I have some questions

by BobHamelin on Aug 20, 2008 2:11 PM EDT

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Some of these may be stupid, but here's what I'd like to know:

Zack Greinke has thrown 158.3 innings this year, which is 30% more than the number of innings he threw last year due to his stint in the bullpen. Does the rule of thumb not apply because he's thrown more innings than this in his career? (Last time he threw this many: 2005) Are we causing undue stress on his arm during a lost season?

Carlos Rosa is supoosed to rehabbing a forearm issue. Hasn't pitched since Aug. 13 and isn't scheduled again today. What's the deal?

Is there a timetable for Hosmer to join Idaho Falls?

Any word on who is pitching Saturday for the big league club? I'll be there for the banner/flag thing and am interested.

I'm sure some of you know the answers (I'm looking at you NYRoyal) so help me out.

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Zack Greinke has thrown 158.3 innings this year, which is 30% more than the number of innings he threw last year due to his stint in the bullpen. Does the rule of thumb not apply because he’s thrown more innings than this in his career? (Last time he threw this many: 2005) Are we causing undue stress on his arm during a lost season?

Although I think I often misstate it, I believe the rule of thumb is no more than 30 ip more than in the prior season, as opposed to no more than 30% more innings. However, Greinke is over both of those. This is basically a sabermetric rule of thumb. And like a great mean sabermetric “rules,” principles, ideas, philosophies, revelations, etc., most of baseball does not follow this rule. Greinke is being allowed to pitch more than 30 more innings because he “looks good,” “feels strong” and looks like he can handle it. Research be damned. I don’t agree with it. I think it is a mistake. But it is a common mistake.

Carlos Rosa is supoosed to rehabbing a forearm issue. Hasn’t pitched since Aug. 13 and isn’t scheduled again today. What’s the deal?

No idea. I would guess that he’s experiencing some soreness and they are continuing to be cautious with him.

Is there a timetable for Hosmer to join Idaho Falls?

I’m sure there is one, but I don’t know what it is. Moustakas signed on August 15 last year but I don’t think he started playing for Idaho Falls for a week or so.

Any word on who is pitching Saturday for the big league club? I’ll be there for the banner/flag thing and am interested.

Still no word that I’ve heard.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 20, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

Yup

The “Rule of 30” is that pitchers under age 25 (who are still in what is called the “injury nexus”) should avoid pitching more than 30 innings than the previous year. I am not sure that there have been any real comprehensive studies done on the specific criteria, other than listing pitchers who exceeded the limit and struggled the following year, but it certainly makes sense. There might be some mitigating factors with Greinke:

—He is almost 25
—He had reduced work loads in 2006 and 2007
—His pitch counts this year (100.5 pitches per start) have been pretty reasonable (his highest are 117, 113, 112, 111, and the rest under 110).
—He has already pitched seasons with 174 and 183 innings.

While holding him strictly to the 30 inning guideline might not be necessary, there is no reason to push him past his career high.

by Gopherballs on Aug 20, 2008 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

it's not like Zack has never thrown this many innings

He threw like 190 innings in ’05 in the year he sucked.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Aug 20, 2008 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Hosmer debuts Saturday in Idaho Falls

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/757067.html

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 20, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

this off-season

and down the stretch last season, i bitched about banny’s pointless starts in september and complained about workoad

banny has many problems, but that may have played a factor with him as well

by Freneau on Aug 20, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

aren't u suppose to be in another country right now?

by ZeppelinDZ on Aug 20, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Buddy's irresponsibility clearly cost him a run at the Cy

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Aug 21, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Rosa

may have been scheduled to pitch August 18th, but Omaha got rained out. Maybe that played havoc with him, if he warmed up, or if the game was called after an inning or two and wasn’t official, etc. Don’t know.

As for Saturday, assuming Hochevar goes on the DL, which seems likely, Davies would be eligible to be called up despite being prior to 10 days since his demotion, because it would be due to a DL move. I think Davies is a good guess for who you might see pitch Saturday.

by loyal2sdad on Aug 20, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply actions