ESPN 790 just said that Zeke Astacio replaced Luke Scott on the NLCS roster. I guess this is in case some of the pitchers get tired after pitching in the 18th inning game. Also with Andy being sick, you never know what could happen. Luke Scott is going to be a solid player but he was clearly the last man off the bench.
Actually I do not think it had much to do with the 18 inning game at all. I do not know why people keep bringing it up - it is not like we are in the position the Angels were in. We had two days off folks. I believe the reason is quite simple - Longer Series. In longer series, many managers like to take the full complement of pitches. I bet that if we ask Phill Garner this is what he will tell us. We must not forget that Zeke will not see action unless in an extra inning game or a blow-out either way. And with three games back2back2back here in Houston, pitching could be a premium. Stros in 4.
I've never understood this logic. A 5 and 7 game series are not really different in terms of pitching demands. The two additional games are played after a day off, so everyone gets rested again. A 5 game series also has the 3 back-to-back-to-back games, so the overall pitching demand would be about the same.
I think this was exactly because of the 18 inning game. We ran out of pitchers and they are worried about it happening again, even though there is a slim chance of it. I think Scott would be a little more helpful than Astacio, but we're talking the 25th player, so probably doesn't matter.
I'm almost positive that this is because of the 18 inning game. But what most of you don't understand is that this is not a reactionary move, but a preventative one. Garner is looking to prevent the occurence of another 18 inning game by keeping Astacio around and giving us the option of putting him in the game to give up the winning homerun no later than the 13th. I don't know why, but I also have learned not to doubt Garner. I just think that someone needs to tell him that for every ball he leaves up in the strike zone and right over the middle of the plate, we're going to break one of his toes. And then we do it. Should solve his problem.
You need to pitch starting pitchers 7 times instead of five. A thin pitching staff will be forced into playing their 3rd starter twice. They also have to play their ace twice on short rest or play their 4th starter. A team that has a deep starting rotation doesn't worry as much about pitching their 3rd and fourth starters.
Let's be honest, Zeke isn't a pitcher that they are going to trust in a close game situation so I don't see the point. If you're behind in a series you'll throw your best guys out there on 3 days rest, if you're ahead go with your starters on normal rest.
But you also have 3 more days to do it. The only difference comes in the final 2 games - the first 5 games fit the exact schedule of a best-of-5 (2 games, day off, 3 games). Before the last 2 games, you have a day off so all your relievers are rested. Even if your 2 starters in the final games go 5 innings a piece, your 6 relievers (on a 10 man staff) can easily cover the remaining 8 total innings. I don't see how the situation is any worse than a 5 game series, where a weak pitching staff will be pitching games 4 and 5 on short rest.
A team is getting a much greater percentage of innings from BP and 3rd starter in a 7 game series than a five game series for thin pitching teams. Teams with a thin pitching staff do not want this. Yes, teams will have a fresh bullpen in games 6 and 7, but not the starters. Starters are generally better than middle relievers and they are generally better on full rest. Teams generally do not want the BP pitching 8 innings over two games unless Lidge pitches 4, Qualls 2, and Wheeler 2. Starts with 3rd starter pitching 2/7>1/5 Starts with Ace pitching on short rest 2/7>1/5 Start with Ace on short rest after already starting a game on short rest. 2/7>1/5 Starts with 2nd on short rest 2/7 > 1/5 The one plus of a seven game series is that a weak pitching team can get its ace into three games and hope he can hold up. Last year, Munro and Miceli pitched 6.7 % of innings in NLDS and 13% in NLCS. Clemens and Oswalt pitched half the innings in NLDS, but only 34% in NLDS. The 2005 Astros pitching staff is built for a 7 game series because there isn't much dropoff from Andy (who I consider the Astros Ace right now) to Oswalt (who frankly is awesome). Lidge, Wheeler, and Qualls are the second coming of the three headed dragon out of the pen.
