The hopes of an epic comeback in Friday night's game were shut off after Francisco Rodriguez and Ruben Tejada teamed up to pick off Roger Bernadina for the final out with the winning run at the plate. While it's bad form on Bernadina's part to get caught sleeping on a pickoff attempt, you have to give credit to Tejada for being alert and capitalizing on the opportunity.
↵As it turns out, he had a pretty good reason to be on his game last night, via the Star-Ledger:
↵↵↵Tejada made the play on a night when his manager outlined a scenario in which he might soon leave the big-league club. Before the game, Jerry Manuel suggested that it would be difficult to keep Tejada on the roster if Opening Day starter Luis Castillo regains his health. There would be a logjam at second base. Considering Tejada's age, 20, the club would not want him to lose innings.
↵
Nothing like the threat of a demotion, albeit an understandable demotion, to inspire some greatness from the opposing team. Maybe it's time Jim Riggleman started handing out some brochures about the benefits of living in Syracuse.
↵