It tells me that that was his role and CPM was likely trying to protect him as a freshman. Ott worked 78 innings in '07 in high school, including a perfect game. So, this "he can't go multiple innings argument" seems to fall flat on its face. This is undoubtedly true. However, Maineri himself said at the beginning of the year that he MAY have to move Ott into the rotation, but that was not his preference, given Ott's success as closer. So, it's not as if it is something that is absolutely not being considered. Besides, monday morning quarterbacking is part of the fun of being a fan.
I hear what everyone is saying. And I know less than most of you. But it seems to me that Ott is not the same kind of talent as the rest of the pitching staff. H's in a different league. His value as a closer is not just better than average. It is awesome. Sure, some other guys have been moved around. They start sometimes. They relieve sometimes. They close sometimes. Perhaps that's because they are interchangeable. Whoever has thr goods at that time gets the call. Ott almost always has the goods. He's almost always in complete control. That makes him a very powerful weapon (one that the opponent doesn't quite have) in the last innings of a tight SEC game. I think if LSU had another ubercloser, we'd see Ott get some starts. But right now, with the bats keeping pace with opponents, he's best used where he is.
Thanks! It took me at least 30 shots to get that one of the flag. I ended up deleting most of them; the wind was blowing hard the entire time I was out there. I'll share some more when I get them online; bright sunny afternoon games at the Box can be tricky to shoot because of all the shadows on the field.
Most high school players can't work the pitch count against a guy like Ott. They are just trying to make contact (yes there will be exceptions). Ott comes in as a starter and all of a sudden, he isn't coming in throwing a strike every pitch. He has to work around some guys, and the batters are trying to raise his pitch count.
No, I'm saying that he has proven himself to be a great closer and that's where he can best help the team. You act like we have no other capable pitchers. We have a bunch of them.
Wow, someone who gets it. Batters don’t just get up there and swing to swing and hit, good batters work a pitcher by working the pitch count. Good batters will try to get ahead in the pitch count yet make a pitcher pitch as much as they can. Yes the goal is to hit the ball, and if the pitch is right they will take the swing, but in many cases part of the batter rotation philosophy is designed to work the pitcher to get as many pitches out of them as possible. Working them so they are out of gas earlier than they would like to be. Baseball is not simply just stand in the batters box and wait for the pitch that you want to hit. There is a philosophy behind it. One that as Berge pointed out might not allow Ott to be as effective as a starter. His stuff is tight, controlled, and fast. Batters don’t have enough time to wear him out nor make adjustments to hit his stuff, whereas as a starter that might not be the case. After an inning or so the batters can make adjustments and start to work him instead of him working them.
this is why i really dont worry if we can keep a game even somewhat close, even when we are trailing, until i see what happens when we get into the other teams bull pen. i think a couple of guys that watch/listen to games with me will back me when i say my philosophy is generally one of wear down their starter then get into their bull pen and we will be ok. of course, the other team is the same, which is why depth in a pitching staff starting, middle, and closing is so important. it is by far not just the starters. ott closing gives us a key component many teams dont have. now i will say, there are days that its obvious nothing is going right. with our offense or defense. thats when i get pissy and am worried by the third inning. but even then, there have been a couple of games when it looked ugly as hell, but we did exactly what i said above and got into the other teams bull pen and we started whooping ass.
