TWIB #5: 1 May - 7 May

[The Man in Blak 0]

Riggleman probably created the issue during the '98 playoff push, IIRC, when he had Wood throw something like 130+ pitches in a couple of consecutive starts.

 

Dusty has exacerbated the issue and I think the problem is not overuse (though he has been prone to leave pitchers out there for too long), but when the overuse takes place. There were times in that 2003 playoff drive, IIRC, where Wood and Prior were left in for some obscene pitch counts in games that were already a complete wash: 5-1, 6-0, etc.

 

Furthermore, I think a bigger issue may lie with his overall poor use of the bullpen. He pitched Chad Fox into the ground. He never seems to bring in middle relievers quick enough, he constantly screws up matchups, and he seems overwilling to yank relievers when things go wrong (which probably contributed to stunting the development and confidence of a half-dozen young Cub relievers).

[sfaJack 0]

Dusty didn't pitch Chad Fox into the ground. Fox was already done before he got to the Cubs, where he pitched only 8 innings.

 

And, yes, Riggleman did play a part in Kerry Wood's injury woes. He pitched wasted him in game 3 of that '98 NLDS (that they trailed 2-0), after Wood was already suffering from a sore arm. The result? A season-ending loss and Tommy John surgery for Woody.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Their pen was awful in 2003, though, so I can see why he wanted to stick with his starters. It doesn't make it right, but we saw how ugly games with the middle of that pen involved got.

 

Were it not for an increased strikeout figure, I would suspect Zambrano's starting to show signs of overuse. We've wondered for a couple years how a guy who usually throws over 100 pitches every start never had any serious issues, while his teammates were hitting the DL on the regular. Now he's shown isues with his command and seems to be serving up more hittable pitches. I guess in his defense, he has faced the Reds twice and the Brewers, two teams who have shown how good they can be offensively.

 

But yeah, after this season, I'd say it'll be time to build the rotation without having Prior and Wood in mind. Wood will probably be gone; Prior will remain, but Hendry would be wise not to rely too heavily on him.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

An article about those elusive lefty BP pitchers. It's embarrassing to think these excuses aren't parody.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

There's always hand wringing this time of year. Remember how I pointed out Jeter's stats in an earlier thread? To give another example, in June of 2005 Zambrano posted a 5.79 ERA, with 26 strikeouts and 17 walks in 28 innings. He somehow went 2-1 over that stretch. The point is that players have bad weeks and months all the time. We only notice it now because they haven't had a chance to pad their records with a period of good play.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

An article about those elusive lefty BP pitchers. It's embarrassing to think these excuses aren't parody.

The big problem with that whole excuse is that it should be Dusty's responsibility to FIND a damned LH batting practice pitcher. Or they could make Matt Murton (.400/.500/.600 against lefties this month) a roving batting instructor. Actually, the big problem is that they have several left handed hitters (Pierre, Jones, Walker, Mabry) in their lineup. While Jacque Jones is an extreme example, most lefties have a lot of trouble facing left handed hitters. The real problem is that their big right handed power bat is out. None of that is Dusty's fault, ultimately.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

On a final note, I'm headed up to Scranton tonight. Instead of Cole Hamels, I get to see the Indians' top pitching prospect, Jeremy Sowers, take the mound for Buffalo tonight.

[naiwf 0]

Can someone explain why most lefties can't hit lefties or why most managers act like leaving a right hander in to face a lefty is borderline insanity?

[The Man in Blak 0]

The platoon split works both ways, but I would guess that the lefty/lefty matchup is more pronounced just because of the likelihood of facing a left-handed pitcher is lower. I don't know the exact percentages, but there's obviously more right handed pitchers throughout baseball than lefties, which means less ABs v. LHP as you progress through your career and less experience to use to correct your swing.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Well, Barry Bonds and the Giants are coming to Miller Park for two games starting tonight, with Bonds two away from Babe Ruth's record. I expect a lot of booing from the Milwaukee fans. Maybe someone will run onto the field and take a swipe at him?

That'd require people to be at the game. I've been watching you guys on FSN North, the attendance is terrible sometimes.

 

 

During weeknight games, yes. Milwaukee is basically a blue collar, middle class town, and weeknight attendance doesn't start picking up until late May, when kids get out of school. Weekends have been pretty good for attendance, thus far.

[vivalaultra 0]

Alright...biggest series of the year so far for Houston. 'Stros vs. Cardinals. I'm 99% sure we'll get at least a split, and, depending on the health of Albert Pujols we might sneak away with the series. It'll be interesting to see if Lidge gets to pitch to Pujols and how that goes. Roy Oswalt goes tonite after winning a bulldozer in his last start against the Cards. Rolen's not playing and outside of Pujols, the Cardnials offense honestly doesn't frighten me any. I'm hoping to see So Taguchi.

[Guest NYankees]

Arod needs to learn to stop thinking all of the time and Just Swing. I can only imagine how much pressure he puts on himself. Guy must have ulcers in his stomach.

[Guest Princess Leena]

If the fans would be nice to A-Rod, he wouldn't have so much pressure.

[Guest Smues]

Braves take a 4-3 lead in the 8th thanks to Al's favorite pitcher. Ryan Franklin, I salute you.

[Guest Smues]

But boo none of his other runners manage to score. Was hoping to A. pad the lead and B. hurt Franklin's ERA.

[Guest Smues]

And just like that it's 5-4 Philly. Fuck.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Well hey, it is Mike Remlinger.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Giants lead the Brewers 2-0 going into the 8th inning. Bonds if 0-for-3 so far. Basically a pitchers' duel so far.

[tominator89 0]

Tom Gordon is having a nice season thus far.

[Guest NYankees]

Tom Gordon is having a nice season thus far.

 

 

Just wait until October if the Phillies make the playoffs. Flash will be throwing up in the bullpen before he comes into the game to blow the lead.

[tominator89 0]

If Gordon gets the Phillies to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years then I'll take what I can get.

[Guest NYankees]

Arod and Matsui both with Clutch hits to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the 10th.

[Guest NYankees]

If Gordon gets the Phillies to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years then I'll take what I can get.

 

Did you say the same thing about Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams back in 1993? Because 1993 was 13 years after the 1980 team.

[NYU 0]

So Billy Wagner has blown his third save in less than a month.

 

If he doesn't watch out, he's going to be getting the Armando Benitez treatment very soon.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I did not know that if a ball bounces in the dirt and hits a batter, it still counts as being a HBP..

[Guest NYankees]

So does BJ Ryan get the save against Boston tonight or does he blow it???

[Bruiser Chong 0]

So he's human after all.

 

Anyway, Neifi Perez popped out with the bases loaded leaving it up to Maddux to get any runs across. And he walks.

[Guest NYankees]

I did not know that if a ball bounces in the dirt and hits a batter, it still counts as being a HBP..

 

 

In Little League, I was batting and the pitcher bounced a pitch about a foot in front of the plate and it bounced up and the catcher caught it. The umpire called it strike 3 and I was about to toss my bat at him. The only reason why I didn't was because I was pretty much in stunned disbelief over such a horrible call.

[devo 0]

Delgado saves the day with a walk-off, opposite field home run, his eleventh of the year. Great game.

 

Hey Al, a question if I may...the Mets game tonight, Roberto Hernandez squared off against Julio Franco. The combined age of that matchup is 88. Would you happen to know the oldest combined age of a pitcher/hitter matchup in MLB history?

[Guest Felonies!]

Pat Hughes just noted that he keeps calling Juan Pierre "Neifi." Must be looking at on-base percentage.

 

Maddux has given up more runs in this game than the last five. He's 1-8 lifetime against the Diamondbacks, but the roster has changed so much over the years, why should he keep having trouble against hitters in purple hats and teal numbers?