“You try not to put them in a position where they’re destined to fail,” he said. “You try not to bring them in with the bases loaded. You try to let them have clean innings, and try to give them a matchup where they have an advantage.
“Once their confidence starts to soar, they get better.”
Source: New York Times
Perhaps the phrase “clean innings” is up for debate. My definition would be one where the relief pitcher starts the inning with no one on base.
Hansel Robles – First outing in the majors came with no outs and two runners on base. Second outing called in with a runner on base to face Giancarlo Stanton.
*****
If you prefer longer articles, that’s our specialty here at Mets360. Just click on “Perspectives” or “Minor Leagues” or “History” on the grey menu bar above this article’s headline and you will be taken to a list of over 2,000 articles written since the beginning of 2010.
If you enjoy the quick hitters, click on “Quotes” in the same menu bar to see our archive.
*****
Another in a long line of contradictory quotes from our manager. Why do our Mets have an employee who’s words do not match their actions. We all would be out of work in the real world. Or at least not in a position of authority.
In Terry’s defense, I clearly emphasized “you try to,” a phrase that allowed for the possibility that it’s not always possible. Trying to win games.
The ideal is to give a guy a clean inning. But things happen.
Frankly, while I appreciate that he wants to build confidence in these guys, he’s doing it with a no-show of confidence. I’d prefer he used his pen, as each player’s confidence is in some ways dependent upon the confidence that a manager shows in him.
I have absolutely No Quibble with what Terry said here. If I ask you in December about your “ideal” for doing something, you get an “ideal” answer. The other way of expressing this is that almost all players gain entry at lower risk spots, as a preference. That’s not a comment or contradiction to what happens based on Necessity
But he wasn’t asked in December – he was asked during the latest Marlins series. And he’s passed up opportunities to give these guys clean innings.
Let’s take a look at his track record
2011:
Beato-started a clean inning behind 2-5
Stinson – started a clean inning ahead 7-3
2012:
Hefner – started a clean inning behind 1-6
Edgin – did not start a clean inning
Elvin Ramirez – started a clean inning ahead 6-0
Carson – started a clean inning behind 14-1
Familia – started a clean inning ahead 5-1
2013:
Rice – started a clean inning ahead 11-2
Germen – started a clean inning tied 2-2 in the 11th inning
2014:
Goeddel – did not start a clean inning
Alvarez – did not start a clean inning
2015:
Gilmartin – started a clean inning tied 1-1 in the 7th
Robles – did not start a clean inning
Leathersich – did not start a clean inning
Clearly there’s been a trend against his above statement. The last 6 guys who have debut have either not started a clean inning or coming into a pressure packed situation not ideal for a MLB debut
Name, at first I was impressed with your research, but by the end I changed my mind. Leathersich was brought in with two outs, no one on, late in a 7-3 ballgame. Clearly Terry was allowing him to get his feet wet in a no-pressure situation, hopefully clearing away the cobwebs. He was being nice.
I don’t recall the debuts of Alvarez or Goeddel, but I wonder if the entire 2014 season was over by then. There’s “close game” pressure and then there’s “pennant race” pressure.
I just looked up one, Alvarez, who had his Mets debut on September 3, 2014, when the Mets were 66-74, dreaming of maybe catching fire to achieve a .500 season. In my view, this also does not fit your narrative of coming in during a “pressure-packed” situation. It was expanded roster time. “Hey Dario, you ever pitch in the Majors? Go ahead, it’ll be fun!”
I had to look up Goeddel, more out of curiosity than anything else, and the write up jogged my memory. I think my brain is still bleeding from this one. Hardly a pressure situation, and clearly TC’s hand was forced. Pulling Familia was an act of mercy. Read on . . .
>> MIAMI — For non-contending teams, September is a month for growth. The Mets know now that they won’t be involved in postseason play. They are at peace with it. So over the season’s final four weeks, they simply want to set themselves up as well as possible for 2015.
Monday’s Labor Day matinee at Marlins Park showcased exactly the type of thing they’d like to avoid going forward. The Mets committed a half-dozen defensive errors in a 9-6 loss to the Marlins, allowing the winning run to cross home on a wild pitch.
“It [wasn’t] a big league baseball game,” manager Terry Collins said. “I can tell you that.”
Stuck in a 6-6 tie in the eighth, reliever Jeurys Familia gave up a leadoff double on a ball that deflected off outfielder Eric Campbell’s glove, before committing a throwing error on a sacrifice-bunt attempt to put runners on the corners with no outs. Familia then allowed the go-ahead run to score on a wild pitch, which catcher Travis d’Arnaud exacerbated by making a throwing error of his own on the play.
“I think I’m trying to be too quick,” said Familia, who has a growing recent history of similar miscues. “I think I’ve got to throw it perfect, so sometimes I try to be too quick with the ball and then I throw it away.”
Following an intentional walk, Familia committed yet another throwing error on another bunt attempt, allowing the Marlins’ eighth run to score. From there, he gave way to rookie Erik Goeddel, who intentionally walked the first batter of his big league career before forcing in a run with an unintentional walk. <<
Mountains…Mole Hills…Mets Fans….
I have a bigger problem with Pitching to Stanton when you can avoid it.
Why even give him a sniff of a strike? Allow someone else to beat you. Even if it’s the first inning. He consistently hits mistake location pitches that have too much of the plate.
+1 You don’t pitch to Stanton unless absolutely necessary.
This is a nice philosophy. Except in the real world, Collins has 4 relievers who have little or no major league experience. So he is going to have to use them in tough situations or risk using his other 4 pitchers up.
I remember the Goedel Debut…and it does underscore the complaint—he was brought in with a runner on 2nd and 3rd—and then was asked to Intentionally walk his first batter to Load the Bases!!!!—I can’t imagine a worse “call”–so..I confess…that was wrong and bizarre