Because Mike Bianco can't help himself...

[MSUDC11]

Doug Nikhazy starting tomorrow night for Ole Miss. He threw 115 pitches on Thursday. And they are throwing him on abbreviated rest in a meaningless game against a team that lost 20 conference games.

How very on brand.

 

[KeyserSoze1999]

View attachment 20380

 

[JungRebel]

Most of us have qualms with Bianco but throwing someone on four days rest a few times a year doesnt matter to me. He will be expected to do it on less rest in MLB.

 

[ronpolk]

Most of us have qualms with Bianco but throwing someone on four days rest a few times a year doesnt matter to me. He will be expected to do it on less rest in MLB.

It’s not about what he’s expected to do or not do at MLB, it’s about what is arm is prepared to do now. And his arm at his current workload is not prepared to pitch on that short of rest. And starters in the MLB don’t pitch on four days rest.

 

[msudawg12]

You know its only so he can use him twice in the tourney....

Bianco gonna bianco

 

[Drebin]

It’s not about what he’s expected to do or not do at MLB, it’s about what is arm is prepared to do now. And his arm at his current workload is not prepared to pitch on that short of rest. And starters in the MLB don’t pitch on four days rest.

Starters pitch on four days rest all the time in MLB. The only time they don't is when there's an off day between starts.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

How often in the majors

Most of us have qualms with Bianco but throwing someone on four days rest a few times a year doesnt matter to me. He will be expected to do it on less rest in MLB.

Pitch 3 days after throwing 115 pitches? Serious question

 

[ronpolk]

Starters pitch on four days rest all the time in MLB. The only time they don't is when there's an off day between starts.

It happens some. But not as often as it used to. The schedule is set up to give teams 3 to 4 off days each month, which most of the time extends guys out to the 5th day.

I’ve noticed some teams will pull a guy up from the minors and go with a 6 man rotation when they have a run through the rotation without a break. That has happened more this year with pitchers not having thrown as many innings as usual last year.

 

[JungRebel]

How do you know he isnt capable of pitching on four days rest? He isnt 16, he's a college junior. I'm all for protecting an arm long term but this is as close to conventional wisdom as unorthodox strategies can get.

You are mistaken about the MLB. Curt Schilling and Randy Jonsons pitched 38 2/3 in the 2001 WS over the course of nine days. It's one of the most outrageous stats in the history of sports but it is absolutely true. Schilling pitched 21 1/3 over seven games in nine days! Do the math.

Bumgarner pitched 21 in the 2014 series.

(Pitching on four days happens often in MLB but pitchers can go much further when called upon. The above are limit cases, absurd examples, but they overrefute the assertion.)

This happens often when the games start to matter in the MLB. If Doug intends to be an ace he will almost assuredly need to do it at some point unless he ends up on a staff with another ace (e.g., Scherzer and Strasburg in 2019).

 

[anon1787432961]

Is there still a belief that success in the SECT improves hosting or super regional chances?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I don’t think an established Hall of Famer choosing to do that later in his career for a chance to win the World Series is the same as a college player doing it before ever making a dime for a meaningless conference tournament game...but if it helps win the party, go for it.

 

[JungRebel]

Four days between Thursday and Tuesday.

 

[ronpolk]

How do you know he isnt capable of pitching on four days rest? He isnt 16, he's a college junior. I'm all for protecting an arm long term but this is as close to conventional wisdom as unorthodox strategies can get.

You are mistaken about the MLB. Curt Schilling and Randy Jonsons pitched 38 2/3 in the 2001 WS over the course of nine days. It's one of the most outrageous stats in the history of sports but it is absolutely true. Schilling pitched 21 1/3 over seven games! Do the math.

Bumgarner pitched 21 in the 2014 series.

This happens often when the games start to matter in the MLB. If Doug intends to be an ace he will almost assuredly need to do it at some point unless he ends up on a staff with another ace (e.g., Scherzer and Strasburg in 2019).

He’s averaging 6 IP over a 7 day period. That would lead anyone to believe he’s likely not prepared to start a game 4 days after throwing 115 pitches. And I agree with you he will eventually have to stretch out but probably not now. There is a reason Bianco fizzles out every year and his handling of the pitching staff is one of the reasons.

In my opinion is not a good comparison to compare a college guy who’s thrown 72 innings to a major league pitcher who’s been stretched out all year and probably thrown 200 plus innings.

 

[JungRebel]

Those are extreme examples but pitchers in MLB pitch on four days rest quite often. Teams play six or seven days in a row and have five man rotations. How is this some absurd idea?

 

[JungRebel]

He is a strikeout pitcher. They throw more pitches and less innings but get better results. Anything can happen when a bat hits the ball, nothing can happen when it doesnt. I'm comparing him to guys who throw on four days rest in the MLB all the time. The extreme examples are what we call overproving a point.

 

[Drebin]

It happens some. But not as often as it used to. The schedule is set up to give teams 3 to 4 off days each month, which most of the time extends guys out to the 5th day.

I’ve noticed some teams will pull a guy up from the minors and go with a 6 man rotation when they have a run through the rotation without a break. That has happened more this year with pitchers not having thrown as many innings as usual last year.

Pitchers pitch on four days rest more often than they don't. And six man rotations are very rare.

 

[8dog]

Absolutely.

 

[GloryDawg]

Most of us have qualms with Bianco but throwing someone on four days rest a few times a year doesnt matter to me. He will be expected to do it on less rest in MLB.

Yeah but in the MLB he will be being paid Millions of dollars. Big difference.

 

[jdbulldog]

I do not think this is a meaningless game for the Rebels. It is a very long shot but a few wins make it possible to get a national seeding. Their pitcher, by this time of year, has apparently shown his coaches he can handle the 4 day rest period.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I dunno. Nikhazy looks like a rubber band out there. The exact opposite of little wound up 3% body fat max effort guy like Leiter. Some guys can go on a lot less rest than others. Being the annoying little midget he is, you would think Bianco still knows his guy. If he lets him go more than 75-80 pitched then I am back on your side of the line.

 

[messageboardsuperhero]

OM SEC record in Nikhazy starts: 8-1
OM SEC record in all other games: 10-11

And a lot of those other games were with Hoglund starting.

 

[Mobile Bay]

Yeah but in the MLB he will be being paid Millions of dollars. Big difference.

He will also have to do it in AA ball where he will be paid dozens of dollars.

 

[Mobile Bay]

I dunno. Nikhazy looks like a rubber band out there. The exact opposite of little wound up 3% body fat max effort guy like Leiter. Some guys can go on a lot less rest than others. Being the annoying little midget he is, you would think Bianco still knows his guy. If he lets him go more than 75-80 pitched then I am back on your side of the line.

I mean he has that booger eating power to rehab. Nothing like a booger to fix a sore arm.

 

[patdog]

You said less rest. Thursday - Tuesday is normal rest for a pro and I've got no real problem with him pitching Nikhazy again on Tuesday. But very, very rarely do pro pitchers pitch on less rest.

 

[bruiser.sixpack]

So what you are saying is it is best to pitch your number 1 guy on Tuesday to get that win, so you can lose on Wednesday and Thursday. Got it. Makes since to me.

 

[JungRebel]

I said he would be expected to do it. If he is an ace he will, albeit rarely. And, even rarer, he will be asked to do much more. But as you say, this will soon be a normal thing for him. I have problems with Bianco but this isnt one of them.

 

[patdog]

I agree. Told a Rebel friend at work today that I might hold him till Wednesday and he said "we've got to get to Wednesday and I'm not sure I trust any other pitcher to do it." Losing Hoglund really hurt your chances this year.

 

[patdog]

Maybe in a few cases, but not many. Mississippi is pretty much locked in to a #9-16 seed no matter what happens in Hoover. Just a question of if you want to maximize your chances to get at least 3 games in or risk going out in 1.

 

[JungRebel]

That is the entire contradiction of college football but we love it. This is much less dangerous than fielding a punt. This is something he will need to do on a regular basis if he intends to make millions.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

That is the entire contradiction of college football but we love it. This is much less dangerous than fielding a punt. This is something he will need to do on a regular basis if he intends to make millions.

But he’s proven he can pitch and this game means nothing, why put his arm through the stress? What is there to gain? And trying to compare this to fielding a punt is beyond apples to oranges.

 

[JungRebel]

I think we need more games for more experience with the arms we have. Postseason baseball is different and the guys we will rely on need to experience it. I wouldn't use Doug after tomorrow until Sunday and maybe not then.

 

[JungRebel]

There is an argument to be had, sure, but we need more games and this gives us the chance to get them. I really dont want to hear about stress though, this is not some absurd circumstance. Asking him to do something he will soon do regularly isnt introducing some unusual systemic risk. It's less than ideal but just barely, and soon will be his usual routine. If it was three days rest or we had a couple proven winners behind him I would be in agreement but this is four full days rest after 115. He can almost assuredly handle it, and if he cant he doesnt have a future in the majors anyhow. If anything I assume he thinks of it altruistically as doing what is best for the team but selfishly as an audition that he can handle what is going to be asked of him as a first round pick (which I assume he will be).

The comparison is intentionally apples to oranges. On one hand we have something that is not particularly risky at this level even if it makes us uncomfortable, on the other is something that is risky even if we find it mundane. The same argument should at all times be made when someone like Ed Reed or Derek Peagues returns a punt in college. This is why I called it a contradiction. A seemingly fraught comparison can be instructive if it reveals dissonance in perception.

It is dismissive to say the game means nothing. We cannot predict what it 'means.' Only if we knew the outcome of two distinct futures could we begin to speak of such things.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

OM SEC record in Nikhazy starts: 8-1
OM SEC record in all other games: 10-11

And a lot of those other games were with Hoglund starting.

This would make this start make more sense. I would not throw him more than 5 innings or 70-80 pitches.

Sounds like this is more of a mental thing than expecting to throw another 115. If he does then I will just call him Skip.

 

[PirateDawg]

Bianco is making the right decision IMO. Win the game that will hurt you the most with the committee. The others will be inconsequential. Folks on here keep saying ditch the first game in the tournament because it isn't important. That is the game the committee will be the most interested in because it will be against the lowest RPI team. In our case if it is Florida and we lose then they are right there trying to get a super regional. They only way that will work is if they unseat us for the spot. If they win and go on to win the SEC tournament what do you think the committee will do? There is still some baseball to be played!

 

[GloryDawg]

He will also have to do it in AA ball where he will be paid dozens of dollars.

Jung said MLB not Minors. Also he will receive a nice signing bonus. I would imagine it will be a few million or more.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

While this isn't the MOST egregious case, Bianco does have a history of doing this. Extending pitch counts with less than normal rest isn't a good combination, bottom line.

But Drebin the Master Pitching Coach has spoken, so it's all good, right? FART.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

Bianco is making the right decision IMO. Win the game that will hurt you the most with the committee. The others will be inconsequential. Folks on here keep saying ditch the first game in the tournament because it isn't important. That is the game the committee will be the most interested in because it will be against the lowest RPI team. In our case if it is Florida and we lose then they are right there trying to get a super regional. They only way that will work is if they unseat us for the spot. If they win and go on to win the SEC tournament what do you think the committee will do? There is still some baseball to be played!

It's because it's single elimination on day one, dude. We don't play on day one. That's why Bianco is doing it.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

I agree. Told a Rebel friend at work today that I might hold him till Wednesday and he said "we've got to get to Wednesday and I'm not sure I trust any other pitcher to do it." Losing Hoglund really hurt your chances this year.

I wouldn't chance his arm over a chance to get to Wednesday. No way. I'd give someone else the chance, they are going to need someone else to step up anyway, if they want to make any type of run.

 

[Drebin]

I wouldn't chance his arm over a chance to get to Wednesday. No way. I'd give someone else the chance, they are going to need someone else to step up anyway, if they want to make any type of run.

Of course you wouldn't. You don't know anything about baseball.

 

[patdog]

If you're risking a kid's arm by pitching him on 4 days rest, then all of minor league and major league baseball is risking pitchers' arms every day for 6 months straight. Bianco has abused pitchers' arms before (though I put a lot of the blame on the NCAA for their ridiculous regional format requiring teams to play 5 games in 72 hours to come through the losers bracket), but this is no big deal.