From: enw2049@zeus.tamu.edu (WALKE, ERIK N)
Subject: Re: Managing in the AL
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 22:43:00 GMT

In article <1992Aug22.042305.21911@cs.cornell.edu>, tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer) writes...
> 
>In article <1992Aug21.163756.14867@cis.ohio-state.edu> miked@cis.ohio-state.edu (Michael Davey) writes:
>>My friend
>>commented that managing doesn`t really matter that much in the AL due
>>to the DH (obviously).

       Normally I avoid arguments about "which league's play is more
       interesting,", "which league has better managers," etc. and 
       spend the time on more productive tasks like eyebrow-plucking
       or banging my head against walls.  I'm so disappointed to see 
       such silly opinions as the above that I make an exception.
> 
>AL managers have one *big* decision to make that NL managers don't.
>When do you pull your star pitcher and go to the bullpen in a close
>game?  In the NL, almost all pitching switches are dictated by
>situation (score, inning, and when the pitcher comes to bat).

       This seemingly innocuous statement just ain't correct.  As you 
       make quite clear in the succeeding lines, you mistakenly think
       that the strategic moves required in the NL (line-up changes, 
       double switches, etc.) are the dominant factors in the decsion
       when and how to remove a pitcher.  That is INCORRECT.

> In the AL, the manager has to make the decision based solely on the current
>effectiveness of the pitcher. 


       Before I typed this I re-read your whole post to see if I missed
       a ;-) or something.  THIS IS EXACTLY THE REASON THAT **ANY** (!!)
       PITCHER IS REMOVED.  Do you actually think that NL managers 
       pull a starter who's pitching well simply because that pitcher
       is due to bat third in the next inning?  IF A PITCHER IS 
       STRUGGLING, OBVIOUSLY TIRED OR OUT OF GAS, HE IS REPLACED.  The
       strategic manuevers mentioned above are the manager's only succor
       in a bad situation.  Having just removed his pitcher, a NL mana-
       ger can at least rearrange his team to minimize the disruption.
       Double-swithches, line-up changes and all the rest are the 
       EFFECT, not the CAUSE, of a pitcher's removal.

       I must admit that cases do arise where a pitcher who has per-
       formed well is still removed for a pinch-hitter.  Perhaps the
       archetype would be a pitcher who has allowed only 2 or 3 runs
       but whose own hitters have been shut out.  Especially if the 
       visiting team is behind, a pitcher losing only, say, 2-0 or 3-1
       might be pulled to generate some offense.  The desire to tie 
       or go ahead before facing the home team's bullpen stopper (eg, Lee
       Smith in his prime, or John Franco) in the ninth can motivate a
       pitcher's removal.  I submit that this strategy make's the 
       manager's decision harder, and the game more interesting.   


>That's a harder decision, IMHO.

>It's much easier to simply pull the pitcher the first time he comes to bat
>after he reaches the 100 pitch limit.

       If any ML managers actually do this, they're stupider than they
       appear.  Some pitchers run out of gas long before 100 pitches,
       some are still throwing gas at 125.

>>However, I do think the DH is an abomination and
>>AL baseball not as interesting as the NL brand.
> 
>I find the NL boring because I don't know the players as well, and for
>the most part I don't care who wins the game.

       Might I politely suggest that you watch a few more NL games, 
       then.  Not only might you learn a few of the players, you 
       might see some of the strategies of which you are so critical.

>I also don't enjoy watching games played on astroturf, and most NL games
>are played on that green cement stuff.

       Ok, Ok, point taken.  There is way too much of the damn concrete
       in the NL.  But any AL fan who criticizes artificial turf has 
       to remember one thing:  METRODOME, METRODOME, METRODOME .       

>Cheers,
>-Valentine
>-- 
>Ob. woof: Clemens is the best pitcher ever!	tedward@cs.cornell.edu

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  All opinions expressed by this user are well-reasoned and insightful. 
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