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I have taken the point of view of not agreeing with the so called "babying" of pitchers now a days. I feel whole heartedly that the Nationals are doing an injustice to the game by choosing to shutdown ace RHP Stephen Strasburg in a pennant race. Using examples such as Strasburg and Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain, its not like that approach worked as both pitchers needed Tommy John surgery early in their careers. One reason pitchers are being treated this way is to protect the team's assets, as pitchers are being guaranteed more money than ever before throwing a single pitch. The other may be to keep a pitcher for being overused too early on in their career, something that seemed to halt the career of RHP Mark Fidrych of the Detroit Tigers.
Fidrych would have been 58 today, passing away in 2009. He had an amazing season in 1976, his rookie season with the Tigers. Though he was not in the team's rotation until May 31st, he still managed to win 19 games and throw an incredible total of 24 complete games out of 29 starts. Still, the Tigers were not in a pennant race all season and it is worth mentioning Fidrych pitched on three days rest for the balance of the second half. Manager Ralph Houk was criticised for his use of Fidrych, perhaps trying to take advantage of the ticket sales he generated, particularly at home games. (Though he brought fans to the stadium on road games also.)
Houk used Fidrych the same in his second season, despite Fidrych missing the start of the season due to knee problems. He completed 7 of his first 8 starts. After that, his arm went dead resulting in a couple of rough outings. Finally, he had to leave his next start in the first inning and he would not return the rest of the season. His career never regained momentum, pitching his last game in 1980. Apparently he had a torn rotator cuff, something that could have gotten him back on the mound within a year today.
Houk had a good reputation as a big league manager, managing the New York Yankees to two World Series titles and another AL Pennant in his first three seasons after replacing the legendary Casey Stengel. He came back in 1966 and managed the Yankees during one of their worst times until he took over the Tigers in 1974. I think his use of Fidrych is an example of what the other extreme is. Another example could be the use of some of the FLorida Marlins pitchers in 2006 under Joe Girardi, such as Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez. In my opinion, Houk and the Tigers exploited Fidrych to add to ticket sales which is an absolute disgrace. There was no reason other than that to pitch him as often as they did. The Tigers finished 74-87 that season, fifth place in the AL East, nowhere near the first place Yankees.
Though I think Houk should have used Fidrych less down the stretch of that season, I also disagree with the innings limits pitchers have now. I honestly cannot wait to see the foolish Nationals organization and Mike Rizzo stand at a press conference and explain how they gave up their season to sit their best pitcher WHO WAS HEALTHY!
Houk used Fidrych the same in his second season, despite Fidrych missing the start of the season due to knee problems. He completed 7 of his first 8 starts. After that, his arm went dead resulting in a couple of rough outings. Finally, he had to leave his next start in the first inning and he would not return the rest of the season. His career never regained momentum, pitching his last game in 1980. Apparently he had a torn rotator cuff, something that could have gotten him back on the mound within a year today.
Houk had a good reputation as a big league manager, managing the New York Yankees to two World Series titles and another AL Pennant in his first three seasons after replacing the legendary Casey Stengel. He came back in 1966 and managed the Yankees during one of their worst times until he took over the Tigers in 1974. I think his use of Fidrych is an example of what the other extreme is. Another example could be the use of some of the FLorida Marlins pitchers in 2006 under Joe Girardi, such as Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez. In my opinion, Houk and the Tigers exploited Fidrych to add to ticket sales which is an absolute disgrace. There was no reason other than that to pitch him as often as they did. The Tigers finished 74-87 that season, fifth place in the AL East, nowhere near the first place Yankees.
Though I think Houk should have used Fidrych less down the stretch of that season, I also disagree with the innings limits pitchers have now. I honestly cannot wait to see the foolish Nationals organization and Mike Rizzo stand at a press conference and explain how they gave up their season to sit their best pitcher WHO WAS HEALTHY!
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