The "Extra Innings with Gaj" is an attempt to create a place to have a spot to come together, vent, ask for advice on whatever topic comes to mind and share the positives and negatives that we all seem to encounter in New Hampshire baseball. At times the posts will be funny, at times serious, and sometimes a little of both. Give it a chance and if you have a blog topic go to the "contacts" section of the site to email it in! Enjoy the blog! Editor's Note: it says the author is Brent Demas, that is something I need to figure out how to change that- this is all the Gaj. And without further ado....I give you GAJ........

THE BLOG- ENTRY #1

The Extinguisher

The great Casey Stengel once said “Been in this game a hundred years, but I see new ways to lose em I never knew existed before.” Like it or not the game is evolving, and there are new strategies being introduced every day- new ideas about where to position fielders, how to construct a batting order, and how to use your bullpen. Stengel would not be disappointed if he knew how the game has evolved, nor would he be disappointed in knowing that there are a million new ways to both win and lose games!

We all know that at the end of the day, there are two things that determine a high school team’s success; high school boys executing, and having plenty of pitching. If you want to be one of the top 5 teams in the league, you’ll need 4-5 good arms. Going in to 2019, some teams are extremely rich in pitching, and some are not. So, how do the “have-nots” remain competitive?

I know a bunch of you (especially Demas) will roll your eyes, but I absolutely love the new school concept of the “opener” and the 1970’s concept of the “fireman”. Yes, I’m talking about bull-penning!

We all set up our pitching staffs the same way. Our stud (usually) goes on Monday, our next guy Wednesday and our third best Friday. Our 3 and 4 fill the relief voids when our studs don’t go 7, and the next day’s starter will close the game. Seems conventional, and pretty smart if you have those pieces. You barely have to manage.

So, by this logic, you’ll use your Monday starter to close out your game on Friday. All well and good, but what if you don’t have a third starter? And what if you don’t have reliable relief guys?

Here’s a possible solution:

Why not use your Monday starter as your Friday starter as well, rather than wait to use him as a closer?

Throw the kid for an inning or two, limit his pitch count to 25 - 30, and shorten the game a bit.

You may think I’m crazy, but hear me out:

No matter your philosophy, most teams first three hitters are their three best hitters, followed by a not too shabby 4 and 5. My argument here is that in the first two innings, the opposing lineup is set up for its highest potential rate of success. It is also the only time in the game that this is guaranteed to happen. This makes the first two innings high pressure innings. The game is going to be won or lost right here. The score is either going to be close, or it will out of hand by the 2nd inning. You’ll be chasing runs or trying not to get put back on the bus in the 5th, all while your best arm is sitting on the bench.

Using your best arm to get through their best hitters will give you your best chance to win the game. Your starter gets you through your first two, possibly three innings, and then you can have your middle of the road guys get through the middle innings in low stress situations. This way, you don’t end up getting smoked with your worst option on the mound and your best sitting on the bench just in case you have a lead in the 7th inning, circling back to Stengel’s point of finding new ways to lose the game.

Now, maybe you’re lucky enough to have that third starter. Do you wait to use your Monday guy to close? Of course you do. However, that save situation may not come in the 7th. It may come way before that. Once again, why leave your best arm on the bench?

Picture this scenario. It’s a 2-2 game in the third inning. 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Big spot here. You’re either going back to the dugout, or the game is going to get busted wide open. Who do you want on the mound in this spot? The balance of the game is totally weighing here!

Ring the alarm! Here is the perfect spot for your fireman!

Use your best arm, get your boys in the dugout and then roll him out there for another inning rather than saving him for if you so happen to have a lead in the 7th. Why wait for the end of the game, if you still happen to have the lead. Sure, this isn’t foolproof, as the pressure is still on the defense and you have to execute. But I’d still rather lose with my best guy on the mound than lose with my best guy watching the game from the bench.

You Sox fans are a lot calmer now than you used to be, but think back to Game 7 in ‘03. Roger Clemens vs Pedro Martinez. Power against power. There is nothing better than a Game 7! What I love about the MLB playoffs is the managing piece. You get to see who really knows how to manage a game.

Clemens doesn’t have it, the second inning couldn’t go any worse for the Yanks. Here is the line: 3 runs on 3 hits. 1 error.

The Sox now have a 3 run lead with one of, if not the best pitcher in baseball toeing the rubber for the bottom of the second.

To refresh your memory, here is a play by play:

Top of the 2nd, Red Sox Batting, Tied 0-0, Yankees' Roger Clemens facing 5-6-7

Lineout: CF O BOS David Ortiz Roger Clemens 2% 52%

Single to CF (Fly Ball) BOS Kevin Millar Roger Clemens -3% 50%

Home Run (Fly Ball to CF-RF); Millar Scores

RR BOS Trot Nixon Roger Clemens -17% 32%

Strikeout Swinging O BOS Bill Mueller Roger Clemens 1% 34%

Double to RF (Fly Ball) BOS Jason Varitek Roger Clemens -2% 32%

Reached on E5 (throw) R BOS Johnny Damon Roger Clemens -8% 24%

Varitek Scores/unER/No RBI; Damon to 2B

Groundout: 1B unassisted O BOS Todd Walker Roger Clemens 2% 26%

3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Red Sox 3, Yankees 0.

As your resident Yankee fan, this is not good. However, Clemens barely escapes more trouble, and Torre throws him out for the third. The Rocket is a Hall of Famer (that’s another blog!) so why not. In the third he gets through Nomar, Ortiz and Manny while Yankees fans breathe a collective sigh of relief, and then trots back out for the 4th. All is well, right?

No. Not one bit. Kevin Millar hits a bomb and adds to the lead, and now my beloved Yankees are down 4-0. In Game 7. Facing Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez. The best pitcher in the game.

This is not good.

A walk to Nixon and a single to Bill Mueller puts runners on 1st and 3rd. Nobody out. It’s the 4th inning.

This is a 5 alarm blaze.

You need your BEST GUY. Torre had a slew of bullpen arms that he could have used here. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he went with Rivera. Who did he go with to put out the fire?

Mike Mussina. Who would have thought that we would see 3 Hall of Fame Pitchers in the same game. For those of you who doubt his Hall of Fame credentials? Go back and watch this performance. In Game 7. — Mike Mussina. Who would have thought that we would see 3 Hall of Fame Pitchers in the ***same game.*** For those of you who doubt his Hall of Fame credentials? Go back and watch this performance. In Game 7.

As the very eloquent and inspiring Head coach of Bishop Guertin, Scott Painter, would say, in this situation

“You want a guy with nuts.”

Moose was the best guy in the pen. But he’s a starter! He can’t relieve! He’s not built for it! It’s mental! He needs time to warm up!

That’s crap. Pitchers pitch! He was the best guy in the pen. And he’s got nuts.

Moose strikes out Varitek, and gets Johnny Damon to ground into a double play. This ends the threat and keeps the game at 4-0. Not only did Moose do his job, but he rolls out for 2 more innings, effectively pitching and keeping the Yanks in it for the 4th, 5th and 6th innings, while putting out a major fire in the 4th.

Game 7 of ‘03 models exactly how we, as high school coaches should manage every game. Unless, of course you’re trying to model Grady Little! Until next time

THE GAJ Nashua South Head Coach and Blogmaster

EXTRA INNINGS WITH GAJ....a different side to the baseball coaching world