“Though, in the early years of the DH rule, some AL managers would try to use it as a tactical advantage by penciling in the previous day’s pitcher, and then pinch-hitting with the “real” DH batter when he first came to bat. This way, the manager could choose between a right- or left-handed batter to get the platoon advantage if, perhaps, the starter had been pulled early from the game. Earl Weaver was reportedly the most aggressive at using this trick. After a few years, the DH rule was modified to stop such nonsense, and the original DH in the lineup must bat at least once (unless injured).”

I think that Manuel’s decision to leave Lee in for the 9th on Wednesday night had nothing to do with using Lee later, but rather because Manuel is even more scared of his bullpen than Girardi is, even with a 6 run lead. I could see him thinking, “Well if Lee comes out, and I put Madson in, and he gets into trouble . . . Who do I go to? Eyre, if a lefty is up, but otherwise . . . Lidge? Screw it, Lee pitches the 9th!”

That said, I agree that it would be a silly move to start Lee on short rest in Game 4. But Mike Carminati used to call him Charlie “I Need a Friggin’” Manuel, and I feel confident in saying that, if Mike did that, he probably felt very justified. Thus, he might very well do something crazy.

you are a step ahead of me today – i also think the ph double swith comes into efefct and that is another reason to break them up – course this is all mute if aj doesn’t pitch game 5

During the month of September, 1980, Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver inserted a pitcher into the DH slot but would use a hitting specialist (such as Benny Ayala or Terry Crowley) to pinch-hit when the designated hitter’s first turn came up. There was a game on September 17, 1980, during which the Orioles and the Detroit Tigers both used the short-lived strategy. [9] (Note: Due to the loophole taken advantage of by Earl Weaver, there was a rule change shortly thereafter that states the DH must come to bat at least once, unless the opposing team changes pitchers.

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Designated_hitter

I have a feeling that earl Weaver did something like this, maybe when the DH rule was first introduced (which led to a change in the rule, maybe?). Whomever, I have a sneaking suspicion that I got this idea from someone.

Starting a pinch hitter is an interesting idea! Has any manager ever done that? I guess the problem is that you’re using up a good bat in a very low-leverage situation.

Slump. Slump.
What an excellent word.
Slumping.

[29] I had thought about that, but since the entire team seems to be scuffling (except Jeter), I look at spots 6-9 as largely interchangeable. Thus, Molina batting 6th or 7th is not breaking up the good hitters, it’s just rearranging slumping hacktastic hitters.

I was also playing with some crazy idea of starting Hairston or Hinske at C and batting him second. Then removing him in the bottom of the first for Molina, who would then not bat until an inning or so later than he usually would (his first AB might be the 4th inning). In this way, you could probably get 6 or even 7 innings out of AJ with Molina at C and only one AB, by which time it is likely that AJ has been PH for. If Molina bats more than a couple of times in this arrangement, then the Yankees have likely scored a good number of runs, so it may not matter.

It’s just a crazy thought.

And while Melky >> Molina, for sure, is there really much difference to which one bats 7th and which one bats 8th?

God damn you Hollywood, God damn you to Hell. There is no reason on earth to remake that movie. It’s a classic. I don’t even like the dvd that has the cartoon fade outs.

What’s next, redoing Star Wars so that Han doesn’t shoot first? Oh, wait.

But given that so many in Hollywood support the confessed child rapist Roman Polanski, it shouldn’t be a shock.

Pettitte for the 2-1 advantage tomorrow night. It’ll be a spooktacular game.

Congrats to AJ! ..Masterful.