Wright Conundrum

[TylerD]

Could be. I do remember the movie Moneyball. At the end of it. the vaunted A's who had won 20 straight lost to the Twins in the ALDS, 3-2. The next year they lost to the Sox, 3-2.

 

Ya it seems to me, The Athletics have the recipe for a poor franchise to succeed in the MLB regular season but their playoff season is an entirely different story against the very good teams and top pitchers. Hopefully Oakland can give their fans something to cheer about tonight, other than just making it to the playoffs.

[Kimmi]

Meh. When I'm on my hobby horse, stats mean nothing to me. Those are pretty good though.

 

I might argue that I only want Wright to start and go 1 or 2 innings, and I will stack him up against the entire Oakland bullpen for doing that particular job. In fact, the reason I want to use Wright so much is precisely because our bullpen is so weak and because--weak-kneed fan that I am--I also nervous about the rotation and especially Sale,

 

Anyway, thanks to you and moonslav for jumping on this. I'm sincerely grateful.

 

I guess I don't see what the advantage is of starting Wright for about 2 innings, then having Sale follow him, versus having Sale start and having Wright follow Sale.

[a700hitter]

Postseason bulletin. Bob Melvin of the A's has broken ranks with the other successful postseason managers and basically taken leave of his senses. In the win or go home wild card game tonight vs. the vaunted Yankees lineup, he ain't going with a starter, just a bunch of relievers.

 

For all you who are quite confident Cora should never, never, never start a reliever, you better hope the Yankees win big tonight even though most of you, like me, are rooting for the A's.

About 2 weeks before the regular season ended, I heard some sports talk radio guy in NY talking about the A's going with a bullpen game against that Yankees to save Fiers for the ALDS. I just chalked it up to filling dead air and sports talk idiocy. i really can't believe that Melvin is going down this road. This is a Denny Galehouse move.

[vegasbob]

About 2 weeks before the regular season ended, I heard some sports talk radio guy in NY talking about the A's going with a bullpen game against that Yankees to save Fiers for the ALDS. I just chalked it up to filling dead air and sports talk idiocy. i really can't believe that Melvin is going down this road. This is a Denny Galehouse move.

 

Can't play Friday's game on Wednesday and expect to be there, Mr. Melvin.

[moonslav59]

Can't play Friday's game on Wednesday and expect to be there, Mr. Melvin.

 

The pen is better than Fiers.

[Maxbialystock]

The pen is better than Fiers.

 

Yes, but those 7 Yankee runs last night sure put a dent in my thesis.

 

Let's hope the entire pitching staff is helped by the long rest. Of course, a good rest destroyed the Rockies way back in 2007 when they were red hot going into the postseason, then swept the NLDS and NLCS, but had to wait and wait and wait (cue Casablanca music) before playing the Sox who needed 7 games to beat the Guardians in the ALCS. Result: Sox sweep red hot Rockies.

[moonslav59]

Yes, but those 7 Yankee runs last night sure put a dent in my thesis.

 

Let's hope the entire pitching staff is helped by the long rest. Of course, a good rest destroyed the Rockies way back in 2007 when they were red hot going into the postseason, then swept the NLDS and NLCS, but had to wait and wait and wait (cue Casablanca music) before playing the Sox who needed 7 games to beat the Guardians in the ALCS. Result: Sox sweep red hot Rockies.

 

Your thesis was not about letting our pen pitch the whole game. It was just adjusting the order of our pitchers.

 

I still think the A's pen was a better choice than Fiers. Besides, they could have used Fiers anyways- in relief but chose not to.

[notin]

About 2 weeks before the regular season ended, I heard some sports talk radio guy in NY talking about the A's going with a bullpen game against that Yankees to save Fiers for the ALDS. I just chalked it up to filling dead air and sports talk idiocy. i really can't believe that Melvin is going down this road. This is a Denny Galehouse move.

 

The A's knew they weer notorious underdogs and it gave Melvin free reign to be creative, which, if it worked, immediately labeled him a managerial genius.

 

But in doing so, he forgot what got him 97 wins in the first place. While his decision was essentially going with his team's strength up front, he still essentially over-thought the entire situation...

[a700hitter]

The pen is better than Fiers.

Fiers had been very good for the A's since they had acquired him.

[mvp 78]

The A's knew they weer notorious underdogs and it gave Melvin free reign to be creative, which, if it worked, immediately labeled him a managerial genius.

 

But in doing so, he forgot what got him 97 wins in the first place. While his decision was essentially going with his team's strength up front, he still essentially over-thought the entire situation...

 

Yes, he should have had them do the "score more runs" play more often last night.

[notin]

Yes, he should have had them do the "score more runs" play more often last night.

 

Well a big part of his "score more runs" strategy certainly relied on his starting pitching keeping the "more runs" from being too big of a number...

[mvp 78]

Well a big part of his "score more runs" strategy certainly relied on his starting pitching keeping the "more runs" from being too big of a number...

 

His starting pitching sucked all year though? Can't rely on a 17th ranked starting rotation especially when your best pitchers are on the DL.

[Bellhorn04]

His starting pitching sucked all year though? Can't rely on a 17th ranked starting rotation especially when your best pitchers are on the DL.

 

Fiers had a pretty good season though.

[mvp 78]

Fiers had a pretty good season though.

 

4.75 FIP

 

 

Since Aug 31:

 

6.57 FIP

5.59 ERA

[Bellhorn04]

4.75 FIP

 

Since Aug 31:

 

6.57 FIP

5.59 ERA

 

Nicely picked!

[Maxbialystock]

I looked up Sale vs. the Yankees this year, and back in April and June he was terrific. So, while I still like the Wright idea and am worried about how Sale looked in September, I'm fine with Wright not going the first 2 innings tomorrow night. It would have been fun to watch, however.

[mvp 78]

Nicely picked!

 

Picked? That's basically his last full month. I could have gone with a smaller sample size that made his numbers even worse.

[moonslav59]

I looked up Sale vs. the Yankees this year, and back in April and June he was terrific. So, while I still like the Wright idea and am worried about how Sale looked in September, I'm fine with Wright not going the first 2 innings tomorrow night. It would have been fun to watch, however.

 

I could be nice to see Wright come in for a clean 7th & 8th or earlier, if needed.

[moonslav59]

Picked? That's basically his last full month. I could have gone with a smaller sample size that made his numbers even worse.

 

Sometimes the best choices don't work out. I think Melvin made the right choice, under the circumstances.

[mvp 78]

Sometimes the best choices don't work out. I think Melvin made the right choice, under the circumstances.

 

Maybe. We'll never know. I don't watch enough A's games to have a more informed position than what I've already stated.

 

It makes sense to go with a bullpen start. Maybe getting in a 2-0 hole early on was tough, but the bats still needed to show up. They had two on and no outs, but flailed against Betances.

[sk7326]

Sometimes the best choices don't work out. I think Melvin made the right choice, under the circumstances.

 

making it a bullpen game was not a terrible idea - but the choice of opener looked shaky.

[Maxbialystock]

Turns out there never was a "Wright conundrum" because apparently there never was a Wright for the the ALDS. His knee hurts and he's going on the DL according to reports.

[Bellhorn04]

Bad news on Wright. Have to do this without him.

[Kimmi]

Bad news on Wright. Have to do this without him.

 

This stinks. He will be out for the ALCS as well. I wonder who takes his place.

[iortiz]

This stinks. He will be out for the ALCS as well. I wonder who takes his place.

 

Poyner should take the spot. I’m still chocked Kelly made the roster over him, Velazquez and Jonson.

[Bellhorn04]

Poyner advocates please note:

 

He had 3 appearances vs. the Yanks this year and was scored on in all 3.

 

Totals - 5 IP, 4 ER, 8 hits (2 HR), 1 BB, 1 HBP

[Maxbialystock]

This stinks. He will be out for the ALCS as well. I wonder who takes his place.

 

Actually, I think we already know. Kelly took Wright's place--a huge gamble, but probably justified. I'm pretty sure Cora knew about the knee problem when he announced Kelly as one of the 25 for the ALDS. Kelly had three really good months this year--April, May, and August--and three terrible ones--June, July, and September.

[jung]

Actually, I think we already know. Kelly took Wright's place--a huge gamble, but probably justified. I'm pretty sure Cora knew about the knee problem when he announced Kelly as one of the 25 for the ALDS. Kelly had three really good months this year--April, May, and August--and three terrible ones--June, July, and September.

 

Then why wait till last night to do an MRI. What MRI's are suddenly just too expensive for the Boston Red Sox? I suspect Cora expected Wright to pitch. Not sure what happened. But there is some explanation better than Wright was already in trouble and the Sox waited till last night to do an MRI.

[moonslav59]

The Wright Conundrum is more about the many causes of his missing time for years and years.

[a700hitter]

The Wright Conundrum is more about the many causes of his missing time for years and years.

One cause: Lantern-Jawed brain dead John Farrell.