Buck's decision to pull McFarland with 2 outs in the 9th last night

[Frobby]

I have to say, I didn't really understand Buck's decision to bring in O'Day to get one out in a game where the Orioles had a four-run lead and the bases were empty. McFarland was pitching well and I didn't see a strong need to get O'Day into that game, 2 days after he threw 33 pitches. After O'Day allowed a hit, Buck also got Britton up and throwing, having thrown 14 and 24 pitches in the two previous nights.

I would have left McFarland in for one more batter, and possibly two, before going to either of my two horses who are already pitching a lot in the young season.

Thoughts?

[weams]

My thoughts were:

1. O'Day was warm, and if there's one guy you use out of respect when he's warm it's O'Day.

2. Top of the order was coming up, featuring tough righties in Betts, Pedroia, and Bogaerts.

3. Secure the series win.

I have to say this is it.

[Can_of_corn]

Both putting O'Day in and warming Britton seemed very odd to me considering the workload the bullpen has been forced to shoulder in the early going.

[Going Underground]

Both putting O'Day in and warming Britton seemed very odd to me considering the workload the bullpen has been forced to shoulder in the early going.

[video=youtube;uuqVKX_16fU]

[weams]

[video=youtube;uuqVKX_16fU]

I don't think Buck had any intention of it escalating to Britton.

[harp6]

Both putting O'Day in and warming Britton seemed very odd to me considering the workload the bullpen has been forced to shoulder in the early going.

I agree. At this early point in the season, the starters are not stretched out enough to go deep into the game, so it is important to be wise with bullpen usage in April. Only three pitcher, Tillman, Jimenez, and Gallardo could each go 100 pitches and soon could go up to 110 pitches. With that pitch count they might get into the 6th or 7th inning. The 4th or 5th starter is probably only going to go 80 to 90 pitches which may only get them through the 4th or 5th inning. It would be nice for Jimenez to go 7 innings tonight to give some rest to some members of the bullpen.

[Aristotelian]

My thoughts were:

1. O'Day was warm, and if there's one guy you use out of respect when he's warm it's O'Day.

2. Top of the order was coming up, featuring tough righties in Betts, Pedroia, and Bogaerts.

3. Secure the series win.

Agree with OP, it was a weird move, but agree with this as well, especially #3. Also,

4. Only having used Bundy and TJ, he still has Britton, Brach, and Givens fully rested and available for a close game tonight. I think the move to use O'Day was essentially a vote of confidence in Brach and Givens.

[OFFNY]

My thoughts were:

1. O'Day was warm, and if there's one guy you use out of respect when he's warm it's O'Day.

2. Top of the order was coming up, featuring tough righties in Betts, Pedroia, and Bogaerts.

3. Secure the series win.

Also, get McFarland out of there when things were well enough. He had pitched to 4 batters, and gotten 4 outs on 11 pitches.

McFarland had an excellent outing his first time out this year, and not-so-good outing the 2nd time out, and a good one last night.

Let his buddy (O'Day) finish off the Red Sox, while T.J. leaves the game feeling good about himself.

Sometimes I am in favor of 'babying" a pitcher, and sometimes I am in favor of leaving a pitcher out there to work out of things on his own, which allows him to grow. Last night, I was in favor of the former. In the future, in a different game and under different circumstances, I might be in favor of leaving McFarland out there to finish what he had started.

[Frobby]

Sometimes I am in favor of 'babying" a pitcher, and sometimes I am in favor of leaving a pitcher out there to work out of things on his own, which allows him to grow. Last night, I was in favor of the former. In the future, in a different game under different circumstances, I might be in favor of leaving McFarland out there.

Last night, I was in favor of babying O'Day and giving him a second consecutive night off so long as we had a four-run lead and nobody on base. I think dan-O's post probably reflects what Buck was thinking, however.

[backwardsk]

I don't think Buck had any intention of it escalating to Britton.

If Boegarts reached, no doubt Zach would have come in.

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[Tony-OH]

I think dan-O has the most likely thinking, but I'm with Frobby on this one. I'm letting McFarland end the game and the only way I'm even warming up O'day is if hello went to a handbasket. Britton would have been lucky I let him dress.

[MurphDogg]

Yeah, I don't get it at all. And warming up Britton just goes to show Buck's slavish devotion to the save rule. Of course Britton was coming in if Boegarts gets on. It becomes a save situation so you have to go to your closer, even if he has pitched back-to-back games. Nonsensical.

[srock]

My thoughts were:

1. O'Day was warm, and if there's one guy you use out of respect when he's warm it's O'Day.

2. Top of the order was coming up, featuring tough righties in Betts, Pedroia, and Bogaerts.

3. Secure the series win.

I agree on O'Day, but this doesn't explain why Britton was warming up with no serious danger.

Once O'Day is warm, him throwing to one guy does not alter his availability for tomorrow.

[Aristotelian]

I think dan-O has the most likely thinking, but I'm with Frobby on this one. I'm letting McFarland end the game and the only way I'm even warming up O'day is if hello went to a handbasket. Britton would have been lucky I let him dress.

The problem is that it is only a 4-run game, so it could become a save situation very quickly. So you may have to warm up O'Day in order to protect Britton, and if O'Day is warmed up you might as well use him?

I don't know, I agree it was a weird call but I tend to trust that there is an explanation because I know Buck is one of the more conscientious managers regarding bullpen use.

[sportsfan8703]

So does O'day have an incentive for games finished? He's at 2 now.