Piniella slides a little further off the deep end

[MoreWineII]

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/06/Ra...o_starti.shtml

With Lance Carter's implosion in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox the latest debacle, manager Lou Piniella apparently felt there is no way any of the Devil Rays relievers can protect a lead in the eighth inning.

So he decided his next move is to try something that is totally different, potentially controversial and perhaps unprecedented.

Starting tonight, Piniella said he will use a reliever for the first two innings, then bring in his scheduled starter with the idea that he can pitch through the eighth before yielding to closer Danys Baez.

"I've made up my mind, and that's what we're going to do," Piniella said. "People are going to think I'm crazy, but we're just going to try it.

"Starting (tonight). I'll bring in whatever reliever I feel like starting the game with, and I'll bring my starter in in the third inning and we'll play nine innings of baseball that way. I'm serious."

Piniella first mentioned the idea last weekend, then dismissed it over concern for the starters' physical preparation.

[sublime]

a: hes trying to get fired
b: this isnt as crazy, or silly as it seems

[Voltron87]

What he did in that game at YS where the yankees had that 13 run 8th inning or whatever was just wrong, leaving harper in the whole time.

That said, I want to watch this.

[BigD226]

[ QUOTE ]
a: hes trying to get fired
b: this isnt as crazy, or silly as it seems

[/ QUOTE ]

and c: he's still an a-hole [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[sublime]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
a: hes trying to get fired
b: this isnt as crazy, or silly as it seems

[/ QUOTE ]

and c: he's still an a-hole [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

of course [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[pryor15]

this is gonna be so much fun. best news i've heard all day.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I don't remember where I read about this, but one uber-stat guru/geek said that this was a good idea. Much like batting your #3 or #4 hitter first. I don't think that this idea is crazy at all, however it is crazy that someone is finally going to do it.

[hoyaboy1]

All MLB managers use their staff in a way that is far less than optimal. This isn't great, but it's no worse than what everybody else does. At least he can think outside the box a little bit.

[Russ McGinley]

This is an awesome idea. Imagine seeing this in New York. Only in Tampa could this be done.

[ThaSaltCracka]

the article in question I read (in case anyone is curious) was on ESPN.com about a year ago, and is was about the guy who was the forefather of the sabermatics [censored]. Apparently James was a student of his.