Assuming McCullers doesn't have any setbacks, it appears that the starting rotation for the playoffs will be JV, Valdez, McCullers, Javier. So what do we do with Urquidy and Garcia. Do we essentially schedule a long relief games for McCullers and Javier who may not last 7 innings, or do we save them for when one of our starters is having a bad game? This is a great problem to have but I don't know if I've seen a team that has had 6 starters that are deserving of a playoff start.
good points. I of course agree with that rotation and you are right, these are good problems. Urquidy has a good deal of playoff experience and Garcia was thrown to the wolves last year too. I think they are perfect as long relief in the postseason. Not sure what you mean by scheduling long relief games for McCullers and Javier. Also, never assume McCullers will be healthy lol.
My guess would be JV and Framber are the starters. LMJ and Javier likely make starts, but also may come in relief. Urquidy and Garcia are relievers who may get an unlikely start if LMJ and Javier are burned securing a win or aren't 100%.
I think you have to pencil Garcia to long relief for Javier starts. Both of them struggle getting past 5 innings. Garcia because that’s when the lineup figures him out and Javier because of pitch count. Could be a deadly tandem tho. Urquidy could do the same for mccullers
I like using them as tandem after JV. Much the way we did on our way to the 2017 title with LMJ & Morton making multi inning relief appearances.
Since Valdez and JV are likely to go 7 innings or longer, having Montero and Pressley relieve them makes sense. With McCullers and Javier, the odds of finishing 7 innings or more is very unlikely, so maybe schedule them for 6 and have Urquidy or Garcia scheduled to pitch for the last 3 innings. Since they are normally starters, I think knowing that they will play will benefit them mentally.
I like the Idea of setting up tandems but I prefer to put the best pitchers in the final 4 or 5 innings, Starters - JV & Framber Tandem Openers - Urquidy & Garcia Tandem Closers - McCullers & Javier Pen - Pressly, Neris, Stanek, Abreu, Montero, Martinez or Maton, & Smith*
I'm the same way, but the team isn't going to start Urquidy over any of those guys. Garcia they might, but probably not unless he finishes the season strong.
I still wonder whether or not Hinch would have been so flexible with the 2017 tandems had Giles not fallen apart after game 2. it worked out great… some say would have also worked out in 2019 had they used a starter out of the pen…
To this day I have yet to hear a good reason for the first round still being best of 5. Getting a few days off is an advantage, getting 5 days off before jumping into must win games feels like a disadvantage. They should take the off days away from the lower seeds. Playoffs start immediately after the season and first round starts immediately after the best of 3 would end. You want a day off win in 2, or win more in the regular season.
The reason I disagree with this strategy is you potentially miss out on Javy or McCullers having a dominant start where they go 6-7 innings with a ton of strikeouts. Also Urquidy and Garcia more likely to give up runs, I’d rather try and get the lead as soon as possible in the game.
According to Passan, there will be no off days between games 5 and 6 in the LCS, meaning you will have to use your entire rotation or send a guy out on short rest. This is kind of a big f**king deal, I would assume teams were notified ahead of time because if I were one of the teams that optimized for a short rotation I would be mighty pissed right now.
Holy F@$k! Can't make the Wild Card teams play 5 in a row, but the championship series teams might have to play 5 in a row. Good thing the Astros didn't trade a starter. Edit: I can't wait to hear the Yankees blame losing to the Astros because the Seattle to NY trip screwed up their precious sleep.
