So, for those who weren't watching the day game between the Rays and the Yankees today, Kevin Cash upped the ante on his unconventional bullpen usage. He's been using relievers in early innings at times this year, and he's also put pitchers in at position spots to keep them in the game, but today he did both in pretty much optimal circumstances. His starter was traded before the game, so he started the game with his best bullpen reliever other than his closer, Stanek, to try to get the top of the order, before going to the long man. He cobbled together the 5th through the 8th. In the 8th, with a 2-run lead, the Yankees got first and third with a lefty on the mound and Stanton and Torres coming up.
Cash brings in Romo to face the righties. Romo has a lot of innings on his arm, and a five out save against the Yankees is a pretty big ask, though he has gone as much as 2.0 innings a couple of times this year. Anyway, he gets his two batters, but gives up a sac fly, and it's a one run game. Rays don't score in their half.
Now it gets interesting. With Bird (a lefty) up facing Romo, Cash moves Duffy, his 3B to short, and puts Romo at third base. They go into the shift, with Romo taking third base. Venters -- who has a very pronounced platoon split and has only given up 4 hits all year to lefties -- pitches to Bird. Bird pulls a grounder and is put out. Duffy goes back to third, Hechavarria takes SS (his natural position), entering the game for Venters, and Romo moves back to pitcher. He has a bit of a rough go due to an error but eventually completes the save.
Romo actually qualified for both a hold and a save, though can't get both, and you end up with a weird box score where a pitcher who entered the game after the guy who gets the save also gets a hold.
This to me is really some next level managing. The situation needs to be pretty perfect to make a move like this. Once Venters in announced, he has to face a batter. So if the Yankees have a tough RH batter and the ability to play 1B without Bird in the game, it won't work. Their only real option was to PH Walker there, I guess, who is a switch. But it's not exactly like Walker is tearing it up from either side of the plate and so Cash was probably ok with Walker for Bird there. You need to feel fairly confident that Romo can field third base in a pinch even against a lefty, for example if Bird tries to bunt. Given that Bird does not really go oppo much, though, Cash was prepared and likely knew that this was the spot in the lineup to give it a try. And, last, you need a 3B or SS on the bench who can come in and take the defensive spot to allow your pitcher to go back up to the mound. It's also a bit of an all-in move. Cash was not well positioned if the Yankees had tied the game and extra innings were required, but with much of his bullpen already spent, it was not an unreasonable gamble.
All that said, I don't think this was a unique situation that has no application to future games or circumstances. I think there's something here. Worth watching at least.
Cash brings in Romo to face the righties. Romo has a lot of innings on his arm, and a five out save against the Yankees is a pretty big ask, though he has gone as much as 2.0 innings a couple of times this year. Anyway, he gets his two batters, but gives up a sac fly, and it's a one run game. Rays don't score in their half.
Now it gets interesting. With Bird (a lefty) up facing Romo, Cash moves Duffy, his 3B to short, and puts Romo at third base. They go into the shift, with Romo taking third base. Venters -- who has a very pronounced platoon split and has only given up 4 hits all year to lefties -- pitches to Bird. Bird pulls a grounder and is put out. Duffy goes back to third, Hechavarria takes SS (his natural position), entering the game for Venters, and Romo moves back to pitcher. He has a bit of a rough go due to an error but eventually completes the save.
Romo actually qualified for both a hold and a save, though can't get both, and you end up with a weird box score where a pitcher who entered the game after the guy who gets the save also gets a hold.
This to me is really some next level managing. The situation needs to be pretty perfect to make a move like this. Once Venters in announced, he has to face a batter. So if the Yankees have a tough RH batter and the ability to play 1B without Bird in the game, it won't work. Their only real option was to PH Walker there, I guess, who is a switch. But it's not exactly like Walker is tearing it up from either side of the plate and so Cash was probably ok with Walker for Bird there. You need to feel fairly confident that Romo can field third base in a pinch even against a lefty, for example if Bird tries to bunt. Given that Bird does not really go oppo much, though, Cash was prepared and likely knew that this was the spot in the lineup to give it a try. And, last, you need a 3B or SS on the bench who can come in and take the defensive spot to allow your pitcher to go back up to the mound. It's also a bit of an all-in move. Cash was not well positioned if the Yankees had tied the game and extra innings were required, but with much of his bullpen already spent, it was not an unreasonable gamble.
All that said, I don't think this was a unique situation that has no application to future games or circumstances. I think there's something here. Worth watching at least.
