A Whole Lot of Dumb

White Sox centerfielder Tristan Peters opened the eighth inning of a scoreless tie last night in Houston with a triple to deep right-centerfield. Catcher Drew Romo followed with a walk, at which point a whole lot of dumb stuff commenced. It started with Romo staying in the game. Why? Because “he’s catching a shutout,” Sox manager Vibes Venable told reporters after the game. [quote from today’s Trib story online] Then, why even keep Luisangel Acuna, whose one asset is his speed? Sam Antonacci proceeded to hit a grounder right at Houston shortstop Jeremy Pena with the infield drawn in. Peters hesitated an instant, then broke for the plate. Bad decision by him, and third base coach Justin Jirschele if he told Peters to go. Yup, out by a mile and defended by Venable in the postgame. With one out and runners on first and second (as opposed to second and third if Peters had stayed put and Pena took the out at first base), Munetaka Murakami singled sharply to right field. Maybe if Romo didn’t look back to check on the ball he scores. And a heck of a greater chance with Acuna running. But, hey, Romo was catching a shutout, right? After Miguel Vargas grounded into an around-the-horn double play (what, no safety squeeze? Oh, right, Romo was on third), Venable elected to stay with Sean Newcomb in a bases-loaded, two-out situation, righthanded-hitting Nelson Velazquez batting. What, no Grant Taylor? Velazquez singled to center. Astros 2 Sox 0. What could be worse than the above? Having Luis Castillo start today, that’s what.