Terry Francona facing outrage for playoff mistake Reds fans can’t get over

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase following his team's premature exit from the MLB playoffs. The Reds lost Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night and were eliminated from the postseason. The Reds haven't advanced in the playoffs since 1995.

Francona is a future Hall of Famer, but his first year in Cincinnati has not been without controversy. It started on Opening Day with his decision to use Ian Gibaut as the Reds' closer, and things only got worse from there. Most managers are going to receive criticism throughout the season, but Tito's first year in the Queen City was replete with fans constantly questioning his in-game decision making.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that many within the Reds fanbase saved some of their harshest critique for Cincinnati's final game of the season. Francona's decision to go with Zack Littell as the Game 2 starter was met with skepticism, but Nick Lodolo's usage was even more controversial.

Terry Francona facing outrage for playoff mistake Reds fans can’t get over

The Reds' biggest — and perhaps only — advantage heading into the Wild Card Series against the Dodgers was the team's starting pitching. The trio of Lodolo, Hunter Greene, and Andrew Abbott was thought to be as good as any group in baseball. But Greene was the only one of the three to receive a start during the Wild Card Series.

Francona inexplicably used Lodolo in relief this past Sunday, thereby eliminating the possibility to using him to starter Game 2 on Wednesday night. But after Littell allowed the go-ahead run during the fourth inning, Francona turned to Lodolo who allowed just one hit through 1⅔ innings of work.

Lodolo threw just 14 pitches, was dominating the Dodgers' best hitters, but Francona pulled him from the game in favor of Nick Martinez with the Reds trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Martinez entered, and Cincinnati's one-run deficit turned into a five-run deficit in a matter of minutes.

Fans on social media immediately pointed to Francona's decision to lift Lodolo as the point in which the Reds lost the game. Cincinnati attempted to rally during the latter stages, but ultimately lost by a final score of 8-4.

There were other questionable decisions on the part of the Reds' skipper, but pulling Lodolo after such an efficient showing was chief among the complaints from the Cincinnati faithful. Unless Lodolo was still dealing with the affects from the groin injury he suffered last week, there's really no defense that Tito could give that would satisfy the Reds fanbase.

Francona was able to motivate his team and push them into the postseason this season, but his in-game decision making will be something to watch heading into next season as the Reds will look to advance in the playoff for the first time in 31 years.

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