It can't be quantifiable, but I'd guess that a manager's acumen is generally judged on his bullpen usage by a degree of, oh, 90 percent that, 9 percent lineup makeup, 1 percent everything else.
Sound about right?
The lone exception, at least from this perspective, is Derek Shelton. Because in his case, few who follow the Pirates, even passionately, seem to delve as deep as that final percentage point.
'Why'd he pull that guy?'
'Why'd he leave that guy in?'
'Why'd he rest that guy?'
'Why's that guy at cleanup?'
I won't lie. I'm little different. And there'll be a litany of columns I've written these past two summers to support it. I haven't liked a lot of his moves, from day to day, week to week, and the above factors absolutely have contributed.
But that doesn't mean I buy those percentages.
For one, as evidenced for a second consecutive night on this Tuesday at PNC Park, the Pirates' defense was dynamite in taking down the Tigers, 3-2. But I already wrote about that Monday.
For another, Shelton's shown more of a modern lean, an analytical acceptance than any manager I've covered here in two decades on the beat. And no, not just because I once witnessed one of them playfully spin around in his office chair and plop into the trash can a phone-book-thick statistical thesis on that evening's opponent.
With Shelton, it feels like bona fide buy-in.
Exhibit A might've come in the final two innings of this one, after lefty Dillon Peters lasted only four innings, after Ben Gamel's three hits and wall-crashing catch -- more on that lovable nutcase below -- and after Shelby Miller, Sam Howard and Chad Kuhl hung zeroes in an inning each of relief, a one-run lead was forged, and Shelton was left to cover the eighth and ninth with both Chris Stratton and David Bednar available.
And the first man out of the gate was ... Bednar?
Yep. Shelton's done it before, and he can be counted on to do it again and again.
Whether or not Bednar eventually becomes his official closer -- a designation that's only a manager's decree -- it couldn't be clearer he already is. The Butler County kid's carrying a 0.94 WHIP, a .181 opponents' batting average and 73 strikeouts against 17 walks. And he's a rookie. That's ridiculous.
If he isn't named closer next spring in Bradenton, he will be by, oh, mid-April. Bet on it.
But that doesn't mean he won't be used how he was here.
Shelton looked at Detroit's lineup and saw Miguel Cabrera leading off the eighth, followed by the Tigers' 4 and 5 hitters, and he decided that was the inning he wanted to shut down. Or hey, to close out.
Miggy did what he's done for most of his 38 years and opened with a double off Bednar. No shame in that. He's only got 2,967 hits to his name and first-ball Cooperstown call in his future. And he'd be replaced at second by speedster Victor Reyes representing the tying run.
Bednar's initial reaction: “You don’t want to start off the inning with a leadoff double, especially with a pinch-runner who can run a little bit. It’s something we’ve been working on this year, being quicker to the plate, being comfortable with all my looks, picks and all that. Also just focusing on each batter, not getting ahead of myself. It's ‘OK, I’ve just got to get this guy out,’ as opposed to focusing on the next two guys. It’s just executing pitches from there.”
Jeimer Candelario, foul popup.
Eric Haase, strikeout on a tip.
Niko Goodrum, 4-3 groundout.
That's 10 straight scoreless appearances for Bednar, but of course, no save.
On came Stratton to face the bottom of the order and, after allowing a leadoff hit of his own in Harold Castro's single, he, too, set 'em right down.
Derek Hill, swinging K over a curve.
Akil Baddoo, frozen by a four-seamer.
Robbie Grossman, flyout to center.
Cue the fireworks, the handshakes ...
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
Michael Perez and Chris Stratton shake after the latter's save Tuesday night at PNC Park.
... and 'Root, root, root for our home team' n' all that.
I asked Shelton about this scenario, and he was careful to include, as always, bench coach Don Kelly in the equation.
"What we've done is to try to isolate on the matchups in terms of who we like in certain spots," Shelton began. "Sometimes the lineup doesn't work out that way, and we have to gamble a little bit with certain players. And these guys have done a nice job with that."
Which helps, too. Per another popular subject regarding managers, they're only as smart as their bullpen is good. Bednar and Stratton each has three saves, all since Richard Rodriguez was traded.
"We’re just always ready," Bednar said. "He’s been shoving, so it’s been a lot of fun back there with him, to watch him go out there and punch guys out. We’re always kind of locked in. Whenever the phone rings, we’re all pulling for each other.”
There's nothing innovative about this approach, mind you. If anything, it's rooted in practices that greatly precede the anchoring of closers to the ninth inning.
In Pittsburgh alone, Danny Murtaugh would call upon one of the game's pioneering closers, ElRoy Face, even in the middle innings ... and then let the man pitch all day. Chuck Tanner would alternate Kent Tekulve and Grant 'Buck' Jackson based on right-left situations, or on which hitters might hate Teke's sidearming. There've been other examples.
But it wasn't until about a decade ago that the 'Moneyball'-era Athletics re-broke the mold and began, based on heavy statistical data, deploying their closers to escape jams and not to enter to thrash-metal music and secure the 25th through 27th outs. The data strongly supported that there was more value in quashing the biggest threat over the last threat.
Call me new-fashioned, but I like that Shelton comfortably rides that train. And that he takes zero issue when his medical staff tell him -- and that's how it works, by the way -- that a starting pitcher's limited to X number of pitches, or that a reliever's not available that day. That's a collective decision in every instance. The manager doesn't need to be on board, but it sure helps when he is. Because squeezing a few extra pitches out of someone in any single game that isn't World Series Game 7 can't and shouldn't be prioritized over the pitcher avoiding an appointment with the elbow surgeon.
Between the vastly improved fundamentals and forward thinking, I could get used to Shelton here for a long time ... even if, predictably, every lineup's ill-advised and every call to the pen ill-timed.
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
Ben Gamel swings through a two-run single in the sixth inning Tuesday night at PNC Park.
• There shouldn't be any doubt as to whether Ben Cherington will bring Gamel back for 2022. I'll go further and state that it'd be idiocy to let him go.
No. Brainer.
Gamel's 29 and on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, but he won't be a free agent this winter. He'll be third-year eligible for arbitration, which means the team needs only to tender him an offer to retain his rights. Even if the process guarantees a raise -- it does -- nothing would put Gamel's price out of any reasonable range.
Dude's a ballplayer, plain and simple:
That's insane. He's insane.
And I mean that in the best way, which is why I asked Shelton if, between this catch and the big Superman spill over the weekend at Wrigley, he ever advises Gamel to just cool it.
"This guy plays the game hard, plays with intensity," came the reply. "He plays the game exactly the way we want our culture to be."
I put a similar question to the man himself.
"Yeah, my dad does," Gamel replied with a slight laugh. "My dad always tells me, ‘Live to see another day.’ It’s like, 'Well, I have to make a play for my guys.' "
Gamel's father, Frank, has owned and operated a contruction for business for nearly half a century. Shouldn't surprise anyone.
Oh, and this ...
"It’s actually his birthday tonight, so I’d like to give him a shout-out," the son continued. "Happy birthday."
• Didn't even mention that one of Gamel's three hits won the game:
That was in the sixth, putting the Pirates up for good, 3-2. And this after 10 runners had already been stranded.
• Wondering if Gamel wants to stay?
That came up, too.
"I love it here," he said. "I can’t say enough good things about the guys in that clubhouse. They compete every day. Obviously, we haven’t won as many games as we would have liked to this year, but it’s been fun. Every single day coming to the field and grinding with this group of guys, it’s been a blessing."
No. Brainer.
• Colin Moran was thrown out at home in the third, trying to score from second on a soft single into center by Kevin Newman. Despite getting an honest break. Despite the throw to the plate pulling the catcher to the first base side. Despite ... wow, man, he's just so slow.
But don't blame Joey Cora for this one. There were two outs, and Michael Perez and his .144 average were up next. I'd bank on a meteor strike before a big Perez hit. Or any Perez hit.
• Speaking of Newman ...
... that's as pretty a 4-6-3 as I'd seen in this place all summer.
There's a lot to love about Newman's defense, but his gift for going through the bag on the 4-6-3, complete with the smoothest of toe-touches, is a treat every time.
• It was tremendous to say hello up in the press box to Francisco Cervelli. He looks/sounds awesome, says he's feeling great health-wise, concussion-wise. Couldn't be happier for him. Among my favorites to cover.
• Anyone who had the under on the Pirates achieving 50 wins, push those chips, baby. The record's 50-89 with 23 to go.
Dream big. They only need to go 13-10 to avoid 100 losses.
OK, never mind.
• Heck, maybe the bigger dream is an actual sweep. The Pirates remain the majors' only team without one and, more maddening by a mile, they're 0-11 in the final game of a series with a chance to sweep.
Big doings at the ballpark Wednesday night!
• I'll have the beat for a while, with Alex Stumpf on the 10-day IL. He'll be back. He's a baseball writer.
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
Bryan Reynolds, Cole Tucker and Ben Gamel celebrate victory Tuesday night at PNC Park.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Scoreboard
• Standings
• Statistics
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
2. Yoshi Tsutsugo, RF
3. Bryan Reynolds, CF
4. Colin Moran, 1B
5. Ben Gamel, LF
6. Kevin Newman, SS
7. Michael Perez,C
8. Hoy Park, 2B
9. Dillon Peters, RLHP
And for A.J. Hinch's Tigers:
1. Robbie Grossman, RF
2. Jonathan Schoop, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Jeimer Candelario, 3B
5. Eric Haase, C
6. Niko Goodrum, SS
7. Willi Castro, 2B
8. Derek Hill, CF
9. Wily Peralta RHP
THE SYSTEM
• Indianapolis
• Altoona
• Greensboro
• Bradenton
THE SCHEDULE
The Mitch Keller redemption tour rolls ahead Wednesday, 6:35 p.m., in the series finale against Detroit righty Matt Manning (3-6, 6.29). I'll have that one, as well.
THE CONTENT
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