May 27, 200818 yr Handling of the pitching staff is an ongoing issue, and always will be, with Dusty ... That's where a good pitching coach comes in also IMO. I realize Dusty calls the shots, but Dick Pole has to help out in that situation and help protect his pitchers. Dusty definitely mishandled the bullpen situation on Sunday. I realize that he has to have confidence that guys are going to get the job done, and when they don't it really blows up in your face. That being said, when you get down to your last one or two pitchers you have to use them more conservatively so you don't have to use pitchers that have pitched in the past two days. I would still like to know his reason for not using Cueto who would have gone on three days rest.
May 27, 200818 yr Author It's an ongoing issue with every manager, not just Dusty.Some more so than others ... given Dusty's history, it's an issue well worth watching. If a manager brings in a pitcher and he fails then it's the managers fault, and he gets the blame for bringing in the wrong guy. Nothing is said if he brings in a guy and they win. Whether the game was won or lost has no bearing on this discussion. The issue is some questionable dealings with the pitching staff.
May 27, 200818 yr Author That's where a good pitching coach comes in also IMO. I realize Dusty calls the shots, but Dick Pole has to help out in that situation and help protect his pitchers. Dusty definitely mishandled the bullpen situation on Sunday. I realize that he has to have confidence that guys are going to get the job done, and when they don't it really blows up in your face. That being said, when you get down to your last one or two pitchers you have to use them more conservatively so you don't have to use pitchers that have pitched in the past two days. I would still like to know his reason for not using Cueto who would have gone on three days rest.Agreed, although I don't have a whole lot of confidence in Pole on that issue, either. Given the situation, and if a starter had to be used, Cueto was the logical choice.
May 27, 200818 yr I don't see this as an issue. At all. I realize people question his handling of pitchers in the past, fair or not. However, has Dusty abused any of his pitchers thus far this season? It doesn't seem that way to me. I'm only concerned about what he does in Cincinnati, so until it looks like he's damaging his pitchers here, I don't see why we need to make much ado about nothing.
May 27, 200818 yr Author However, has Dusty abused any of his pitchers thus far this season?I think so ... Sunday, as a matter of fact.
May 27, 200818 yr I think so ... Sunday, as a matter of fact. One instance, which is far from a unanimous opinion would hardly qualify... Could he have made a different move or two that might have worked out a little better? Probably, but hindsight is always better...until something like this becomes a consistent problem in Cincinnati, it's not an issue. As it is, this isolated occurrence won't be a problem.
May 27, 200818 yr Author Actually, abuse is a pretty strong word ... Sunday is the only instance I would use it to describe Baker's handling of pitchers. But there have been some other questionable moves. One I brought up a few weeks ago, when he left Volquez in to throw 118 pitches in a game the Reds led 9-0.
May 27, 200818 yr One instance, which is far from a unanimous opinion would hardly qualify... Could he have made a different move or two that might have worked out a little better? Probably, but hindsight is always better...until something like this becomes a consistent problem in Cincinnati, it's not an issue. As it is, this isolated occurrence won't be a problem. I totally disagree. When you bring back your top two pitchers on only one and two days rest then you are abusing them. Harang threw 103 pitches on Thursday, and then came back with 63 on Sunday, while your young phenom threw 92 on Friday, and then comes back and throws 39 on Sunday. Isolated incident or not, it is still a case of over working your pitchers.
May 27, 200818 yr One instance, which is far from a unanimous opinion would hardly qualify... Could he have made a different move or two that might have worked out a little better? Probably, but hindsight is always better...until something like this becomes a consistent problem in Cincinnati, it's not an issue. As it is, this isolated occurrence won't be a problem. Hindsight is 20/20. However a little foresight is what was needed here. After Stormy and Coco proceded to extend the ballgame, it should have been in the hands of Affeldt and Fogg. Fogg the long reliever needs to pitch more than 2/3 of an inning in an 18 inning game. I said earlier if you can't trust Fogg to do his job, then cut bait. He's useless.
May 27, 200818 yr I totally disagree. When you bring back your top two pitchers on only one and two days rest then you are abusing them. Harang threw 103 pitches on Thursday, and then came back with 63 on Sunday, while your young phenom threw 92 on Friday, and then comes back and throws 39 on Sunday. Isolated incident or not, it is still a case of over working your pitchers. It's easy to sit back and say this now but while the game was going on he didn't expect his team to blow leads 3 different times. I really don't think its that big of a deal. If he could have it back and knows what he knows now I am sure he would have ran them out there differently.
May 27, 200818 yr It's easy to sit back and say this now but while the game was going on he didn't expect his team to blow leads 3 different times. I really don't think its that big of a deal. If he could have it back and knows what he knows now I am sure he would have ran them out there differently. That's what I said in my earlier post, but no matter how you cut it Harang and Volquez were over worked this weekend. I'm sure Dusty will learn from this, and be better prepared next time.
May 27, 200818 yr That's what I said in my earlier post, but no matter how you cut it Harang and Volquez were over worked this weekend. I'm sure Dusty will learn from this, and be better prepared next time. Maybe you should call him.
May 27, 200818 yr Maybe you should call him. I tell you what. You get me the number to the phone in Dusty's office, and I will.
May 28, 200818 yr I totally disagree. When you bring back your top two pitchers on only one and two days rest then you are abusing them. Harang threw 103 pitches on Thursday, and then came back with 63 on Sunday, while your young phenom threw 92 on Friday, and then comes back and throws 39 on Sunday. Isolated incident or not, it is still a case of over working your pitchers. Again, Harang would've had 60 in the pen anyways...
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