It’s win or go home for the Detroit Tigers, and every move by manager A.J. Hinch is being put under the microscope. During Wednesday’s ALDS Game 4 against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park, Hinch made a decision that immediately sparked debate across social media, pulling Casey Mize after just three innings.
Through three frames, Mize looked sharp. The right-hander allowed only one run on two hits, walked two, and struck out six while showing excellent command and poise in his first postseason start at home. But when two left-handed hitters, Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez, were due up in the top of the fourth, Hinch turned to lefty reliever Tyler Holton.
That move didn’t go as planned.
Both Naylor and Suarez singled off Holton to start the inning, and then Dominic Canzone drew a walk to load the bases, forcing Hinch back out of the dugout to pull Holton after facing just three batters. Thankfully, the Tigers were able to limit the damage, giving up just one run in the inning.
As the Tigers fought to keep their season alive, fans quickly voiced their frustration online, criticizing Hinch’s decision to pull Mize so early when he appeared to be in control.
Now, the question looms large: Did A.J. Hinch make the right call based on the matchups, or did he overmanage in a critical moment of a must-win game?
Tigers fans certainly seem to have made up their minds, and they’re not holding back.
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