ok we’re on here.
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5-5 FFS
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This game is wild.
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Thanks Judge. Fly ball allows runner on 3rd to score.
Those batting helmet ads are hideous.
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7 pitchers used through 6 by LA
Tactics are a big part of managing pitching loads. They don’t play one-off games during the regular season, instead they will play mini-series, where a team might be on the road for two weeks and play 3-4 games in a row against 3-4 teams, before coming home and hosting a few travelling teams over the next fortnight. Keeping your pitchers fresh and rotated, as well as picking who and when they play against certain teams (ie- certain teams are better at hitting against left-handed pitching, or we need to debut a rookie, so lets do it against a crap team instead of the Yankees line-up, etc) is key to getting through the season.
It’s a far cry from 100 years ago when pitchers would throw a full game regardless of what the score was. There is a a famous pitcher named Rube Waddell who did all sorts of crazy stuff like telling his college team to get off the field, leaving just him and the catcher to strike out opposition hitters (he was also well known for leaving the field mid-game to chase fire trucks if they drove past the stadium, or to go fishing, or to be mesmerized if opposition fans held up mirrors or shiny objects (or puppies!) in the crowd). He also had the best pitching record in baseball at the time he played, which also was the same time as a guy called Cy Young, for whom the Cy Young award for the best pitcher in the game is named (I’ll let that speak for itself). But back on topic, he once pitched full games in both games of a double-header (games played back-to-back on the same day), even though the first game went for 17 innings (holy fark!). He pitched both games because the manager (the legendary Connie Mack) promised him a paid 3-day fishing trip if he did it. (Rube Waddell - Wikipedia) I also highly recommend The Dollop podcast for a hilarious summary of this lunatic’s life.
Within a game you’ll often see starting pitchers go through the opposition batting order twice as generally hitters start to “dial-in” on a pitcher after they’ve faced him a few times. If the pitcher is having a good game, that gets you to the 5th or 6th inning. After that, managers will often take it hitter to hitter and replace them as soon as they issue a walk, or a couple of hits, or if they want to make a change to take advantage of a left/right match-up. Like I said earlier, starting pitchers will rarely go past 100 pitches in a game as they are getting pretty tired and a hitting team can start to get a hold of them, as well as trying to keep them healthy with an eye on when they have to pitch next in coming days. You will often see blow-out games where a team gets 9-10 runs ahead and the losing side will just get a position player (ie - the back-up shortstop or left-fielder) to go on the mound and just toss the ball in and hope for ground balls or fly balls. Most baseball players deep down believe they can throw a wicked curve ball or a knuckle ball, so are happy to step on the mound and have a muck-around when the game is lost and the manager wants to preserve the bullpen for another day (you can afford to tank an already lost game occasionally when there are 162 games in the regular season - it’s like throwing someone into the midfield for a few centre bounces to see how they go when you’re 70 points down at 3/4 time).
Games 6 and 7 in a World Series often sees teams go all-in on their pitching as there literally is no tomorrow for one team.
In regard to playing every game in a season, it’s pretty rare as there are so many games. Generally players will get a rest at some point, or have an injury niggle that requires a break. The record for consecutive games is held by Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken Jnr who played 2632 games without missing one. That works out to be 17 seasons!
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Kahnle comes on and loads the bases with none out.
Big trouble here
or opportunity depending on who you are going for.
Walks kill ya.
Yeah, pitching has been poor again today.
3 outs for no runs to be the champs.
The Dodgers win. THAAAAAAAAAA DODGERS WIN!!!
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Thanks for that. A question. If a pitcher gets pulled because they have a left hander coming in, can that pitcher come back later in the innings/match, or once you’re out you’re out?
They had a go but they failed and the better team won.
Now go out and spend whatever you have to so you can assemble a roster that can win
Once you’re out, that’s it. Not just pitchers, any players.
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Just watched the highlights of the game. Man, the Yankees will be absolutely kicking themselves from those errors and poor pitching.
Very entertaining though. Well done, Dodgers.
Also, shoutout @FuriousGeorge for the in depth post before. That has given me a much greater understanding. Cheers dude.
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Welp that’s eight titles now for the Dodgers. My Cardinals better get it in gear before they get caught.