Comments on: Championship starts today!

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:27:08 +0000

He may want the ball, but it doesn’t mean that’s he’s going to be able to deliver. Schuld for St. Thomas and McDowell for Wooster have thrown more than 400 pitches since last Wednesday (Thursday for McDowell).

I’m definitely not guilty of being a slave to pitch counts. I can sort of see what you’re saying on the difference between 80-100-120. But you don’t know when you’re going to need your ace again in a tournament like this.

We’ll see how it works out, I guess. Neither of these guys are seniors, by the way.

By: dukes

dukes — Sat, 23 May 2009 05:32:43 +0000

I have no logic to what the actual coaches think but will give my take on the situation. I personally agree with letting the starter handle his own game. Realistically, if you are short arms in the bullpen the last thing you want to do is use another arm in a game that is already in control. Also, in my opinion pitch counts are too often thought of as a set number. Once you have thrown 50 pitches and had that muscle breakdown, I dont really see much difference between 80-100-120. Also, the other fact is always momentum and confidence, no sense putting a lesser pitcher out there and give up a few runs if you dont have to when your team is confident and playing well. Dont rock the boat. Also, in these game with metal bats team can have a big inning.

Overall, I believe if a pitcher is your ace, you want him to have the ball, and finish his game. And trust me, when push comes to shove and you need him in another game, the ace of the staff wants the ball again.

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:36:37 +0000

should = shouldn’t. I apparently lead the tournament in double posts.

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:36:03 +0000

Well, that’s ideally what you want to do. If you are the 3-0 team you can. But if you lose tomorrow, all that goes out the window. There are examples of this every year.

I guess I should be surprised at this given the coaches involved and their histories.

By: Pat Coleman

Pat Coleman — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:16:16 +0000

Right — I was talking specifically Schuld.

It sounds like (rumblings here) in a lot of cases coaches are looking at today’s starters as not starting again until Tuesday, if they get there.

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:11:10 +0000

Obviously, Van Sickler didn’t throw many innings in the regional, so with the last part I’m primarily referencing Schuld and McDowell.

By: Pat Coleman

Pat Coleman — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:07:41 +0000

I guess if you were to make an argument for keeping him in, it’s that he just had a really easy inning and he seems to have put it all together since that mound visit in the fifth.

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:07:29 +0000

I must be some kind of softy or don’t understand the logic the coaches are using behind keeping their aces in there in a game that’s out of hand.

I think a key in Marietta winning in 06 (among many) was Eisenberg’s low pitch count going into the Series. He only threw 50ish pitches in the first game of the regional and coming out of the region had only thrown something like 160 pitches and was strong in the Series.

After throwing so many pitches in the regionals, I would think the coaches would jump at the chance to save a few miles on their top arms. But all three of them didn’t.

So what am I missing? Is this something anyone there is talking about or has some insight on?

By: Ralph Turner

Ralph Turner — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:50:18 +0000

I hear the band practicing in the background…

“Turn out the lights. The party’s over.”

Tommies 8-0.

Going to the Chapman 6th.

By: Spence

Spence — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:49:49 +0000

Tough call here for Denning. Schuld’s thrown a lot of pitches over the last 9 days, but he doesn’t have a very deep staff and there’s still some time left. How far do you take Schuld? This question’s come up twice already and in both cases the coach opted to leave the pitcher in. Neither of them had thrown as many pitches as Schuld in the postseason though.