Maness tends to get put in when the situation favors his right arm and often gets taken out when a lefty comes up and a specialist like Choate is used. As a result, he is going to be more efficient with pitches. Once Rosenthal is put in, it is usually for the duration, good or bad. As a result, he's going to be facing far more batters that don't necessarily favor his arm or style. Naturally, it is going to take more pitches to get the job done (or to blow it).

I am still on the Matheny bandwagon but he frustrates me like LaRussa did at times. Stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room and just do what needs to be done. For starters, quit using Rosenthal more than 3 days in a row. It has cost us at least 3 or 4 times this season. Second, quit using Rosenthal when we don't have the lead. Same thing. Put the ego and "he deserves the opportunity" crap aside and make the moves that will win the game. Fork your players feelings and trying to be the "players manager". This is the big leagues and it is about one thing and one thing only, WINNING!!

If Mark Ellis steps up to the plate, there had better be no other option. He has been the biggest bust ever. Eat the contract, let him go and bring up a minor leaguer with a little pop. We have zero pop off the bench.