Can Ricardo Rincon play 1B or LF ?

by Instant Replay Umpire on Jul 6, 2005 7:00 AM PDT Comment 21 comments

I kind of got this idea from DMtShooter.

When Macha brings in Rincon to face a lefty, then the other manager calls on a right handed switch hitter. Why don't we have Rincon play LF or 1B, so we can have a different pitcher come in to face the right handed batter, then when a left handed batter comes up, Rincon can come back in the pitcher spot to face him.

We have a lot of similar guys who play 1B, and the OF. I think this would be more beneficial at times for us probability and mathematically than saving the reserves to pitch hit.

Apparently some manager did this strategy called the "Beard Strategy" in the playoffs.

Oh, for those of you thinking why we don't have Rincon as a pitcher than DH, I think there are some rules that make it impossible for a DH to switch to play a defensive position.

Any way to get this to Macha, Beane, and company?

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Oh yeah, they're chomping at the bit on this one

Let's see all the problems:

Can he play those positions? Well, at a major league level-- of course not. You're taking a huge defensive risk;
You are taking Johnson or Hatteberg out of the game if he moves to 1B. The other is probably your DH. So now you have to have the pitcher bat the rest of the game or go with Ginter. LF might be easier (but I shuddwer at the thought of Ricky playing out there, even for just one hitter) but you still have to take Kielty or Byrnes out and replace with the other, in advance of any pitching moves that might make that not so smart;
And who is your one-out RH pitcher? Calero? or Bradford more likely when he's back? Nice way to waste your pen.
And is Rincon really that good against lefties to justofy this risk?

It's been done before. But on this team it would be a stupid move.

oaktoon

by oaktoon on Jul 6, 2005 7:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Think about it

on the road, bottom of the 8th, we're up 1, facing the other team's heart of the order, a lefty, a righty, and another lefty. Based on the '04 season, the LF gets the chance to make an out roughly twice per nine innings - though, with a power hitting righty up and a slow balling Bradford on the mound, we'd probably be better off sticking Rinky in RF, but we'll go with those numbers. The average inning sees about 4.5 batters, so that means there is roughly a 1 in 20 chance that the LF will get the chance to make an out against any specific batter. He has very little chance to hurt the team.

Probably not, but if he can play it at a high school level, it would probably be acceptable for one batter.
He would move to the OF, not 1b. We're winning, preventing runs is more important than scoring them - if this was worth doing from a pitching perspective, it would add more value than having Byrnes/Kielty (whoever didn't start) as a PH in the top of the 9th. You could also take into account who will bat in the 9th. If Ellis/Scooter just batted then you're probably not going to need a PH anyway.
Bradford, when healthy, would clearly be the ideal for this situation.
Yes, he has allowed an OPS of .659 to lefties over the past 3 years. Combine that with the .546 Bradford has allowed against righties and you have the best reliever in baseball.

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jul 6, 2005 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like that kind of baseball, actually

But I don't think it would work well on the A's right now.

Here's another idea: Don't pitch Rincon.

by rookieoftheyear on Jul 6, 2005 7:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh. Heh heh heh.

...you wonder when it's time to start thinking about saving a season that seemed lost.

by baseballgirl on Jul 6, 2005 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

point!

"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it." ~Rogers Hornsby

by ZeroIndulgence on Jul 6, 2005 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The wrong direction?

Instead of putting Rincon in the field, let's get use Kotsay on the mound. Lefty, ex-closer... Get him to brush up on his pitching, then we can try and get him in as a LOOGY.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by Kyli on Jul 6, 2005 7:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That would be awesome.

by Jennifer on Jul 6, 2005 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure, if you like back spasms.

The A's already have two LOOGYs anyway.

Rincon and Flores.

But I'm not sure if the "other half" of the bullpen is even showing up to the games. At this point, Flores might not even exist.

Quick! Name those other guys in the bullpen!

....ummmmm....

by Sharon on Jul 6, 2005 7:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ummmmmm....

There are other poeple in the pen besides :P and Duke? When did that happen?

by Jennifer on Jul 6, 2005 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

who is this Ryan Glynn fellow?

and did Yabu go back to Japan?

by Sharon on Jul 6, 2005 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought they were part of the

Huston Street fan club. Huh. I guess they won't be needing any :P stickers.

by Jennifer on Jul 6, 2005 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LF not 1st

Why would you put him at 1st. It not easy defensively, it just doesn't require speed. LF however, all he would be expected to do was catch pop flies. Also the other OF could back him up.

Bruce Campbell deserves his own national holiday.

by pbruins92 on Jul 6, 2005 7:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Two words...

Players' Union

There'd be such a stink around baseball if a team tried doing this, though maybe not in an overt way. I think it would get pretty ugly.

by LoveDemAs on Jul 6, 2005 8:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Lou Pinellia

After Lou's latest idea, this one is not to far away:

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/06/Rays/Lou_resorts_to_starti.shtml

Starting with his mid relievers, then bringing in the starter (need new name here)....artist formally known as the pitcher who started the game? All to get to Baenz in another 8-2 loss. We will see....

"Hey Mr. Jay Stew, you have moles on your dome dude, ha ha, you always say that." Terrence

by rook on Jul 6, 2005 8:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

STL in the 80's

Forget who Manager was would do it all the time. Bringing in a LF and then putting him in RF.

by novaoakland on Jul 6, 2005 8:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

new idea

How about we put him behind the plate when a someone is on base who has base stealing potential?

by AlwaysSweatin on Jul 6, 2005 9:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Heck yeah

Do you remember him blocking the plate 2 seasons ago, keeping a run from scoring?

"Everyone was saying, 'Swisher, you suck!' and I was like, 'OK, we've established that.' "

by oblique on Jul 6, 2005 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

Can't say that I do, I just figured he might throw someone out; a concept obviously foreign to our everyday catcher.

by AlwaysSweatin on Jul 6, 2005 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was awesome.

I remember he had to get stitches in his leg afterwards. His pitching may be questionable at times, but the dude knows how to block the plate in textbook fashion. Maybe he SHOULD consider a very late career switch to catcher! ;)

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by Kyli on Jul 6, 2005 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cards and Mets did this in the 80s

Whitey Herzog would pitch and move Todd Worrell to the OF at times to bring in a lefty (usually Ken Dayley) in order to bring Worrell back in later.

The Mets did the same with Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell.

Box score examples:

Cards vs Phillies
(Check out the boxscore oddity, Worrell came in before Dayley, and therefore is list as the 2nd pitcher, but finished the game for the save.)

Mets vs Reds
Orosco and McDowell both pitched twice in this game.

by LifeLongEastCoastAthleticsFan on Jul 6, 2005 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

First of all,

the Rincon/Bradford idea is made less crazy if Rincon plays the OF while Bradford pitches, since Chadford gives up so few fly balls.

The last somewhat similar thing I can remember is Billy Martin starting Rob Picciolo and batting him lead-off, then putting Chicken Stanley in for defense in the bottom of the 1st, allowing Stanley to play all 9 innings at SS but get one fewer AB. All to get Rob "I think I'll draw 4 walks this year" Picciolo that crucial extra at bat!

Nico

by Nico on Jul 6, 2005 2:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs