Comments on: Red Sox Say Sabermetrics, Schmabermetrics http://defensive-indifference.com/2007/11/07/red-sox-say-sabermetrics-schmabermetrics/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:55:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Andrew http://defensive-indifference.com/2007/11/07/red-sox-say-sabermetrics-schmabermetrics/#comment-3 Andrew Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:04:06 +0000 http://defensive-indifference.com/2007/11/07/red-sox-say-sabermetrics-schmabermetrics/#comment-3 I honestly doubt it will be an issue because one of these guys will probably be injured all the time. One method I could see working is Beckett on a five-day schedule and everybody else on a six-day schedule, so something like this: Beckett-Matsuzaka-Schilling-Buchholz-Lester Beckett-Wakefield-Matsuzaka-Schilling-Buchholz Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-Matsuzaka-Schilling Beckett-Buchholz-Lester-Wakefield-Matsuzaka Beckett-Schilling-Buchholz-Lester-Wakefield Oh, and boxing rules ... pussy. I honestly doubt it will be an issue because one of these guys will probably be injured all the time. One method I could see working is Beckett on a five-day schedule and everybody else on a six-day schedule, so something like this:

Beckett-Matsuzaka-Schilling-Buchholz-Lester
Beckett-Wakefield-Matsuzaka-Schilling-Buchholz
Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-Matsuzaka-Schilling
Beckett-Buchholz-Lester-Wakefield-Matsuzaka
Beckett-Schilling-Buchholz-Lester-Wakefield

Oh, and boxing rules … pussy.

]]> By: Yigael Yadin http://defensive-indifference.com/2007/11/07/red-sox-say-sabermetrics-schmabermetrics/#comment-2 Yigael Yadin Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:38:01 +0000 http://defensive-indifference.com/2007/11/07/red-sox-say-sabermetrics-schmabermetrics/#comment-2 The six-man idea crossed my mind when I heard about Schill re-signing, and it is indeed interesting that Theo is apparently considering it. The big argument against it is, as you mention, the fact that it would limit Cy Beckett's innings. But for the sake of argument, here are some reasons why they might be batting the idea around: —The youth of Lester and Buchholz: The most innings Lester has thrown in a season thus far is 148.1 back in 2005, pre-cancer of course. Buchholz threw approximately 147 this year, but he'll only be 23 next year. —The senior citizenship of Wakefield and Schilling: Both are highly unlikely to reach the 180 inning plateau, so what's the point pretending they can? Spreading out their starts might increase the chances that they make it through the season relatively unscathed. —For the sake of Dice-K: It's been well-publicized that Matsuzaka pitched on 5-day rest back in ol' Nippon, and for the most part it seemed this season that the more rest he had the better he pitched. Another possible reason is to control Beckett's blister problem, but that seems to be taken care of judging from this past season at least. The question is, if you think these reasons are legit, whether they out-weigh taking innings away from a Cy Young-caliber pitcher (and other unforeseen conquences of messing with the hallowed 5-man rotation). I'm not sure which side I fall on, but I think the six-man is a possibility worth considering, and I'm glad Epstein and the boys are looking at it. The six-man idea crossed my mind when I heard about Schill re-signing, and it is indeed interesting that Theo is apparently considering it. The big argument against it is, as you mention, the fact that it would limit Cy Beckett’s innings. But for the sake of argument, here are some reasons why they might be batting the idea around:

—The youth of Lester and Buchholz: The most innings Lester has thrown in a season thus far is 148.1 back in 2005, pre-cancer of course. Buchholz threw approximately 147 this year, but he’ll only be 23 next year.

—The senior citizenship of Wakefield and Schilling: Both are highly unlikely to reach the 180 inning plateau, so what’s the point pretending they can? Spreading out their starts might increase the chances that they make it through the season relatively unscathed.

—For the sake of Dice-K: It’s been well-publicized that Matsuzaka pitched on 5-day rest back in ol’ Nippon, and for the most part it seemed this season that the more rest he had the better he pitched.

Another possible reason is to control Beckett’s blister problem, but that seems to be taken care of judging from this past season at least. The question is, if you think these reasons are legit, whether they out-weigh taking innings away from a Cy Young-caliber pitcher (and other unforeseen conquences of messing with the hallowed 5-man rotation). I’m not sure which side I fall on, but I think the six-man is a possibility worth considering, and I’m glad Epstein and the boys are looking at it.

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