The Two-Headed Monster

by Bambi on Jan 6, 2008 4:39 PM PST

We have two great pitchers - Duke and Harden - with major injury concerns. The starting rotation will expose them to a high inning count - thereby increasing the risk of injury, while putting them in the bullpen will expose them to both more frequent and less regular outings - thereby increasing the risk of injury! It seems like a no win situation.

Fortunately, there's a very simply solution, courtesy of Sesame Street: Two Heads Are Better Than One. If followed strictly and with great discipline, it can really help us. Harden pitches the first five innings of the game, and Duke finishes the game, no matter what. Unless the game goes past 10 innings, no other pitcher will be allowed to touch the ball. For the next game, Duke will pitch the first 5 innings, and Harden will follow him and close the game. Unless if one of those two gets injured, every other pitcher will get a complete day off, and will know that they won't be pitching.

Now if this helps keep the two of them healthy, it will be the biggest bargain in the world. If they keep it up all season, it will give us 150 innings from each of them, which is much more than anyone here would ever hope for. The goal is to get as many innings as possible from your best pitchers, and this will give us an inning count of what you would want from a good starter and a good reliever. What's better is if they hold up, after the All Star break we could even consider increasing their workload and have both of them start and go for six or more innings each.

To avoid having this idea require us to add an extra pitcher to the 25 man roster, we'll need the discipline that no matter how close the game is, Duke gets to finish it. If even once we're up by 1 in the 9th and we have Street come in to close, it undermines the entire idea. Fortunately, when they are healthy, Duke is almost as good as any other pitcher on the staff and Harden is actually better than any other pitcher on the staff. Letting the rest of the bullpen know that they have a full day off every five days will more than compensate for the one missing bullpen arm for the other four days. I don't know if something like this has been tried before, but assuming both are healthy come opening day - and unfortunately that's a big if - I'd love to see us try this idea and see how it goes.

Poll

Should we unleash the Two-Headed Monster?

Other

6 votes

Yes

40 votes

No

25 votes

Both

7 votes

Neither

5 votes

83 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

interesting...

dont think street or whoever the closer is would like this idea. Its certainly thinking outside the box, but could potentially work out good.

by AthleticsFanatic4ever on Jan 6, 2008 5:03 PM PST reply actions

Just tell Street

That unless the game goes past 10 innings, he'll be getting a full day of rest every 5 days. It may cost him a few saves for his record books - and therefore hurt him a bit in arbitration - but it can make him more rested and better prepared for the remaining games. Street also had some injury issues, and it's great to know exactly when your day of rest will be.

With Kiko we need to have a separate rule. Kiko never ever pitches more than one inning or more than one day in a row.

by Bambi on Jan 6, 2008 5:11 PM PST up reply actions

What I'd love to see

is a good rebuttal.

is Homer Simpson in the house?

by Bambi on Jan 6, 2008 5:14 PM PST up reply actions

I'd say this was a good idea

simply because it's different... but I've long since gone past the point where I can think that anything at all will "keep Harden healthy." He's not healthy-- that's just a medical fact at this point. His shoulder is shot.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Jan 6, 2008 5:46 PM PST reply actions

Think of it this way

Life is nothing but statistics, and our goal is to maximize the probabilities of success. Anything which increases of the odds of Harden and Duke staying healthy is worth trying. I see this as the best option for both of them, and so until someone comes up with an even better idea, it’s worth unleash the Two-Headed Monster.

Remember even if Duke stays healthy, after years in the pen there's a limit to how many innings we should trust him. Having him on a regular schedule in which he starts half the time and always goes 4 or 5 innings is perfect for him.

Of course a cynic would say we should give Duke and Harden 4 innings each and have Kiko pitch 1 inning, since he could really use a schedule of 1 inning every 5 days.

by Bambi on Jan 6, 2008 6:01 PM PST up reply actions

I like the plan.

I don't think even this plan would keep Harden healthy but anything is worth a try and It's a well-stated plan. Recommended.

by IM4Oakgal on Jan 6, 2008 6:27 PM PST reply actions

Thanks

The way I see it, even if it keeps Duke healthy it's worth it.

by Bambi on Jan 6, 2008 6:51 PM PST up reply actions

Doesn't get the most out of Duke

I'd rather see Duke used in high leverage situations three or four days a week, for one or two innings a time. I'm more hopeful for his health because he had a procedure which could possibly solve his hip/back problems for good, and because he already knew how to be a smart pitcher without overpowering stuff. Harden, of course, is the opposite in both ways. I'd hate to see Duke's proven value sacrificed while once again waiting for Rich "Godot" Harden.

Edging his way along the crowded paths of life, putting a Milo on all human sympathy and feeling the richer for it.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jan 6, 2008 9:29 PM PST reply actions

We already agreed

to let Duke be a starter. Letting him one half of a "Two-Headed Monster" will better protect him than having him starting off the year going a full 6 innings.

by Bambi on Jan 7, 2008 4:41 AM PST up reply actions