February 14, 2008
Time Off Helped
Josh Beckett points out the reason for his success in 2007:
And now Beckett, who started his throwing program Jan. 3, admits that the playoff run most likely wouldn't have been possible if not for a 16-day stretch between starts in May due to a skin avulsion on his right middle finger. It was a lesson both Beckett, and the Red Sox, are taking into this season in regards to staying fresh for the stretch run.
"I think that really helped me," said Beckett of the hiatus. "If it's looking like we're going to get to the playoffs and possibly being in the same situation we were last year, yeah, I would be open to talking to them (about taking extra time off). Obviously, I would want it to be on my terms because I wouldn't want to be feeling good and then have them say, 'OK, it's time for your time off.' There are certain times of the year where your shoulder might be barking a little bit that might be a good time (for a rest). I would want it to be on my terms and I don't think (the team) would ever do it without consulting.
I remember Bruce Hurst being strong down the stretch in 1986 because he injured his hamstring and was forced on the DL. Hurst had shown a pattern of wearing down in previous seasons that didn't happen that year. I'm all for this. Give a pitcher two weeks off in the middle of the year if you think it will make him hold up better in September and October.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:11 AM
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This might be the next wave of pitching theory: don't let your starters throw a full season plus postseason. There's been a lot of talk about six-man rotations; I don't think that will happen, but I do think teams will do a lot more mixing-and-matching, relying on a total of six or seven starters over the course of a season.
I think the first sign of this was the Astros' use of Roger Clemens. In his case, he was an older pitcher who couldn't be expected to (or didn't want to) put in a full season, but could be strong for part of a season. The Red Sox did this last year, not only with Beckett, but also with Schilling. They got some valuable postseason innings out of Curt, after shutting him down for a good portion of the regular season. It certainly worked for the Sox last year; I expect a lot of teams will copy a successful strategy.
John Smoltz has expressed similar sentiments about wanting to "stay fresh" and the like. Given the (perceived) depth of SP, Smoltz said that it might be a good idea to have a 6th "swing man" type pitch a couple starts every now and then to give some of the over-40 (and presumably also the terminally fragile) guys in the rotation some time off.
Smoltz is a smart, smart man. I could see him running a franchise someday, if he's interested. And my Tigers traded him away for a half-season of Doyle Alexander -- way back in 1987. Sigh.
