the New York Yankees in game five of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on prior to a game against the New York Yankees in game five of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Guardians, Aaron Civale, Terry Francona
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 18: Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Guardians pulls Aaron Civale #43 from the game during the first inning against the New York Yankees in game five of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Terry Francona mistakes: Wrong starting pitcher

In a way, Terry Francona screwed the Guardians before the game even began.

Aaron Civale was the scheduled starting pitcher for Game 5, had it not been rained out on Monday night. An extra day of rest brought up the possibility of ace Shane Bieber starting on short rest instead. Francona stuck to his guns, starting Civale, who lasted one-third of an inning after giving up a three-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton.

The quick hook shows that Francona couldn’t have been too confident in his decision-making. Starting Bieber evidently never entered the equation, as he doesn’t have experience pitching on short rest. Few pitchers do these days, of course. But if there was ever a time, why not now?

New York started Cortes on short rest, who promptly gave them five good innings of one-run baseball before giving way to the bullpen. The Guardians could’ve used the same from their ace, but instead turned to Civale, who had an ERA over ten against the Yankees this season.

That decision, arguably the worst of them all, backfired almost immediately.

Next. 3 Cleveland Guardians who won’t return and where they’ll go. dark

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