Thursday, August 18, 2005
TO: Tony La Russa
FROM: bellyscratcher
RE: Jason Marquis
Dear Mr. La Russa:
May I suggest that the next time you want to send Mr. Marquis out to pitch the 8th inning you don't actually do it? I understand you want to get the guy a win, and with an 12 game lead the team is afforded certain luxuries. However, by allowing Mr. Marquis to continually pitch when even we television viewers can tell he's done does both him and the team a disservice. Tonight may not be the best example, but we all know he has a delicate head. When he didn't get the third strike call-the meltdown was coming. You knew it, Mr. Marquis knew it, we all knew it.
Everyone has been frustrated by Mr. Marquis for a while now. But my frustration is turning into sympathy. No matter how well he pitches, Mr. Marquis cannot get a win. I know that Mr. Dave Duncan and yourself have also been frustrated with Mr. Marquis' seeming bull-headedness. Getting away from the game plan may be a symptom of a larger issue. For some reason he hasn't wanted to throw his best pitch when he should. Which, in turn, has lead to the current downward spiral. Something you have excelled at is putting your players in a position to succeed. I don't know if that is the case any longer with Mr. Marquis. I am afraid your eagerness to have him win a game, any game, is compromising that instinct.
You have a boatload of wins as a manager, so you probably aren't going to be taking advice from a girl with a blog. Even the Reds don't listen to me. I'm confident you have Mr. Marquis' best interests at heart, but perhaps, for his next couple of starts, Mr. Marquis only pitches six innings no matter how well he's doing. He might be happier giving up three runs in six rather than six in eight, win or not. Just something you might want to think about.
Sincerely,
bellyscratcher
RE: Jason Marquis
Dear Mr. La Russa:
May I suggest that the next time you want to send Mr. Marquis out to pitch the 8th inning you don't actually do it? I understand you want to get the guy a win, and with an 12 game lead the team is afforded certain luxuries. However, by allowing Mr. Marquis to continually pitch when even we television viewers can tell he's done does both him and the team a disservice. Tonight may not be the best example, but we all know he has a delicate head. When he didn't get the third strike call-the meltdown was coming. You knew it, Mr. Marquis knew it, we all knew it.
Everyone has been frustrated by Mr. Marquis for a while now. But my frustration is turning into sympathy. No matter how well he pitches, Mr. Marquis cannot get a win. I know that Mr. Dave Duncan and yourself have also been frustrated with Mr. Marquis' seeming bull-headedness. Getting away from the game plan may be a symptom of a larger issue. For some reason he hasn't wanted to throw his best pitch when he should. Which, in turn, has lead to the current downward spiral. Something you have excelled at is putting your players in a position to succeed. I don't know if that is the case any longer with Mr. Marquis. I am afraid your eagerness to have him win a game, any game, is compromising that instinct.
You have a boatload of wins as a manager, so you probably aren't going to be taking advice from a girl with a blog. Even the Reds don't listen to me. I'm confident you have Mr. Marquis' best interests at heart, but perhaps, for his next couple of starts, Mr. Marquis only pitches six innings no matter how well he's doing. He might be happier giving up three runs in six rather than six in eight, win or not. Just something you might want to think about.
Sincerely,
bellyscratcher
