Starting tonight, Piniella said he will use a reliever for the first two innings

Search

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
34,770
Tokens
HOW WILL BOOKS HANDLE THIS_--ACTION ONLY???


"By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer
Published July 6, 2005
CHICAGO - With Lance Carter's implosion in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox the latest debacle, manager Lou Piniella apparently felt there is no way any of the Devil Rays relievers can protect a lead in the eighth inning.

So he decided his next move is to try something that is totally different, potentially controversial and perhaps unprecedented.

Starting tonight, Piniella said he will use a reliever for the first two innings, then bring in his scheduled starter with the idea that he can pitch through the eighth before yielding to closer Danys Baez.

"I've made up my mind, and that's what we're going to do," Piniella said. "People are going to think I'm crazy, but we're just going to try it.

"Starting (tonight). I'll bring in whatever reliever I feel like starting the game with, and I'll bring my starter in in the third inning and we'll play nine innings of baseball that way. I'm serious."

Piniella first mentioned the idea last weekend, then dismissed it over concern for the starters' physical preparation.

But after watching Carter turn a hard-earned 4-3 lead into a frustrating 6-4 loss, giving up a three-run homer to Frank Thomas, as the Rays lost for the eighth time in a 34-game span after taking a lead into the eighth, his frustration got the best of him and led to the radical decision.

"I don't want to be an innovator," Piniella said, "but we're just going to try it."

Several players seemed skeptical Piniella would follow through - "We'll see if that happens," Tuesday starter Mark Hendrickson said - and pitching coach Chuck Hernandez politely declined to discuss it.

The plan presents some problems of its own: Piniella said he would decide each day which reliever would start and "keep the other manager guessing," which goes against baseball protocol of having an announced starter; the Rays could end up short pitchers if he uses one or two relievers early and a game goes extra innings; and starters who get rewarded financially for their number of starts, either through incentive clauses or in contract negotiations for the next season, may be troubled."
 

RX Senior
Joined
Apr 20, 2002
Messages
47,431
Tokens
I love it. And people thought the spread offense option was whacky.
 

The Straightshooter
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
7,118
Tokens
i remember when LaRussa did the "3 pitchers, 3 innings" each thing in Oakland. I don't think that worked out very well either, correct me if i'm wrong??
 

The Great Govenor of California
Joined
Feb 21, 2001
Messages
15,972
Tokens
Great idea, in fact the correct way to do it. Americans are obese and consume drugs via coffee and sugar in an attempt at suicicde on a daily basis.
 

New member
Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
253
Tokens
WTF does excessive coffee consumption have to do with bad relief pitching? :WTF:
 

New member
Joined
Jan 1, 2001
Messages
17,696
Tokens
number 13, rail is a bullshit poster who does nothing but tries to ruffle your feathers with stupid things like these, religious hypocrisy and other "things"

try to ignore it.
 

Banned
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
80,046
Tokens
Years ago Earl Weaver would have a pitcher bat first when the Orioles were the home team, so he could save the DH spot, I can't recall what the strategy was behind the move, but the Americn League eventually had to make a rule against this.
 

Rx God
Joined
Nov 1, 2002
Messages
39,226
Tokens
Journeyman said:
Years ago Earl Weaver would have a pitcher bat first when the Orioles were the home team, so he could save the DH spot, I can't recall what the strategy was behind the move, but the Americn League eventually had to make a rule against this.

Since you brought it up, please follow it up, I'd like to learn more about this ploy !
 

New member
Joined
Feb 20, 2005
Messages
5,298
Tokens
Waiting for this!!!

BEST MOVE would be for a team to experiment with having its starting pitchers begin the game in INNING #5, and throw 95MPH the rest of the way. All you need is 4 decent 5 inning pitchers to throw from 5-9, and extras if necessary, as they can ALL PITCH ON 3 DAYS REST.

Use the set-up guys or other 3 inning type pitchers to open the game. I believe this could work.
 

Banned
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
80,046
Tokens
DougJ said:
Since you brought it up, please follow it up, I'd like to learn more about this ploy !

Doug I can't recall what the strategy was...it was very popular back in the 1980 season....I remember being at the games and Rex Barney would announce the starting lineups, and we would have a bench pitcher announced in the starting lineup as the DH, the crowd would scoff...for the life of me I can't figure what his reasoning/strategy was , the player never actually batted though.

I will see what I can find on it....its got me wondering too.:icon_conf
 

Banned
Joined
Sep 20, 2004
Messages
80,046
Tokens
outhouse tim said:
BEST MOVE would be for a team to experiment with having its starting pitchers begin the game in INNING #5, and throw 95MPH the rest of the way. All you need is 4 decent 5 inning pitchers to throw from 5-9, and extras if necessary, as they can ALL PITCH ON 3 DAYS REST.

Use the set-up guys or other 3 inning type pitchers to open the game. I believe this could work.


I guess anything is possible but what if the starter gets killed?

You would have no bullpen left.
 

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
34,770
Tokens
I believe i saw a manager once decide to bat FIRST when at home. that is allways the hometeams option.
 

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
6,910
Tokens
I have wondered before how it would work to have no "starting" pitchers. 12 or 12 relievers most of whom can go 3 innings and just ride the hot hand for 2 or three innings at a time. Keep in mind this is just a thought, not saying I think it necessarily work, but an option for small market teams perhaps? This way your best pitchers can be used in game situations in most instances.
 
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
5,615
Tokens
ego74 said:
i remember when LaRussa did the "3 pitchers, 3 innings" each thing in Oakland. I don't think that worked out very well either, correct me if i'm wrong??

That was in '95 I believe; it lasted about one week. These idiots just don't realize that no talent means no talent anyway you slice it.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,769
Messages
13,438,849
Members
99,338
Latest member
chaicoca816
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com