Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Um, Joe?

I'm listening to the Dodgers' game on the radio right now.  It's the bottom of the 7th inning, and the Dodgers are down 4-0 with the bases loaded and two outs in the 7th.  Because of a rainout last night, there is a doubleheader today with the second game starting about 30 minutes after the first game ends.  Joe just brought in George Sherrill, the third pitcher he has used in THIS INNING.  It is rare, very rare even, that once a pitcher is used in a game, the manager will turn around and use him again in the second game.  Meaning that since John Link, Ramon Troncoso, and George Sherrill have already been used, they are most likely unavailable for the second game today, reducing the bullpen to four men.  And we haven't played the eighth inning yet.

My question: do you think Joe Torre knows they are playing two games today?

I mean, I am never one to give up on a game.  I don't want us conceding just because we are down four runs with six outs left.  Having said that, IF we put together a rally and score a few runs, we're going to need a pinch-hitter as it will get around to the pitcher's spot in the lineup.  So, then we use a fourth reliever.  Say we take the lead... does Torre bring in Broxton to close it out?  Because that would be five relievers, leaving only two in the bullpen to back up Charlie Haeger in the second game.  The same Charlie Haeger that has gone a total of 9.1 innings in his last three outings.  So, assuming he even hits the high end of that average and gets through four innings, do we really trust two relievers to pitch the final five innings?  Wouldn't it have made a heck of a lot more sense to just leave Troncoso in to get the third out of the 7th inning rather than burning another reliever?  I mean, the worst that happens is he gives up a hit and we're down 6-0.  Well, that's not much worse than 4-0 to be honest.

Seriously, what exactly was Joe thinking there?  I really am curious.

UPDATE:  Forget everything you just read.  Joe used Troncoso, Link, and Sherrill in the second game, too.  Do you think he forgot about the first game?  Do you think he still thought it was the first game?  I have never seen a manager use three of the same pitchers in both ends of a doubleheader.  Consider my mind blown.

1 comment:

JP said...

He just brought in his fourth reliever. Wow.