With all the talk about thinking outside the box when it comes to relief pitching roles, why not think way beyond the box as well and consider keeping pitchers in the game by slotting them in defensively negligent positions for a batter or two?
Without recalling the specifics of the situation, I recall Tommy Lasorda bringing in a reliever to face a batter late in a game. I do not recall the specific matchup, but let's say he brought in a LHP to face a Lafty batter. Instead of taking out the RHP, though, he took out the Left Fielder (again, the precise details of this memory may be incorrect, but the overall details occurred and are well within a manager's right to do) and moved the RHP to LF. After the LHP got the batter out, he moved the LHP to RF, the RFer to LF and allowed the RHP to continue pitching. I don't recall if it was the 9th inning, but the outfielding pitcher could of course switch positions once again until he was replaced by an adequate fielder once the manager was happy with pitching matchups ahead in the lineup.
This method would work seamlessly under the National League rules, but late in a game with the lead forfeiting the DH for the best possible pitcher withot definitively using a bullet MUST be soemthing that Mike Scioscia can at least investigate.
So last night is perfect example. Kevin Jepsen could have been removed from the mound, sent to LF and waited for Brian Fuentes to dispatch of David Ortiz and then move back to the mound with Fuentes going to RF and Gary Matthews Jr. or Reggie Willits moving to LF. IF Scioscia was pleased enough to think that Jepsen could handle any possible Red Stocking Pinch Hitter, he could have brought in a defensive replacement for his pitcher in the outfield.
0 recs | 20 comments
Let's see..
Plenty of OF in the dugout, Rivera/Abreu can switch off as necessary, hmmm.
LittleCupcakes - September 18, 2009
Playoff Race....
Too Risky!
Kluless - September 18, 2009
I love clever. Count me in.
(The post is edit worthy. Especially the title.)
Stirrups - September 18, 2009
Thanks for fixing your title. It was kind of embarrassing.
(The body still needs some polishing.)
Stirrups - September 19, 2009
I'd use Jepsen for the 9th and only the 9th
The Soth can mix-and-match Fuentes, Bulger, Oliver and Palmer to take care of the 7th and 8th.
Fan Since 1981 - September 18, 2009
I think Lou PInella did that.
red floyd - September 18, 2009
And I think it was this July.
Talking about the pitcher => Left Field.
red floyd - September 18, 2009
80s Mets
used to do this a lot, I think with Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell but I could be wrong about the players. Maybe John Franco was involved, but I remember that this used to happen.
I would do it not because of matchups, but because we could go back to Jepsen if Fuentes lost control. The problem with using Jepsen as the setup man and then taking him out of the game is that you can’t put him back in. I suppose this is less of a problem in the postseason though because we probably will have Ervin in the bullpen.
Brody - September 18, 2009
Man, thats som wacky shit...
but I love it. And would be perfect with our deeper than a well outfield platoon.
BryanHarvey'sMoustache - September 18, 2009
juggling the ninth
A recurring concern in the era of specialized relievers is that odd instance in which a pitcher, albeit a reliever, needs to see a few live batters before he can "buckle down." The archetypal reliever is allegedly cut from grittier cloth than a starter, who enjoys a longer leash, and so entrusted with the benefit of the doubt with one at-bat potentially signifying the game. I often wonder whether diversifying the relief ensemble in the late innings sometimes heightens the risk of a pitching poor performance making an appearance.
Seraph - September 18, 2009
I have always wondered
why they don’t do this more often. Can a pitcher get a win and a save? Say Jepsen comes in the 8th inning in a tie game, the Angels go up by a run in the bottom of the 8th. Jepsen comes out and starts the 9th inning for a batter. He is taken out and put in right field for a batter as Fuentes gets out the lefty. They bring Jepsen back in and he gets the final out, does he get the win and save?
AngelKeith - September 18, 2009
A pitcher that is awarded the save....
cannot be the winning pitcher according to rule 10.19 for baseball. At best, Jepsen would get the win and Fuentes is awarded a “hold”. No save would be awarded for the game.
blast21dave - September 18, 2009
Love it
Creative thinking is a wonderful thing.
angelskid2210 - September 18, 2009
FINALLY found it
I remembered it at first as Valenzuela, but Fernando never pitched! August 17, 1982, a 21-inning marathon; Bob Welch played left field in the 21st replacing Valenzuela, and Welch swapped with Dusty Baker. A crazy game.
scareduck - September 18, 2009
On second thought
maybe you’re thinking of this October 1, 1991 game with Roger McDowell entering the game in the eighth with one out, replacing Bob Ojeda. In the ninth, he moved to left with John Candelaria coming in to face Fred McGriff. McGriff struck out, McDowell returned to the mound, and retired the next two batters in order to finish the game. And yes, McDowell got the save!
scareduck - September 18, 2009
I love this line.
Fernando Valenzuela moves from RF to LF; Dusty Baker moves from LF to RF
AlanFalcon - September 24, 2009
And it's J-e-p-s-e-n
scareduck - September 18, 2009
not a bad idea in the NL—cant do it in the AL—-the dh prohibits this-sorry——the DH needs to be in both leagues period—-the oitcher would have to bat in the AL for this to happen——Dh in both leagues now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
spc7@verizon.net - September 19, 2009
Crap. Yep. You're correct.
“Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game.”
Stirrups - September 19, 2009
trades
Angels need to dump Mathews— Cubs-Braves? each have middle relivers available and could use Mathews-Angels trade for young players and pay them $ 500k and pay most of mathews salary like 7 million cubs and braves would pay 3 miilion and they would do it!Angels dont need the distraction
spc7@verizon.net - September 19, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Halos Heaven to post a comment.