Levine: Starter's Pitch Count Not The Only Factor For Joe Maddon
By Bruce Levine--
MILWAUKEE (CBS) -- Do you take your starter out or leave him in? This is the issue all 30 big league managers must deal with on a daily basis, and it's no different for Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who shared his thoughts on the subject with his usual candor and enthusiasm.
On Friday night, Maddon fielded questions about removing starter Jason Hammel after 91 pitches and seven solid innings of work with the Cubs leading 5-2. On Saturday, Maddon explained his thinking to have Zac Rosscup take the mound to start the eighth inning. Rosscup retired the first two hitters before allowing a double and a walk and getting the hook.
"That was purely my decision," Maddon said. "It was a (three) run lead at that point, and the thing is you let him go out there and the first guy gets on you want to bring in a reliever anyway. At that point, you have your relief guy have to start an inning with a man on base. It worked out pretty good. We got the first two guys out and then here comes (Ryan) Braun, and he's pretty good. You must lay this stuff out in advance. If they aren't pitching well enough, you have to move on to plan B."
Under normal circumstances after a starter goes seven innings, one of two set-up men and the closer seal the deal.
This wasn't the case Friday. Both Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon had less than their best stuff in following Rosscup. A nail-biting finish in a 7-6 win tested the mettle of Maddon's belief in his pitchers and dealing with reality in the situation itself. A tactical change in using the breaking ball for both pitchers finally helped the Cubs relievers bail out with a win.
"If we had a couple of days off a week, it would be a lot easier to do this." Maddon said Saturday. "When you don't, it becomes another part of utilization and the emotional impact it has on them. Bullpen guys are usually coming in when things are hot. There is a lot of emotional energy expended on a nightly basis for a high-leverage bullpen guy. All of that has to be considered as well. Dealing with starting staffs and bullpens do require a lot of thought."
Scoffing at the second guess was fair reaction for Maddon. The Cubs bullpen had been a bit toasty from a rough four-game series in St Louis. Naturally, Maddon wanted his best bullpen arms to close it out even with a four-run lead in the ninth. Losing five out of your previous six games would put you in the same frame of mind as Maddon.
All is well that ends well, but the workload that has been laid on the bullpen has had to do for the most part with starters not going long enough in their outings, not Maddon's quick hook.
Managers hate second guessers. You can't blame them for their position in the heat of battle or on second guessing when they have games to win and pitchers to protect. It's a question of who gets abused: The front line starters or the bullpen guys? This isn't a simple process, considering the protecting of bullpens has become as important as watching your starters innings and workload.
Like the other 29 managers, Maddon is alone on that island when it comes to making decisions and trying to explain the results later.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
