Buck's Questionable Use Of The Pen

[LookitsPuck]

Reactionary just due to timing, but one really has to wonder.

Francisco Rodriguez pitches August 10th. Buck decides to then pitch him in a blowout on August 11th effectively rendering him useless for August 12th. He is then "forced" to use Tommy Hunter who:

Pitched August 9th

Pitched August 11th (yesterday)

True story, Tommy Hunter hasn't been used in back to back days since June 13th and 14th. That was the only other time all year.

[bradyrocks]

Not poor usage. Poor pitch selection by Tommy/Matt. He just instantly reverted back to early season "gas only" Tommy. He threw one, MAYBE two curveballs that entire inning. They just had everything timed, nothing throwing them off balance. He and Matt have to read that.

[LookitsPuck]

Put your players in best position to succeed. Why pitch KRod last night? If you don't pitch KRod last night, you don't have to pitch Hunter in back to back games/days.

[Valhalla]

Buck clearly doesn't like KRod due to his personal antics years back. There is no reason to designate him to Kevin Gregg mop-up duty, with his level of talent. It makes no sense.

[LookitsPuck]

Another example: Gerardo Parra owns lefties (batting 300, 800 OPS, all 7 XBH against lefties), but Buck leaves Patton in to face him.

[LookitsPuck]

Buck clearly doesn't like KRod due to his personal antics years back. There is no reason to designate him to Kevin Gregg mop-up duty, with his level of talent. It makes no sense.

Agreed. To make matters worse, Buck pitched O'Day on Saturday and Sunday as well.

[baltimorebirds]

If a guy can't pitch on back-to-back days every once in a while then does he belong in a major league BP? Tommy being used on back on back days is not the issue. It was just bad pitch selection (and the lead off HBP by Matusz followed by the walk by Hunter didn't help.) Truthfully, guys are in the BP for a reason. If they are overexposed, they get burned. Feldman battled tonight, but going only 5 1/3 (after Norris only going 5 IP yesterday) the BP is going to get used a lot -- and abused.

[section18]

I agree with you. Hunter clearly didn't have it tonight. Surprised Buck used him again. Three times in four days. The pen has not been good tonight. Patton gives up Nieves 1st HR of the year. Always embarrassing for a reliever. 1st dam HR of the year. We can still win.

[LookitsPuck]

If a guy can't pitch on back-to-back days every once in a while then does he belong in a major league BP? Tommy being used on back on back days is not the issue. It was just bad pitch selection (and the lead off HBP by Matusz followed by the walk by Hunter didn't help.) Truthfully, guys are in the BP for a reason. If they are overexposed, they get burned. Feldman battled tonight, but going only 5 1/3 (after Norris only going 5 IP yesterday) the BP is going to get used a lot -- and abused.

So, the real question, why pitch KRod in a 10-2 blowout if you already used O'Day in back to back games...and Tommy Hunter hasn't been used in back to back games all season except *once*?

[zxlkho]

This thread is hilariously dumb and reactionary.

[section18]

Great at bat by Nick to fly out to CF to drive in the tying run in the 9th.

[LookitsPuck]

This thread is hilariously dumb and reactionary.

Dumb? I think dumb is the following:

Using O'Day in BACK to BACK games and then using him again so it's BACK to BACK to BACK

Using KRod on Saturday. Then using him again on Sunday in a BLOWOUT. Let's use our big RP acquisition in mop up duty again.

Using Tommy Hunter on BACK to BACK games for only the second time all year.

Putting Patton in to face a hitter that crushes lefties (300, 800 OPS, all XBH against lefties)

It's poor BP management the last couple of days. If you're in this for the long haul...you're not putting KRod in a 10-2 game. That's just idiotic.

[section18]

Bad ending to a game the Orioles battled to the end. O'Day 3rd day in a row. Why? Couldn't KRod pitch that inning? He hasn't worked much. He's a strikeout pitcher. Great changeup. The Arizona hitters were missing Feldman's changeups and he got 6 or 7 K's as a result. O'Day's 1st pitch down the center to Eaton for his 1st HR of the year. Nieves and Eaton get their 1st HR's of the year. Interesting!

[LookitsPuck]

KRod couldn't pitch that inning...because he pitched Saturday and Sunday. Because apparently it was very important for KRod to pitch in a 10-2 game.

[centralpaosfan]

Does McFarland have leprosy or did he not make the plane to the west coast?