Joel Zumaya is a MONSTER !!!
softparade
Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
I mean, its enough that he throws 100 + but it MOOOOOOOOVES all over the place too 
I was ALMOST suprised Leyland did not leave him in!
The bright side for Yankee fans? Kenny Rogers pitches tomorrow
I was ALMOST suprised Leyland did not leave him in! The bright side for Yankee fans? Kenny Rogers pitches tomorrow
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
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<< <i>I was ALMOST suprised Leyland did not leave him in! >>
Almost. The problem is that the "closer mentality" is too entrenched in baseball now. Often that comes to the detriment of the team, particularly when you take someone out who has really been dealing and isn't tired yet.
The save statistic has hurt baseball, IMO. I can think of no other statistic that fundamentally alters the way managers manage the game and the decisions they make.
ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240
Anyhow, congrats to the Tigers on a well pitched game. Goes to show, good pitching will always beat good hitting.
-- Yogi Berra
Part of the mentality the closer role has brought to the game of baseball is enhanced pressure. If a guy is not in the closer "role" all season and is suddenly thrown into it, it's very easy for it to become a mind game, which undoubtedly will affect the pitching.
Guys in baseball get accustomed to their role and like everyone, do not take well to change immediately - it takes time to get used to it. Which is why closers brought into games in non-save situations often struggle, starters brought in as late innning relievers also have a tendency to struggle, same with batters called upon to do something they infrequently do.
The closer role has become more a challenge of mental fortitude than sheer pitching dominance. Guys holding the role of closer come and go often, but only a small handful are consistent at it year after year, these are the guys who have it down from a mental standpoint. They aren't necessarily the greatest pitchers in the game, but they have the mindset necessary to close out the game at a high rate.
As far as Jones, I thought he looked better today than I had seen him pitch all season. He mixed his pitches well, his velocity was higher than usual on his fastball (usually they are all 90-92 with little variance in speed), he hit 94 several times today. His pitches also had excellent movement, and he had the grit and mentality needed to finish off a tough game in an even tougher environment.
This one is going to take all 5 games to settle it I think. I think Kenny Rogers will chop up the Yanks Friday, but Bonderman lays down on Saturday. I predict Randy Johnson out of the game by the 3rd inning, either with a injured back or from being clobbered - his tank is empty.
Time will tell.
After the game, Leyland gave some credit to the "shadows" for Zumaya's dominance, but I think that's stretching it a bit.
In any case, if it were up to me, I'd have Zumaya throw 2-3 innings one day and Jones throw 2-3 the next. But you can't start doing that in the playoffs, you have to do it all year long. In any case, it would seem to me that throwing 2 innings every other day has to be better for your arm than throwing 1 inning every day.
My buddy and I were joking that they should teach Zumaya to play first base so he could pitch to a batter each inning if needed without pulling the starter.
steve
<< <i>The world found out today why pudge signed with the tigers the year after they won only 41 games.
steve >>
Why? So he could go and hide somewhere quietly from the steroid allegations?
<< <i>
<< <i>The world found out today why pudge signed with the tigers the year after they won only 41 games.
steve >>
Why? So he could go and hide somewhere quietly from the steroid allegations? >>
Is Detroit 'quieter' than Texas?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
It sure would be nice if the guy would go out and earn some of that money.
Just my opinion and rebuttal to dopey.
Steve
<< <i>For those that are ignorant I'll be more specific. The Young Tiger pitching. They have the best young pitching in the big leagues. Do you think that maybe when he was courted he was informed that within 2 years those guys would be in the league? And that they would need an allstar catcher to help develop them further? I mean he did sign with them after the won a total of 41 games. he could have signed a few places.
Just my opinion and rebuttal to dopey.
Steve >>
I agree.
<< <i>For those that are ignorant I'll be more specific. The Young Tiger pitching. They have the best young pitching in the big leagues. Do you think that maybe when he was courted he was informed that within 2 years those guys would be in the league? And that they would need an allstar catcher to help develop them further? I mean he did sign with them after the won a total of 41 games. he could have signed a few places.
Just my opinion and rebuttal to dopey.
Steve >>
Excellent point, I agree.
You have to keep in mind that dopey dont read very much good.
-- Yogi Berra