Since the kids are asleep, the Jays beat KC, and I'm in a good mood, let's tackle this one.
[Imagine this being said by Zauno]
When the manager asks for a volunteer pitcher from the dugout, the bottom rung players have to step up! That's the unwritten "baseball guy code". They ALL know where they stand in the pecking order. Even if JoshD or Tulo volunteers, they are much too valuable to get injured.
So the backup and utility guys HAVE to step up and risk injury to protect the stars. Barney and Goins in particular earned a lot of respect in the clubhouse for stepping up.
It sounds dumb and macho in this day of coddling 1st round draft picks, and pitch counts, but the fringe players had to TOFTT in this instance.
[Imagine this being said by Zauno]
When the manager asks for a volunteer pitcher from the dugout, the bottom rung players have to step up! That's the unwritten "baseball guy code". They ALL know where they stand in the pecking order. Even if JoshD or Tulo volunteers, they are much too valuable to get injured.
So the backup and utility guys HAVE to step up and risk injury to protect the stars. Barney and Goins in particular earned a lot of respect in the clubhouse for stepping up.
It sounds dumb and macho in this day of coddling 1st round draft picks, and pitch counts, but the fringe players had to TOFTT in this instance.
4 WTF do not the players have a say in this ???? I am going to balk at having to risk injury for one possible win in mid season and destroy my career and the manager must be sensitive to players feelings on such issues. He might have asked Estrada if he wanted to pitch one inning and he might have said no, we would never be told this
5 Look what it did to Goins FFS! Players have a right to decline non positional play and if they do it is kept quiet
6 Goins was asked to pitch hard because he is not a prime player and they can afford losing him. Same for Barney.
7 If I am Goins and Barney I am saying WTF ?? You risked injuring me because I am not valuable !!! Gee, thanks!