I'M SORRY, BUT WE DON'T NEED YOU

Brewers fans know that Manager Ken Macha has shut down top starter Yovani Gallardo for the year because, gasp, he has thrown over 3,000 pitches! Imagine that, getting laid off because you were "overworked".  Never mind that there are still two weeks to play. Never mind that this is another ridiculous trend regarding use of a pitching staff. In the last 20 odd years we have gone from a 4-man to a 5-man rotation which seemed radical at the time. Then we segmented the bullpens into long relievers, middle relievers, one batter "specialists" (usually a lefty), set-up men and the closer. If I hear one more manager say that their bullpen is overworked I think I will buy Red Sox tickets (there is no fate is worse than that, I'd rather see the Nationals). As the game lags on, nothing is more brutal than to watch the late inning tedium, in the name of strategy, of managers doing the lefty-righty shuffle between hitter and batter that usually doesn't do much to the outcome and drags the game on mercilessly long. I mean bringing in a lefty to face a lefty in the 7^th when you are down by five runs? Give me a break!

About that 3,000 + pitch total. This is more ludicrous than the pitch count that has swept over the game like some vile threat of destitution. When figuring Gallardo's numbers, he averaged around 17 ppi (pitches per inning- just wait this stat is on the horizon).  In his illustrious career, Bob Gibson averaged 292 IP/year. When you do the math, it means he threw on average 4,454 ppy (pitchers per year) and was never on the DL for an extended period of time. Some other examples:

o   Don Sutton                        3,995

o   Tom Seaver                        4,250

o   Nolan Ryan                        3,944

o   Fergie Jenkins                    4,131

o   Steve Carlton                     4,165

Every one of these Hall of Famers except Jenkins pitched for at least 20 seasons and Fergie pitched for 19 and all for the most part were in 4 man rotations.

Here's a scenario I'd love to see:

I enter the office with my cup of coffee in one hand and my Blackberry in another. I sit at my desk, fire up the computer and check my voice mails. Just then I get a call from Willis, my boss. "I need to see you in my office right away".

Nothing good ever comes from that request. I saunter on down the hall and plant myself on a chair directly in front of Willis' imposing desk. "Wilford", he says, "it's come to my attention that you have already exceeded your sales quota for the year. You are outperforming everyone else on the staff." Great, I thought, a nice big raise.

"I've decided to let you take off for the rest of the year".

"What's that?"

"You heard me. You have done exceedingly well. It's time to let the others catch up."

"But who will call on my customers. Take care of their needs?"

"We'll handle that fine. You need to go home and rest, you know, get fired up for next year. We're gonna need that drive and determination."

"But...."

"No buts. Clean up your office and we will see you in January."

As I walked back to my office, it occurred to me that I have been laid off with pay for doing too well! Maybe I can become a starting pitcher in the major leagues!