Loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
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bill ribassays
Anyone have a link to a story describing the situation with the Dodgers? Or can explain it in a few sentences? I just saw some story on ESPN about Selig taking over or whatever. What is going on?
“Here’s the situation: It’s the bottom of the 6th inning and you’ve just pulled your starting pitcher at 105 pitches. You’re protecting a one run lead in a tough spot with runners on base. You call for your best strikeout pitcher out of the bullpen, who proceeds to strike the next two batters out on 11 pitches, 9 of them being strikes, to get your team out of the jam. What do you do next?
If you’re (manager who will temporarily remain nameless) you pull that guy out of the game, because now it’s the 7th inning, and that means it’s time for your 7th Inning Guy.”
Any guess what manager we’re talking about here? The blogger who wrote this continues, with what I think is a pretty good analogy:
“Relievers can be volatile things and there’s no way to know what days are the days when they’re simply not going to have their best stuff. In a way, making pitching changes is like playing a weighted game of Russian roulette, and the more relievers you use the more chambers you’re loading.”
Nope…it’s Joe Girardi. The pitcher he pulled from the game was David Robertson (his 4th best reliever, who was pitching well) to bring in Joba Chamberlain (his 3rd best reliever). Actually, Chamberlain did his job, as did Rafael Soriano in the 8th, only to have Mariano Rivera blow the lead in the 9th. But, that wasn’t the blogger’s point. I liked the Russian Roulette analogy, which agreed with something you previously said about sticking with the hot hand.
Wallysays
I enjoyed the quotes … you’re right … exactly my philosophy. I guess that’s the “art of management” and akin to playing poker. Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Too many baseball managers fold ’em too quickly these and send their starter to the showers too early … or somebody who pitched well last inning.
Wallysays
What a GREAT period of sports viewing!!! Playoffs going on in both the NBA and NHL, plus baseball. Gotta love this time of year as a sportsfan!!!
Playoffs of intrigue:
— Bruins vs Canadiens: looks like it’s going 7 games
— Sabres vs Flyers: Same thing
— Blackhawks vs Canucks: I thought the defending champs were dead down 3-0, but stirring performances have brought them back to 3-2 and heading back to the Madhouse on Madison.
— Bulls vs Pacers: I’m intrigued because it’s just hard to believe the Bulls are winning this series 3-0. I guess they’ve just played slightly better down the stretch in these games, but Indy is playing more like a 4/5 seed than an 8 seed. Not too surprising if you consider how well they played in second half of the season
— Hawks vs Magic: tied at 1 and heading to ATL. Pressure’s on Orlando.
— Celtics vs Knicks: will be very interesting to see if the shamrocks can eek out these games in Madison Square Garden.
— Lakers vs Hornets: defending champs tied at 1 and heading into the hornets nest. This game will say a lot about how game they are for the potential 3-peat.
— Grizzlies vs Spurs: Just a hunch that San Antonio will be behind the 8 ball when this series heads back to their place.
Either that or the Celts figured out that the Knicks are a different team without Chauncey.
Wallysays
How old is Carlos Boozer?? He’s playing like he’s 100 yrs old. I’m not sure his vertical jump is measurable and I’ve seen more intensity in a Bingo game over at the Seniors Hall. When was the last time he stepped in and took a charge??? His poor play will be reason A1 why the Bulls fall short of the championship.
Some of that has to do with the Pacers. Not sure what their contracts are like and whether there will be a season next year, but we will find out this Pacers team is pretty good. Hibbert, Hansbrough and Granger make for an effective inside trio.
Re: Celtics-Knicks, Smitty I think the Celtics finally woke up and handled a team they were much better than to begin with, and that was before two of their three best players got hurt.
Chas – I agree with you. I think the Celtics are starting to find their stride and Game 3 was the start of it. I also don’t think the bright lights of New York City didn’t hurt, as it always seems to bring out the best of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Casey – add Memphis to that list of young teams to look out for next year. Conley, Marc Gasol are pretty good and they are giving the Spurs all they can handle without Rudy Gay.
Wallysays
Boozer’s rebounds tend to be of the uncontested variety on the defensive end … kinda like ARod hitting a 3 run HR in the top of the 9th when the Yanks are already leading 10-2. If Boozer doesn’t catch them, they’d hit the floor. Does no good for him to get an offensive rebound … he’ll either miss the putback or get stuffed. Whereas the Pacers are stepping in the way and contesting drivers, Boozer is actually getting out of the way.
ok … I’m being hard on him. We SHOULD be hard on him for the fortune he signed for. But the Bulls need him to be a consistent leader by example AND by play. Both have been lacking and that’s really bothersome coming from a veteran.
Loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
Anyone have a link to a story describing the situation with the Dodgers? Or can explain it in a few sentences? I just saw some story on ESPN about Selig taking over or whatever. What is going on?
Well, there’s a lot on ESPN’s web site, including a front page article, but here’s what the blog Dodger Thoughts has to say about it: https://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/12671/the-irredeemable-frank-mccourt
Here are some quotes Wally might appreciate:
“Here’s the situation: It’s the bottom of the 6th inning and you’ve just pulled your starting pitcher at 105 pitches. You’re protecting a one run lead in a tough spot with runners on base. You call for your best strikeout pitcher out of the bullpen, who proceeds to strike the next two batters out on 11 pitches, 9 of them being strikes, to get your team out of the jam. What do you do next?
If you’re (manager who will temporarily remain nameless) you pull that guy out of the game, because now it’s the 7th inning, and that means it’s time for your 7th Inning Guy.”
Any guess what manager we’re talking about here? The blogger who wrote this continues, with what I think is a pretty good analogy:
“Relievers can be volatile things and there’s no way to know what days are the days when they’re simply not going to have their best stuff. In a way, making pitching changes is like playing a weighted game of Russian roulette, and the more relievers you use the more chambers you’re loading.”
Is it Ozzie???
Nope…it’s Joe Girardi. The pitcher he pulled from the game was David Robertson (his 4th best reliever, who was pitching well) to bring in Joba Chamberlain (his 3rd best reliever). Actually, Chamberlain did his job, as did Rafael Soriano in the 8th, only to have Mariano Rivera blow the lead in the 9th. But, that wasn’t the blogger’s point. I liked the Russian Roulette analogy, which agreed with something you previously said about sticking with the hot hand.
I enjoyed the quotes … you’re right … exactly my philosophy. I guess that’s the “art of management” and akin to playing poker. Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em. Too many baseball managers fold ’em too quickly these and send their starter to the showers too early … or somebody who pitched well last inning.
What a GREAT period of sports viewing!!! Playoffs going on in both the NBA and NHL, plus baseball. Gotta love this time of year as a sportsfan!!!
Playoffs of intrigue:
— Bruins vs Canadiens: looks like it’s going 7 games
— Sabres vs Flyers: Same thing
— Blackhawks vs Canucks: I thought the defending champs were dead down 3-0, but stirring performances have brought them back to 3-2 and heading back to the Madhouse on Madison.
— Bulls vs Pacers: I’m intrigued because it’s just hard to believe the Bulls are winning this series 3-0. I guess they’ve just played slightly better down the stretch in these games, but Indy is playing more like a 4/5 seed than an 8 seed. Not too surprising if you consider how well they played in second half of the season
— Hawks vs Magic: tied at 1 and heading to ATL. Pressure’s on Orlando.
— Celtics vs Knicks: will be very interesting to see if the shamrocks can eek out these games in Madison Square Garden.
— Lakers vs Hornets: defending champs tied at 1 and heading into the hornets nest. This game will say a lot about how game they are for the potential 3-peat.
— Grizzlies vs Spurs: Just a hunch that San Antonio will be behind the 8 ball when this series heads back to their place.
Stunned by this: https://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6409458
Did Mike D’Antoni forget to tell the Knicks that there was a game last night? Either way – the Truth came out!!
Either that or the Celts figured out that the Knicks are a different team without Chauncey.
How old is Carlos Boozer?? He’s playing like he’s 100 yrs old. I’m not sure his vertical jump is measurable and I’ve seen more intensity in a Bingo game over at the Seniors Hall. When was the last time he stepped in and took a charge??? His poor play will be reason A1 why the Bulls fall short of the championship.
Some of that has to do with the Pacers. Not sure what their contracts are like and whether there will be a season next year, but we will find out this Pacers team is pretty good. Hibbert, Hansbrough and Granger make for an effective inside trio.
By the way, Boozer had 13 rebounds.
Re: Celtics-Knicks, Smitty I think the Celtics finally woke up and handled a team they were much better than to begin with, and that was before two of their three best players got hurt.
Chas – I agree with you. I think the Celtics are starting to find their stride and Game 3 was the start of it. I also don’t think the bright lights of New York City didn’t hurt, as it always seems to bring out the best of Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
Casey – add Memphis to that list of young teams to look out for next year. Conley, Marc Gasol are pretty good and they are giving the Spurs all they can handle without Rudy Gay.
Boozer’s rebounds tend to be of the uncontested variety on the defensive end … kinda like ARod hitting a 3 run HR in the top of the 9th when the Yanks are already leading 10-2. If Boozer doesn’t catch them, they’d hit the floor. Does no good for him to get an offensive rebound … he’ll either miss the putback or get stuffed. Whereas the Pacers are stepping in the way and contesting drivers, Boozer is actually getting out of the way.
ok … I’m being hard on him. We SHOULD be hard on him for the fortune he signed for. But the Bulls need him to be a consistent leader by example AND by play. Both have been lacking and that’s really bothersome coming from a veteran.