Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
April 19, 2008
Half a Dozen

The Giants are pondering using a six man rotation when Noah Lowry returns:

"It's something we talked about in the spring, and we'll continue to discuss it," manager Bruce Bochy said Friday. General manager Brian Sabean said on his weekly KNBR radio show Thursday, "It's not a ridiculous idea, with what (Barry) Zito is going through with his struggles, and to protect the young arms."

Assuming the rest of the starters are healthy when Lowry returns, the Giants will have three starters (Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez) who are 25 years old or younger, another coming off arm surgery (Lowry) and a fifth who just resumed starting after years in the bullpen (Kevin Correia).

A six-man rotation would ensure that the youngest and most prized starters, Cain and Lincecum, are not overtaxed in a rebuilding season. Zito, the most seasoned pitcher on the staff, said it would require "some adjustment on our part. We'd just have to wait even one more day before going out and pitching. Being out there is why we do what we do. Sometimes four days seems like a long time before you go out there. Waiting one more day, or possibly two, would be tough because we're itching to compete."

When Toronto thought about going to a four man rotation a few years ago, their pitchers nixed the idea. I guess they only get itchy after four days. :-)

I can see where the six-man rotation might make sense for the Giants. However, I wonder if at some point they're just building lessening the stamina of their pitchers.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:09 AM | Pitchers | TrackBack (0)
Comments

"However, I wonder if at some point they're just building lessening the stamina of their pitchers."

Well, maybe not if the starters are allowed to go deeper into each of the games that they pitch. I recall reading articles that the Japanese used 6 man rotations, with the starters pitching more innings per game than in the U.S. I could be wrong about that....and if I am someone correct me.

Posted by: C Johnson at April 19, 2008 01:30 PM

I really think this is designed to move Zito off a day or two so he can face some pitchers that are not ace caliber and give him a chance to win a game this season. You can't just come out and say something like that, so they're putting this 6 man rotation crap out there.

Posted by: chaz at April 20, 2008 01:08 PM

If they've got 6 guys who can start in the big leagues they really ought to be looking to move at least 1 of them for some big league position talent. The good thing is they have openings just about everywhere on the field.

Posted by: Bandit at April 21, 2008 08:58 AM
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