This game is all on Buck

[TonySoprano]

Well, he's bounced back from erratic outings before. With the four best relievers all having pitched already (or unavailable, in JJ's case), it's a pick-your-poison situation with the remaining three. There's not a big difference between Strop, Hunter, and McFarland in my mind. As I said, this isn't on Buck...his options weren't great.

I think Buck went with Strop because he wanted other options available to back up Britton tonight.

[orioles942]

I think Buck went with Strop because he wanted other options available to back up Britton tonight.

Its possible... but I am all for winning the game you are playing today. Let tommorrow worry about itself.

[DrungoHazewood]

Its possible... but I am all for winning the game you are playing today. Let tommorrow worry about itself.

Major league managers know that there are 5+ months left in the season, and doing everything to win today isn't always the best thing.

[El Gordo]

It's simple as running a marathon. You can't break out in a sprint at the start, and expect to finish. You can't burn your pen in the first month and expect to be in the playoffs.

[orioles942]

Major league managers know that there are 5+ months left in the season, and doing everything to win today isn't always the best thing.

This is were I see the difference in Earl and Buck. Earl said win today at all costs, because you never know what will happen tommorrow. Rainout? Your offense scores 10 runs, your pitcher gets rocked early and takes you out of the game. The wins now, will decide if September is even relevant. I think Buck's weakness as a manager is he looks too far ahead. I think he is great for confidence he gives the team, but suspect in game manager.

[weams]

This is were I see the difference in Earl and Buck. Earl said win today at all costs, because you never know what will happen tommorrow. Rainout? Your offense scores 10 runs, your pitcher gets rocked early and takes you out of the game. The wins now, will decide if September is even relevant. I think Buck's weakness as a manager is he looks too far ahead. I think he is great for confidence he gives the team, but suspect in game manager.

I think both were very good managers. Different times. Different folks.

[eddie83]

This is were I see the difference in Earl and Buck. Earl said win today at all costs, because you never know what will happen tommorrow. Rainout? Your offense scores 10 runs, your pitcher gets rocked early and takes you out of the game. The wins now, will decide if September is even relevant. I think Buck's weakness as a manager is he looks too far ahead. I think he is great for confidence he gives the team, but suspect in game manager.

Earl didn't have a staff that had problems getting thru 6 innings.

[weams]

Earl didn't have a staff that had problems getting thru 6 innings.

Earl didn't have a microphone in his face all the time either.

[El Gordo]

Earl didn't have a staff that had problems getting thru 6 innings.

Really. Earl had 4 SP who were capable of going 9 more often than not.

[DrungoHazewood]

This is were I see the difference in Earl and Buck. Earl said win today at all costs, because you never know what will happen tommorrow. Rainout? Your offense scores 10 runs, your pitcher gets rocked early and takes you out of the game. The wins now, will decide if September is even relevant. I think Buck's weakness as a manager is he looks too far ahead. I think he is great for confidence he gives the team, but suspect in game manager.

I think you'd see, if you went back and looked at the records, that Earl wasn't nearly so over-the-top as you might suggest. And it was easier to go all out when you managed in an era where it was easy to have your starter go 7, 8, 9 - there are no long-term consequences from using 7 pinch hitters in a game.

Just look at a simple example - I picked Tippy Martinez' usage in his best year, 1980. Earl used him in three+ consecutive games only twice, and both times he was pitching less than in inning in several of the games. In 1979 and 1981 combined Tippy threw only 13 games with no rest day. It's not like Earl was taking his best reliever and throwing him 6 or 8 straight games and worrying about his arm falling off later.

[DrungoHazewood]

Really. Earl had 4 SP who were capable of going 9 more often than not.

Buck does, too, if only they got to face opponents from the AL of 1970.

[OFFNY]

This is were I see the difference in Earl and Buck. Earl said win today at all costs, because you never know what will happen tommorrow. Rainout? Your offense scores 10 runs, your pitcher gets rocked early and takes you out of the game. The wins now, will decide if September is even relevant. I think Buck's weakness as a manager is he looks too far ahead. I think he is great for confidence he gives the team, but suspect in game manager.

Earl didn't have a staff that had problems getting thru 6 innings.

Really. Earl had 4 SP who were capable of going 9 more often than not.

Indeed. And occasionally, Earl's starting pitchers would go more than 9 innings.

These are the total number of complete games that Weaver's starters threw from 1969-1979, when his Orioles won the A.L. East 6 times in 11 years:

1969: 50

1970: 60

1971: 71

1972: 62 (Strike-Shortened Season)

1973: 67

1974: 57

1975: 70

1976: 59

1977: 65

1978: 65

1979: 52

[orioles942]

I think you'd see, if you went back and looked at the records, that Earl wasn't nearly so over-the-top as you might suggest. And it was easier to go all out when you managed in an era where it was easy to have your starter go 7, 8, 9 - there are no long-term consequences from using 7 pinch hitters in a game.

Just look at a simple example - I picked Tippy Martinez' usage in his best year, 1980. Earl used him in three+ consecutive games only twice, and both times he was pitching less than in inning in several of the games. In 1979 and 1981 combined Tippy threw only 13 games with no rest day. It's not like Earl was taking his best reliever and throwing him 6 or 8 straight games and worrying about his arm falling off later.

When Earl was in Baltimore for his statue. He was asked could he manage today? He said sure... the only difference is that now you are in the era of 6 inning pitcher and need 7 or 8 bullpen arms and a versatile DH.

[atomic]

Earl also said only carry 8 pitchers on your 25 man roster as a fifth reliever is only needed in games you are blown out in. Extra hitter helps in games you can win. Times have changed.

[DrungoHazewood]

Earl also said only carry 8 pitchers on your 25 man roster as a fifth reliever is only needed in games you are blown out in. Extra hitter helps in games you can win. Times have changed.

A few days ago Verducci had that article where he lamented that all this taking pitches and working the count really hasn't driven up runs like it should. Well, maybe a good part of the reason is it pushed teams to develop and keep a bunch of relievers, who come in and throw hard, mainly with the platoon advantage. Used to be you'd bring in a LOOGY and the other team would counter with a pinch hitter who's job was mainly pinch hitting. Today you bring in a LOOGY and the other team either just lets the lefty hit, or brings in some Casilla type who's the only guy left on the bench since the entire roster is chock full of specialist relievers or utility players whose main job description is "can play 6 positions".