Shelton impressive already

DemDog · Post by **DemDog** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 12:07 pm

I just saw this article in today's Trib about how he might handle the new 3 hitter minimum rule for relief pitchers. Shelton says the use of the Pirates relievers is less of a concern than what he must do offensively. It seems the guy is thinking outside the box. Great to hear it.

3 Batter Rule Could Be One More Challenge for Rookie Manager Shelton">3 Batter Rule Could Be One More Challenge for Rookie Manager Shelton

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 1:34 pm

I wonder if this will lead to getting away from 12 and 13 man BPs. Of course if the relievers can't get out of the inning in 3 batters there will still be multiple pitching changes per inning. But for teams with strong BPs and no need for specialists just to face 1 or 2 batters, there may be no need for as many relievers. Looking at 2019 stats there are countless relievers in MLB with fewer innings than games. The rule will enable more relievers to finish innings which could be a good thing.

iabucco · Post by **iabucco** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 3:13 pm

For the most part, I liked how Hurdle would have pitchers for the 7th, 8th and 9th and didn't always do the lefty or righty matchups. Get a good bullpen and use them. It drove me nuts with LaRussa and Matheny and the constant changes of pitchers. Hurdle wasn't perfect, by any stretch, because he also always felt he had to follow the book, but he wasn't bad.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 4:07 pm

5C54574056565A350 wrote: For the most part, I liked how Hurdle would have pitchers for the 7th, 8th and 9th and didn't always do the lefty or righty matchups. Get a good bullpen and use them. It drove me nuts with LaRussa and Matheny and the constant changes of pitchers. Hurdle wasn't perfect, by any stretch, because he also always felt he had to follow the book, but he wasn't bad.
Most teams designate 7th, 8th and 9th inning relievers and stick to it as much as they can. As you said, Hurdle followed the book, which made his concepts the same as most managers. But that wasn't enough for the Pirates because they didn't have the talent. Hurdle needed to be more original and creative instead of just doing what teams with more talent did. I hope Shelton will be less of a formula manager and be more creative in how he uses his players, particularly the pitchers. Hurdle was also prone to sacrificing the game he was playing in order to set the team up for a future game. I hope we don't see that from Shelton.

ArnoldRothstein · Post by **ArnoldRothstein** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:09 pm

Has there ever been a new manager who isn't impressive? I can't wait for spring training, which will be very well-organized with little wasted time and everyone always knows where they're supposed to be.

UtahPirate · Post by **UtahPirate** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 7:58 pm

4E7D6160636B5D607B677C7B6A66610F0 wrote: Has there ever been a new manager who isn't impressive? I can't wait for spring training, which will be very well-organized with little wasted time and everyone always knows where they're supposed to be.

;D +1

SammyKhalifa · Post by **SammyKhalifa** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:01 pm

675448494A427449524E5552434F48260 wrote: Has there ever been a new manager who isn't impressive? I can't wait for spring training, which will be very well-organized with little wasted time and everyone always knows where they're supposed to be.
To be fair, no matter what we as fans think about any of them (all of them?), to get to the point where you're manager of a MLB team you're probably pretty good (or at least good at impressing someone).

skinnyhorse · Post by **skinnyhorse** » Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:45 pm

6E5D4140434B7D405B475C5B4A46412F0 wrote: Has there ever been a new manager who isn't impressive? I can't wait for spring training, which will be very well-organized with little wasted time and everyone always knows where they're supposed to be.

Bobster21 · Post by **Bobster21** » Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:50 pm

574F4D4A4A5D4C4B565741240 wrote: Has there ever been a new manager who isn't impressive? I can't wait for spring training, which will be very well-organized with little wasted time and everyone always knows where they're supposed to be.

OTOH, the Post Gazette once reported that a Pirates spring training camp appeared disorganized with workouts not beginning timely, some players appearing to wander around as if unsure of what they were supposed to be doing, and that one player stated they were only getting about 11 swings in batting practice each day.

That was 1960. Didn't turn out too bad though.

fjk090852-7 · Post by **fjk090852-7** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 2:39 pm

It has only been 5 games, but the Pirates seem to really respect Shelton. The easily could have folded their tent last night after the Brewers scored 4 in the 7th inning. We still have a long way to go with the remaining season, but I wonder if players on other teams see this relationship the players have with Shelton, that they may want to join the Pirates when they become free agents. I don't expect the huge money players to come to Pittsburgh, but the second tier type of player. In the past few years players have not figured Pittsburgh as a destination, but if they see how the current players have taken to Derek Shelton, they may want to join that team environment.