It's Official ... Sabathia to Milwaukee

[frankb03]

The Designated Hitter rule:
A hitter may be designated to bat for the starting pitcher and all subsequent pitchers in any game without otherwise affecting the status of the pitcher(s) in the game. A Designated Hitter for the pitcher must be selected prior to the game and must be included in the lineup cards presented to the Umpire-in-Chief.

The Designated Hitter named in the starting lineup must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers. It is not mandatory that a club designate a hitter for the pitcher, but failure to do so prior to the game precludes the use of a Designated Hitter for that game.

Pinch hitters for a Designated Hitter may be used. Any substitute hitter for a Designated Hitter himself becomes a Designated Hitter. A replaced Designated Hitter shall not re-enter the game in any capacity. The Designated Hitter may be used defensively, continuing to bat in the same position in the batting order, but the pitcher must then bat in the place of the substituted defensive player, unless more than one substitution is made, and the manager then must designate their spots in the batting order.

A runner may be substituted for the Designated Hitter and the runner assumes the role of the Designated Hitter.

A Designated Hitter is "locked" into the batting order. No multiple substitutions may be made that will alter the batting rotation of the Designated Hitter.

Once the game pitcher is switched from the mound to a defensive position this move shall terminate the DH role for the remainder of the game. Once a pinch-hitter bats for any player in the batting order and then enters the game to pitch, this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.

Once a Designated Hitter assumes a defensive position this move shall terminate the Designated Hitter role for the remainder of the game.

[savage1]

Frank-thanks for your response and research.
If I read this correctly, it seems that then answer to my original question is no-the DH has to bat for the pitcher initially.

[frankb03]

They shouldn't give CC the seven years he wants----he's thrown too many innings.

This is laughable. We as fans have watched too much ESPN and been force fed so much BS. Generations ago pitchers routinely threw "too many innings". Throwing a complete game was common. There was no pitch count. When it relates to pitching baseball has become a joke.

How long does the fan have to watch minor league pitchers enter the game in the 7 or 8 inning only to blow the lead for the starter? Why? Because the start threw 100 pitchers.

[frankb03]

Bump cause a wise lil man was right on the money.

Once you get to that bullpen....

9 starts

8-0
1.60 ERA
69/15 K/BB
Opp BA .225
Complete games 5

[TheRook]

9 starts

8-0
1.60 ERA
69/15 K/BB
Opp BA .225
Complete games 5

And?

he's faced Houston, San Diego, Washington, atlanta, san francisco, cincinatti, colorado, st louis and chicago.

Only two of those teams have a winning record and of those he only beat St Louis. The Cubs got to CC and got to the bullpen which was my point. Result? Cubs win and Brewers loss.

I understand that you can't hand pick your opponents, but my point was clearly made. When you get to the bullpen, game on.

If they want to let him throw 130 pitches in a complete game blowout instead of resting him for his next start, so be it.
Let Yost string him out for the rest of August and September. That will do wonders for him arm when he's having to throw on three days rest in October in a short series.

He'll face Pittsburgh, San Diego and Cincinatti the next three starts if they keep the rotation current. Whoopie. He'll miss starts vs the Cardnals and Mets...two teams that they need to beat in order to maintain the wild card lead.

[wayne1218]

9 starts

8-0
1.60 ERA
69/15 K/BB
Opp BA .225
Complete games 5

UNREAL!!!

[wayne1218]

This is laughable. We as fans have watched too much ESPN and been force fed so much BS. Generations ago pitchers routinely threw "too many innings". Throwing a complete game was common. There was no pitch count. When it relates to pitching baseball has become a joke.

How long does the fan have to watch minor league pitchers enter the game in the 7 or 8 inning only to blow the lead for the starter? Why? Because the start threw 100 pitchers.

Yost said he will get 5 days before his next start and 6 days off after that one. He will be fine, i agree. That's why he let him throw 130 pitches and i don't blame Yost for doing it!

[GOLDENGREEK]

9 starts

8-0
1.60 ERA
69/15 K/BB
Opp BA .225
Complete games 5

Harden stats are equally impressive with the cubs -- he has had bad luck with no run support which affects his record

6 starts

2-1
1.80 ERA
49/14 K/BB = 12.60 K/9
WHIP 1.09
Opp BA .200

[GOLDENGREEK]

Yost said he will get 5 days before his next start and 6 days off after that one. He will be fine, i agree. That's why he let him throw 130 pitches and i don't blame Yost for doing it!

They obviously have no plans on re - signing him and are going to ride him like a whore. Might have a dead arm come playoff time tho.

[wayne1218]

Harden stats are equally impressive with the cubs -- he has had bad luck with no run support which affects his record

6 starts

2-1
1.80 ERA
49/14 K/BB = 12.60 K/9
WHIP 1.09
Opp BA .200

The BIG difference is one pitcher goes 5 or 6 innings and the other goes 8 or 9. Give me the "Horse" anyday but Harden is good!

[BillMill71]

And?

he's faced Houston, San Diego, Washington, atlanta, san francisco, cincinatti, colorado, st louis and chicago.

Only two of those teams have a winning record and of those he only beat St Louis. The Cubs got to CC and got to the bullpen which was my point. Result? Cubs win and Brewers loss.

I understand that you can't hand pick your opponents, but my point was clearly made. When you get to the bullpen, game on.

If they want to let him throw 130 pitches in a complete game blowout instead of resting him for his next start, so be it.
Let Yost string him out for the rest of August and September. That will do wonders for him arm when he's having to throw on three days rest in October in a short series.

He'll face Pittsburgh, San Diego and Cincinatti the next three starts if they keep the rotation current. Whoopie. He'll miss starts vs the Cardnals and Mets...two teams that they need to beat in order to maintain the wild card lead.

And Ryan Dempster this year has had:

Milw 3 times
Pitt 2 times
Cincy 3 times
Wash 1 time
Ari 1 time
San Diego 1 time
Hou 3 times
LAD 2 times (pre manny)
Atlanta 1 time
San Fran 2 times
Florida 2 times
Stl 1 time


So he faced come shit too. You can only pitch the games you are given as you said. And right now Milw needs every win they can get to get the wildcard no matter the opponent, and Sabathia has insured that when he pitches, they dont get to the bullpen and he wins the games, can't ask anymore of a pitcher. He is that damn good, so dont downplay his success in the NL

And Dempsters next three are against Washington, Philly and Houston. Whoopie.

FYI - For those Rangers fans longing for pitching, Dempster was taken in the 3rd round in 1995 by the Rangers

[wayne1218]

They obviously have no plans on re - signing him and are going to ride him like a whore. Might have a dead arm come playoff time tho.

I agree, but like i said, he will get 5 days off before his next start and 6 days off between starts after that. He is a horse and his arm will be rested after that nice back 2 back break.

[GOLDENGREEK]

The BIG difference is one pitcher goes 5 or 6 innings and the other goes 8 or 9. Give me the "Horse" anyday but Harden is good!

Thats the Cubs holding him to 5-6 innings because of his past injury problems. In his 11 starts with Oakland he went into the 7th and 8th a few times.

At some point they should strech his arm to get him ready for the playoffs.

[wayne1218]

Thats the Cibd holding him to 5-6 innings because of his past injury problems. In his 11 starts with Oakland he went into the 7th and 8th a few times

Being that "Fragile" is obviously another problem that the Cubs have and the Brewers don't though.

[wayne1218]

His pitch counts cost him too dino. He gets between 90-100 pitches through 5 innings in his starts. That isn't the Cubs pulling him back nearly as much as it is Harden Himself. The 2 times that he pitched 7 with the Cubs, he was well over 100 pitches. Don't be fooled by them holding Harden back, he is doing it to himself too!