Happy Thursday; we’ve almost made it to the end of another week. I’ve been trying to hold off on posting this until the expected roster move to send Chad Dallas back down to Buffalo.
A question I have: I’m not sure how you would go about studying this, but teams are surprisingly successful on ‘bullpen days’, and I wonder if there’s payback over the next three or four days? Do you think teams lose more games over the next few days after a bullpen day, because the pen is tired? Do you think there is a cost
to the team over the season? The Jays have several relievers who have thrown way more innings than you would like them to.
There is likely a cost to having guys pitch so much. One would think they lost some effectiveness late in the season. Mason Fluharty has pitched in 71 games, most in baseball. He’s averaged less than an inning per outing, but there are still 71 games where he’s warmed up and put strain on that left arm and shoulder. Will he be as effective next year?
Louis Varland, Braydon Fisher and Tyler Rogers are all above 60 appearances.
Last year, Brendon Little led baseball with 79 appearances. This season didn’t start well for Brendon, but since coming back from the minors in July, he’s been much better. 2.81 ERA. Still walks more guys than you would like, but then he’s averaging 1.5 strikeouts per inning.
I’m sure someone has studied how teams do the week after a bullpen day. It would be hard to do for the Jays because there wouldn’t be enough times when there hasn’t been a bullpen day recently.
I find the bullpen games interesting to watch, because I’m always curious how the team plans to get through the nine innings. I’d imagine they would have a plan for ‘if things go well’ and one for ‘if they don’t’.
I think it is time to give up the tradition of soaking the ‘player of the day’ with ice water. More and more of the players seem to be upset when they do it. Nathan Lukes clearly didn’t want it last night. Louis Varland was very angry when it happened a few weeks ago. They should come up with something else. Something less wet.
This really is a great quote. I wonder if Ernie is re-thinking things:
Rob Longley, in the Sun, has a story about Buck Martinez’ broadcasting journey (in one sentence paragraphs).
It wasn’t exactly the extended career path the California native envisioned following the 1986 season, however, as Martinez stubbornly maintained his playing career wasn’t done.
“I went kicking and screaming,” Martinez said in an interview. “Pat Gillick (Jays GM) and Paul Beeston (team president) released me the first day after the ’86 season and suggested I take a TV job and I said ‘no, I’m going to play again.’ Then I went home and (wife) Arlene told me to call them back and tell them I can’t play any more.
Nate Tomlinson had a rough time of it last night.
