Baseball Musings: Sunday Night Recap

October 25, 2004

Sunday Night Recap

Brian Gunn at Redbird Nation continues to do his usual fine job of covering the Cardinals. His wrap-up of last night's game is excellent. He nails my exact feelings about Schilling.

I've always had mixed feelings about Schilling. Sometimes I think he's a pompous ass; sometimes I think he's about the most admirable superstar in all of baseball. And sometimes the two opinions co-exist uncomfortably in my mind. Like that open letter he sent out after 9/11 -- one of the more heartfelt things I've ever heard from an athlete. And yet, I'm embarrassed to admit, a small part of me thought it was nothing more than Schilling grandstanding again. And then there was the time Schilling showed up at the memorial service for Darryl Kile in St. Louis. Mind you, Schill didn't really know Kile. They'd been teammates back in '91, but that was it. Yet Schilling flew to St. Louis anyway, because he considers everyone in baseball his brother, and he wanted to pay his respects in person. 99% of me thought you couldn't find a classier move in all of sports. 1% of me thought Schilling just wanted to show the world what a great guy he was.

But in the end it's the better part of Schilling's nature that wins out for me. For one simple reason: because whether he's altruistic or self-absorbed, whether he's authentic or simply posturing, he always comes across to me as a full-blooded human being, clearly a well-rounded poerson with a life outside of baseball. That's rare in sports, and great for the game.

I would not be surprised to see Schilling go into politics once his baseball career is over.

Brian also makes a point about Morris that struck me last night as I listened to McCarver explain that Matt can't throw the curve ball from the stretch.

Here's something I want to bring up in regard to Morris... First of all, you all know that he's Jeckyll-and-Hyde from game to game, and you probably also know that he's Jeckyll-and-Hyde with runners on and without. The numbers are eloquent:
                             AVG   OBP   SLG
Morris with Bases Empty     .245  .295  .373
Morris with Runners On      .301  .342  .591
The reason for the split is fairly obvious -- Morris sucks from the stretch. When he's not operating off the full windup, he can't generate enough lower-body push to get any action on his curveball.

So here's my question: shouldn't there be occasions when Morris simply pitches from the full windup even with runners on base? I'm not just talking about bases loaded/two outs. I'm talking about tonight, with Manny on second and Ortiz on first. Are they going to steal in that situation? No. Is there any huge risk by allowing the runners a big jump? No, not really. So why not just go to the full windup? Or what about in the 4th, with Millar on first and two outs? Millar stole only one base all year. He's not gonna go in that situation. And yet, pitching from the stretch, Morris gave up back-to-back doubles to give the Sox a 4-1 lead. I say if the guy's that bad with runners on, just let him pitch to his strengths and suffer the side effects.

There is this whole mindset in baseball that runners have to be held and pitchers have to do everything in their power to cut down on the running game. As in game 5 of the ALCS, worrying about the runner can do more damage than just letting him steal. If a slow runner is on first, why hold? Why pitch from the stretch? Even if the runner steals, if you get the batter, the damage will be minimal.

Posted by David Pinto at 10:28 AM | World Series | TrackBack (0)

Comments

With regard to the windup issue, isn't there a precedent for pitchers who don't go to the stretch at all? I seem to remember Greg Maddux saying that he tried, but just didn't feel comfortable without bringing his knee up to his chest. I hear announcers say "Maddux has a hard time holding runners" every now and again, but it clearly hasn't hurt his chances at winning that much... just a thought.

Posted by: Marty at October 25, 2004 11:10 AM

i've wondered the same thing about holding slow runners. we have several pitchers on the stros whose ERAs explode with runners on base. i discussed this a bit on primer and it was the opinion of several of the guys there that the delay between pitching from the windup and the stretch was so great that even mo vaughn could steal easily.... bit i think that sometimes it might could be beter to concentrate on the batter, even if it does let a runner get on second..

Posted by: lisa gray at October 25, 2004 11:31 AM

There is definitely a happy medium that needs to be found. Morris has troubles on one end of the spectrum. But I think Joe Kerrigan coaches his pitchers too far to the other side of the spectrum (ignore everyone on base entirely).

Posted by: TomG at October 25, 2004 11:49 AM

I remember seeing Rusty Staub in his declining years (when he was a very slow dedicated pinch-hitter for the Mets) stealing 2nd base off a guy because he went into the windup. It wasn't even close. If Rusty could do it then, I would assume just about anyone could/would steal from the wind-up.

Posted by: Steve at October 25, 2004 12:59 PM

Tom- I think that may be misstating Kerrigan's position on pitching from the stretch. I think what he's said in the past is that the value of the quicker delivery to the plate (holding the runner) isn't worth the loss of control & power. I don't think he advocates ignoring the runner.

Posted by: Adam at October 25, 2004 02:47 PM

Eight errors leading to only two unearned runs?

Posted by: Robert at October 25, 2004 03:00 PM

Not only do I think you're right about Schilling entering politics someday, but I think we'll also hear the same romantic "Schilling for Commissioner" calls in the future that we've been hearing about Bob Costas in the very recent past. Schilling as he is now is a little too emotional and black-and-white to make an excellent commissioner, but perhaps he'll age like good whiskey and become smoother.

Posted by: Mr. David M. Beyer at October 25, 2004 07:41 PM

I've always been a bit baffled by Schiiling's constant references to his Christian faith on the one hand, and his verbal gaffes on the other. I don't know of too many godly people who openly boast about how great it is to "shut up" 55,000.

Nonetheless, I have to tip my hat to the guy for having the stones to take the mound and pitch the way he has with his ankle sutured together.

Seeing as how it is the Halloween season, Schilling's recent medical marvel inspired me to have a little Photoshop fun.

http://paiz.typepad.com/my_favorite_headache/2004/10/frankenschill_u.html

Great blog by the way, I'll be sure to check back often.

Dave

Posted by: Dave Paiz at October 25, 2004 09:40 PM

David,

Ditto on the Schilling comments. I'm in Phoenix, so I heard him on the radio every chance he got. The comments by Mr. Gunn nail my thoughts on Schilling.

On another note - I've enjoyed spending the season with you David. I check your blog on average every other day. During some games, I would "watch" the game with you throughout. I thouroughly enjoyed it and thank you for spending the time.

Ryan Smith

Posted by: Ryan at October 25, 2004 11:39 PM

One thing that strikes me in the Bay Area, watching the A's and the Giants, is that NL ball is slightly different than AL ball, perhaps. I go to see the Giants, it's the 5th inning before I can settle in. Hitters there swing at pitches, and it seems like long at-bats don't happen. With the A's, the foul ball is an art form.

So what does this have to do with the Series? Check out the last few at least; seems like the NL pitchers get frustrated with AL hitters waiting them out - - with the rare exception of when the Marlins get in the Series. So I ask you, which league plays better ball?

Retribe

Posted by: Retribe at October 26, 2004 03:19 AM

Schilling is a great pitcher. However, his venture into the presidental race took away from what this great series was all about. It really turned me off as it must have some of the Red Sox players. This momentous occasion should never have been turned into a political endorsement for any candidate. Shame on you Mr.Schilling !!!

Posted by: Bobby at October 28, 2004 08:46 PM

Posted by: Bobby at October 28, 2004 08:47 PM