The 12 inning loss to the Rox is the first loss of the year the in which I believe that Buddy Black made a tactical error that may cost the Padres the game. In the bottom of the 10th, Franklin Morales, a left handed pitcher, retired David Eckstein and then walked Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Headley. The Rox had Manny Corpas, a right handed pitcher, warming up in the bullpen, but Jim Tracy wasn't going to bring him in with the left handed batter Will Venable due up. At that point, Buddy put up Scott Hairston to hit for Venable thereby making the pitching change a no-brainer for the Rox. Now I know the history with Scotty and his clutch, game winning hits, but would it not have been better to have Veanable hit against a pitcher that was struggling rather than have Hairston hit against a fresh pitcher? Comment please.

I think it's a wash. Hairston doesn't hit RHP and Venable doesn't hit LHP. I can understand Buddy going with the veteran and a guy who has a knack for the clutch. It also made them burn another pitcher in an extra inning game. Not a big mistake if at all in my opinion.