Teheran's Workload

[nsacpi]

Julio's on track to pitch 240 innings this season. That strikes me as too high, especially given he only went 186 last season. I'm a big believer that you want to manage the workload of both your starters and key relievers so they are not worn down come the post-season.

I hope Fredi works out a plan to control Teheran's innings in the second half. One small thing they could do right away is skip his last start before the All-Star break on Sunday. Pitch Hale in that game. It has the nice side benefit of letting Julio participate in the All-Star game.

After the All-Star break I would have Santana, Minor and Harang pitch the first three games. Another small move that helps to control the innings Teheran and Wood have to pitch.

And then after that just give those two guys a break whenever the pen is well rested or the schedule allows. We want to have both Wood and Teheran to be at their best in the playoffs.

[Julio3000]

This is where a dogfight with the Nats makes it a lot tougher on us down the stretch.

[nsacpi]

This is where a dogfight with the Nats makes it a lot tougher on us down the stretch.

No doubt it is a balancing act. But you try to use the deep pen to limit the innings Wood and Teheran have to pitch. Maybe push Harang, Santana and Minor a little harder.

[Julio3000]

No doubt it is a balancing act. But you try to use the deep pen to limit the innings Wood and Teheran have to pitch. Maybe push Harang, Santana and Minor a little harder.

Yeah, I definitely think they have to take measures to limit his innings. As good as the 'pen has been recently, I think getting another arm may be paramount.

[VirginiaBrave]

In a pennant chase you can't skip any starts. what you do is let the game dictate when you take him out. With a huge lead, get him out after six, if he has has a slim take him out after seven. If he gets bombed in a start, pinch hit for him at the earliest opprotunity. If we get a division lead of 5+ or more then you think about skipping a start or two. Shame the way the game has changed these guys have to be treated as babies. Wonder how Gibson and Drysdale would've reacted to innings limits?

[nsacpi]

In a pennant chase you can't skip any starts. what you do is let the game dictate when you take him out. With a huge lead, get him out after six, if he has has a slim take him out after seven. If he gets bombed in a start, pinch hit for him at the earliest opprotunity. If we get a division lead of 5+ or more then you think about skipping a start or two. Shame the way the game has changed these guys have to be treated as babies. Wonder how Gibson and Drysdale would've reacted to innings limits?

There are always guys like Gibson and Drysdale who can handle it. But I remember other guys who got ridden pretty hard and were never the same. Hershisher. Valenzuela. Kerry Wood. Prior. Avery. Gooden.

It is a balancing act. We have a bit of a luxury in having someone like Hale who has done well as a starter. Also the pen is looking very good lately. David Carpenter hasn't been used since coming off the DL. Hale hasn't been used since his start on June 28. I think it is in our interest to spread some of the work to those guys and reduce the load on Teheran and Wood. Of course you want to do this strategically.

[NinersSBChamps]

Pitch him less innings.

That's all I got.

[mfree80]

Not an expert on pitching, so this is more of a question than an opinion. He is getting those increased innings by staying in games longer... and by being more efficient with pitch counts than he was before. It seems that his total pitch count will also be higher, but not by as much as his innings total.

Would greater efficiency mitigate his increased innings a bit?

[Julio3000]

Not an expert on pitching, so this is more of a question than an opinion. He is getting those increased innings by staying in games longer... and by being more efficient with pitch counts than he was before. It seems that his total pitch count will also be higher, but not by as much as his innings total.

Would greater efficiency mitigate his increased innings a bit?

You're right that he is more efficient this season. He's averaging 14.3 pitches/IP this year vs. 15.5 last season.

That's 4th in the NL among qualifiers, btw.

[nsacpi]

Not an expert on pitching, so this is more of a question than an opinion. He is getting those increased innings by staying in games longer... and by being more efficient with pitch counts than he was before. It seems that his total pitch count will also be higher, but not by as much as his innings total.

Would greater efficiency mitigate his increased innings a bit?

Julio is being more efficient this year. He is averaging 100 pitches per start versus 96 last year. That's not as bad as the increase in innings suggests. But still something to keep an eye on. Some of it is whether that last extra inning is a high stress inning.

[Dalyn]

This is going to hurt eventually.

[MadduxFanII]

**** it. Balls to the wall.

[Enscheff]

Rest him so he can pitch in the ASG? Has there EVER been more backwards logic?

If you want to rest him, then rest him. **** the ASG. This is the team's budding Ace we are talking about here. You know, the one we have been drooling over and waiting for since he was 16 years old. His longevity is worth infinitely more than 1-2 innings in an exhibition game.

[jason27nc]

Rest him so he can pitch in the ASG? Has there EVER been more backwards logic?

If you want to rest him, then rest him. **** the ASG. This is the team's budding Ace we are talking about here. You know, the one we have been drooling over and waiting for since he was 16 years old. His longevity is worth infinitely more than 1-2 innings in an exhibition game.

Thats' why I don't vote on the All Star game. You have guys that are banged up that need those extra days off. You don't need to waste your guys by sending them to that silly game. Let someone else give the AL home field advantage.

[nsacpi]

Rest him so he can pitch in the ASG? Has there EVER been more backwards logic?

If you want to rest him, then rest him. **** the ASG. This is the team's budding Ace we are talking about here. You know, the one we have been drooling over and waiting for since he was 16 years old. His longevity is worth infinitely more than 1-2 innings in an exhibition game.

If he pitches against the Cubs on Sunday he will go 6 or 7 innings. If he skips that start, he will go 1 inning in the ASG.

[jsebe10]

No doubt it is a balancing act. But you try to use the deep pen to limit the innings Wood and Teheran have to pitch. Maybe push Harang, Santana and Minor a little harder.

Good call.

Use the living sh1t out of Harang and Santana for they will not be back next year. Use the hell out of Minor just to get him back on track alone. I'm confident the idiot will find a way to get JT where he needs to be. The offense can help with this too by scoring my man some runs and allowing the idiot to take him out sooner in ball games.

[Mrs. Meta]

**** it. Balls to the wall.

Hah, this post reminds me of another one of your posts (from yesteryear). Paraphrasing, you said that all teams pretty much make a Faustian bargain to win a World Series, mentioning one Keith Foulke and the 2004 Red Sox.

[nsacpi]

Keith Foulke's right arm was sacrificed in October, not June-July. Got to get the timing right. Lasorda did something similar to Valenzuela (1981) and Hershisher (1988).

[Mrs. Meta]

Keith Foulke's right arm was sacrificed in October, not June-July. Got to get the timing right. Lasorda did something similar to Valenzuela (1981) and Hershisher (1988).

Haha, I'm just not worthy of the Nick Sacpi!

Represent, man. Rep-res-ent!

[Mrs. Meta]

But yeah, unless you already have the financial security, kinda sucks to be a pitcher (especially middle relief) in beisbol.