Lou Pinella is going to start his closer

by jbox on Jul 6, 2005 2:15 PM PDT in News

Thanks to thenerdhater for this article.

Nerdhater:

This is an interesting take on the game. Basically Lou is pissed that his team sucks and his owners won't do anything to help improve it.

So, he's starting the game with a reliever instead of a starting pitcher. Then he'll finish the game with his starter. Just to mix it up.

Pinella says:

"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."

I love this idea. Back in '96 I kept saying that they should start the closer to revolutionize the game. People called me crazy. But I like the idea. There were times when the Pads couldn't get outta the first inning then they would shut out the other team for the rest of the game.

My other idea was for the infielders to stand a few feet away from the batter with their backs to the home plate. They'd leave enough room for a pitch to get through, but they'd block any base hits with their bodies like soccer players do when they try and block a free kick. Cover your "boys" and block that ball!

It's just crazy enough, that it might just work.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Leave it up to Lou

to do something like this. Its definetly an interesting idea.

the problem your idea jbox is that if all the infielders are stading next to the batter, then who is covering the bases? the infielders would have to catch the ball everytime. and wear really good padding.

Life is what happens while you are making other plans...

by 16thkid @ Gaslamp Ball on Jul 6, 2005 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

Awesome idea

I'd pay to see that idea put in place (the infielders one). I laughed out loud when I read that.

Truth is, you'd only need a few guys to stand close enough to block. The outfielders could cover the bases.

by thenerdhater on Jul 6, 2005 3:01 PM PDT reply actions

thats true

if you are blocking every ball that gets hit you really don't need outfielders

Life is what happens while you are making other plans...

by 16thkid @ Gaslamp Ball on Jul 6, 2005 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions

The original jbox idea

I think we kinda assumed that most of the guys would be basically wearing what a catcher would wear. What if you moved your shortstop to stand just inside the thirdbase line for right handed hitters. Then as the pitch comes in, the guy could time a goalie style jump and spray his body out in front of the batter. As long as he didn't end up in the basepath, this would be legal, right?

by Dex on Jul 6, 2005 3:41 PM PDT reply actions

yeah

I think it would be legal as long as you stayed out of the batters box, the base line and didn't interfere with the swing itself.

by jbox on Jul 6, 2005 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

But why

would they subject thier body to that when they can just catch the ball in their glove? other than it would be cool to see...

Life is what happens while you are making other plans...

by 16thkid @ Gaslamp Ball on Jul 6, 2005 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Infield in situations

Any situation that called for the infield to be drawn in could implement this. What better way to keep a close play at home than to make sure the ball never gets more than 4 feet away from the plate?

by Dex on Jul 6, 2005 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I suppose

Life is what happens while you are making other plans...

by 16thkid @ Gaslamp Ball on Jul 6, 2005 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I would use a player

that is already hurt, so you wouldn't put anymore players on the DL. Like ummm Phil Nevin. You take him off the DL and use him to block hard hit balls.

by jbox on Jul 7, 2005 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions