Comments on: Protecting your assets

By: CZwief.com - Yo Yo Yo…vani CZwief.com - Yo, Looper Bush while eating Suppan sandwich

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:02:29 +0000

[...] Good post over at Dan & Steve about Yovani Gallardo’s excessive pitch counts and his being the victim of Ken Macha’s abusive management. After his excessive 126-pitch outing on May 25, he’s proceeded to also have starts of 110 pitches, 105 pitches, 116 pitches, 107 pitches, and 118 pitches in consecutive starts. Considering the rest of the starting rotation’s inability to pitch decently, and the state of the bullpen when Gallardo usually starts, it’s understandable that Ken Macha would try to extend Gallardo a little bit extra to squeeze those extra couple batters out of him while he still can. Even with a 4-run lead in the 8th inning, apparently it’s necessary to let the pen rest a little more to preserve the win. But at what cost to Yovani? Could his arm blow out from overuse? [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:59:15 +0000

Thanks! Not sure why I couldn’t find that.

While “only” 11th, it confirms my suspicion that he’s been one of the more abused pitchers. He’s 23 years old, and he only threw 24 innings last season! He shouldn’t even be in the top 30.

By: Cody

Cody — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:51:14 +0000

Here’s a link to Pitcher Abuse Points. Looks like Gallardo’s only 11th:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=465584

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:32:06 +0000

Yeah, it’s not that I get angry any time he hits 110, but I get angry when it’s not at all necessary.

He might lack confidence in the pen, but Gallardo had already got through the middle of the game. They only had a couple innings left and therefore could have used their better relievers. Against the Giants that shouldn’t be a problem.

By: TK

TK — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:55:36 +0000

I read that either Baseball Prospectus or Hardball Times did a study and found that 120 is the number where pitcher performance really begins to deteriorate.

I can understand this aggravating you, as it would many people who watch their young hurlers go out and throw over 115 pitches when there appeared to be a time to yank him.

Might Macha lack some confidence in some of the guys in the pen?