I think Manny got a lot more attention because the benchmark has always seemed to be "The 500 HR Club". Kind of like here on Freeones. 5000 posts gets you a T-shirt, then 6000 is an accomplishment, but kind of less significant. I think long ago, the baseball community decided that 500 was going to be the mark of excellence. I don't know how we could do this, but I think the more fair thing to do would be to compare the attention around Griffey's 500th to the attention Manny recently got.
2008 MLB Thread
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I think Manny got a lot more attention because the benchmark has always seemed to be "The 500 HR Club". Kind of like here on Freeones. 5000 posts gets you a T-shirt, then 6000 is an accomplishment, but kind of less significant. I think long ago, the baseball community decided that 500 was going to be the mark of excellence. I don't know how we could do this, but I think the more fair thing to do would be to compare the attention around Griffey's 500th to the attention Manny recently got.
Well the general understanding of a closer among managers is he is the best option to close a close game. Why do you think you dont see closers with the score is 8 to 1 (unless the closer hasnt pitched in a while) Plus the GM or Owner who is paying a guy to close games is going is then churping in the managers ear. Now obviously if the closer has blown 3 or 4 saves in a row or 3 or 4 out of 5 then he might be out of a job, but the general idea is that he is in that role for a reason and thats to close out as many close games as he can.
As for the innings pitched, if your pitching your closer more then 1 inning a night your going to limit the amount of times he can pitch (in a week, in consecutive days and ultimetly the season). The closer is arguably your best pitcher, and is your best coming out of the bullpen so you want to be able to use him in as many times as possible and if its limiting him to 1 inning per outing then so be it.
I'd like to take a tangent from what we are discussing here (to be honest, I started thinking about it from D-rock's post). Should we expect major-league relievers to be able to pitch more than one inning per outing? Obviously no one has the foresight to know whether they will need their closer for the next day's game, so the guy ideally should be ready for every game. Can any closers or setup men regularly pitch more than one inning, and still be ready for the next game? I would guess that this is something that varies from pitcher to pitcher. Also, you have to take into account every time the set up man or closer has to warm up in the bullpen. Often, they throw more pitches in there than actually in the game. Bottom line for me is: You have to limit your closer or setup man to however much pitching he can do while still being fresh and ready to work in the next game. If that means limiting each to only one inning, then I think that is what you have to do. Perhaps if there is a day off the next day, then you can have the setup man or closer work extra. Otherwise, I think it is the job of the manager to know the stamina and fatigue factors of his setup man and closer to ensure that each man (especially the closer) is available for every game possible. It seems to be taken for granted that setup men and closers can only pitch one inning if they are to be used in consecutive games. Maybe that is not the case. Maybe just no one wants to be the one to try it.
I dont think we should. Remember most closer's have very nasty stuff and through mid 90's. This puts a lot of wear and tear on the arm.
Take Joba Chamberlain (I know a set up guy) for example. When he was pitching that 1 inning in the 8th he could hit mid to high 90's, but everyone knows and says that when he becomes a starter his is going to have to pace himself because he wont be able to throw mid to high 90's for 5 innings because it puts so much wear and tear on the arm he will become fatigued.
Hey, that might be bad, but at least your not a Mets fan. Just got swept in a four game set by the Padres. All close games, the last on a walkoff homer against Billy Wagner. The team showed some fight but just couldn't win a single game after coming in having won 3 straight series.
If they keep playing this "you're up, you're down" streaky type of play, they'll never be more than a .500 team. I actually am starting to get a little worried, but I'm still quite optimistic.
Agreed. Which to me means that rather than adopting a static philosophy he has to manage on a case by case basis.
I grew up before the pitch count era so it's a bit hard for me to figure how today's pitchers, who are generally bigger, stronger and better conditioned than yesterday's, seem nevertheless to be more fragile - or at least to be treated as such :dunno:
He agreed he would let them move him just months ago. SEA has nothing I want besides maybe some pitching but they had their shot to get Bedard and passed.
Thing with Seatle is they suck. He would like to at least get to the playoffs have only been there a couple times and I dont think Seattle offers him that right now. He may just end up staying with Cinci.
Thats the best place for JR. to be is DH. He doesn't belong in the OF anymore with his half assed fielding these days.
I never once said I could do it. You can ask anybody who actually watches the Reds on a daily basis and they will tell you the same damn thing. There is no reason to have the wool pulled over your eyes or to be nut hugging him.
Enough about Jr., I was checking out the A's game and caught a gander at Jason Giambi's mustache. My god it is a beautiful piece of facial hair, instantly my new favorite player. Dont care for the Yankees or the American League, but Giambi and his mustache has converted me. And trade Griffey.
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