Game Story: Official Game Story to Follow.

by Allen Chace on Jun 3, 2007 4:04 AM EDT in Game Stories

Before I get to the nuts and bolts, let's get a few things out of the way.

If DP doesn't continue to hit 2nd when Youks is subbing for Drew in the 5-hole, I'll probably cut someone. I'm not picky about the target.
Two Lowell plays that could/did result in injuries. My take on the Cano play: Legal but over-the-top, though there's certainly a difference between a Lowell or a Jeter doing that vs. an A-Rod, if only in terms of media and fan interpretation. Doug Malphabet: godspeed in your recovery. A clean but still extremely unfortunate play.
To NG, playing Devil's Advocate re: Francona. I think Tito has done a good job this season, and but for one complaint, I thought he did a good job on Friday. The Sox were down, and the sequence of relievers brought in I had no problem with. Had he brought Snydes in a bit earlier, I wouldn't have been displeased, because Wake was clearly off. However:
It is the job of a manager to look at the LT, and not just at one game. If the Sox are down, and the Everybody Wang Chung Tonight is getting DPs despite not having his best stuff...well, it's Tito's job to not only give the Sox at shot at winning that night, but also to NOT hamstring them the following night. Could he have brought the Ok-a-doke, Paps, and the (to me) still-scary Donnelly in to Game 1, and early? Perhaps. But where would that have left us in the 7th/8th innings tonight? Long-term. Big picture.
NG, I say that not to discourage you, quite the opposite. I have an issue sometimes with the way games are managed against the MFYs this season as well. Had another 4th place team (say if the Orioles or D-Rays were in town, a couple years ago) been up by a run in the latter (but not late) innings, would Francona have put the Oak in to finish off the 7th? I'm not so sure. The MFYs are so often beating themselves this season, that I'm more worried about having the momentum, so to speak, against teams like the Angels, Indians, Tigers, A's, and Twins in the AL.
Also: Anyone know the story about why the umpires went out to talk to Mussina early in the game? It was a breaking ball that missed its spot. ...that's it.

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Re: Game Story: Official Game Story to Follow.

Random rain-delay-which-"allowed"-me-to-see-the-Cards/Stros game thought: I think the contention that Tony La Russa's managing abilities are overrated was proven today. Kip Wells had given up two hits (including a HR) to Adam Everett, and had recorded 0 outs in the 5th inning. It was at that point (probably before, I wasn't watching), that you knew he didn't have it.

Sox parallel: If Schilling is pitching against the Tigers when we go to Detroit later this season, and Leyland exercises his stupid bone and puts Neifi Perez in the starting lineup, and Neifi has two hits off of Schilling and Schill has recorded less than 15-18 outs? He's gone. Doesn't have it that day. Enough proof for me.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 3, 2007 5:17 AM EDT reply actions

How about a new pitcher every inning??

Has it ever been tried (or even contemplated) to set up a pitching scheme based on the "closer" concept but for nine innings? In other words, have 9 pitchers who pitch one inning going all out (like a closer) every night. Don't you think most pitchers could do this if they only had to pitch one inning every night, and don't you think a pitcher is sharpest when just beginning especially knowing they only need to give one inning!!??.

Other more minor details like potential reliever situations and extra inning situations could be worked on later, but the main concept seems worth a try to me.

by NG on Jun 3, 2007 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: How about a new pitcher every inning??

It can't work. Most relivers don't pitch every day. 70+ appearances in a season is a lot. In order to do what you suggest, you'd need an 18-25 man pitching staff. Unless they all can hit and play other positions, it can't happen.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 3, 2007 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: How about a new pitcher every inning??

Remember, JUST ONE INNING. That could be as few as 3 pitches!

by NG on Jun 3, 2007 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: How about a new pitcher every inning??

A pitcher who throws 3 pitches still has to warm up, which puts stress on arms and shoulders over the course of a season.

106 is the record for games by a pitcher. Mike Marshall set the record in 1974. Aside from that, only 7 other seasons in the history of baseball has a reliever thrown 90+ games (Marshall did it twice and Kent Tekulve three times).

What you're asking is impossible, and silly.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 3, 2007 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Allen ...

Re: Okajima in the 7th.

While I can't say for sure whether Tito would have done the same against another team, I do know that he used Paps in the 8th against Texas earlier this year (and smartly pulled him in the 9th after the Sox broke the game open). But 4 outs with the rubber-armed Oki isn't really stretching him out. He hadn't pitched in a few days.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jun 3, 2007 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Allen ...

Excellent point, which I had forgotten. And with him not appearing in game 1, and the day off, he's probably pretty well-rested. And 4 outs on 15 pitches is pretty efficient. Consider me corrected. :)

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 3, 2007 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Game Story: Official Game Story to Follow.

Responding to point #1

Is it time to re-do the lineup based on how players are performing this year?

Lugo and Drew have had enough time to begin hitting.

DP and Youk should be 1 and 2.

Manny-Ortiz-Lowell 3-4-5

Veritek-Drew-Crisp-Lugo rounding out the order.

The big lead hasn't made it an issue but there are still some soft spots in this lineup

by Wayback1918 on Jun 3, 2007 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Story: Official Game Story to Follow.

I actually feel like Lugo has just had horrendous luck thusfar. He's going up there with a plan, and it feels like he's getting himself into a lot of good counts. I'd be okay with giving him a bit more time.

Otherwise, I agree, except that I think if you have a few sure outs in a lineup, I'm not big on all of them being back-to-back-to-back.

Lugo-DP-Papi-Manny-Youks-Lowell-Tek-Drew-Crisp, I'd be fine with a lineup like that (pretty close to yours, except for the Lugo adjustment), and that's pretty close to what we had last night. Flipping Tek and Drew in that lineup would be okay with me as well.

"Interesting. No wait, the other thing. Tedious." -Bender Bending Rodriguez.

by Allen Chace on Jun 3, 2007 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: Game Story: Official Game Story to Follow.

Re #1 -- Pedroia's hot, but the question is whether it's better to keep him in the 9 spot, where there's less pressure. I think that he won't wilt at the #2, and favor moving him up in the lineup, but understand why it could be a concern.

Re #2 -- Dougie was put on the DL -- he's got a fractured wrist in addition to his concussion. Hope he gets well soon.

Re #3 -- definitely have an issue with Tito keeping Wake in so long on Friday, but no problem with going with his B-squad of relievers.

by argo0 on Jun 3, 2007 11:54 AM EDT reply actions