The Pirates had the day off yesterday. It makes you wonder what they do on this off day. I have never read this any where but do they go through a rigorous day of practice. Do they take prolonged batting and fielding practice? Do they do 4 to 5 hours of base running drills. Maybe they play a secret baseball game where they bet a lot of their own money. Now I know they have to travel. This time they are only going to Cincinnati. Why am I curious about this?
I have not heard this yet during the early part of this season. I admit I try to listen to the Pirate broadcast booth as little as possible so I might have missed it. In previous seasons including last season the Pirates would announce that they were giving a certain player a “scheduled” day off. It is one of their main players like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds Oneil Cruz or Andrew McCutchen. My first question would be when do they schedule this. Do the Pirate “brain trust” sit down at the beginning of the season or the beginning of the month, take a look at the games and write down so and so is not playing that day. We don’t care who the other team is pitching or how hot this player is at the time. He is not playing that day by God. You have to figure it is at least two weeks in advance if it is scheduled. You have to wonder, do they tell the player in advance. It’s like really play your ass off these 3 games because the next game we scheduled you for a rest.
In my view you only give a player a break for a few reasons. Rest a nagging but minor injury. You could use the team day off as one of the days. In other words rest him a game before the day off and a game after for a nice 3 day rest with only 2 games being missed. Resting a player for a game or two can help bring some players out of a slump. Sometimes you may have a bench player who has a really good record against a certain pitcher. You may start him that day over your regular. I really have no clue as to why a player who is under 34 years old would need or want a scheduled day off. I know it is a long and sometimes grueling season, but there are days off. The Pirates have had the last two Thursdays off. It would be different if the 162 game season was played in 162 days. But it is not. It is far from it. I don’t know if other teams do this rest thing. I do know the Pirates do this. Just another reason to say, “What are they thinking?” Who knows, only The Shadow Shelton knows.
One final note, I will be in San Diego through April 18th. The morning report will be a later morning report. One of the many great things about spending time in San Diego is I will get to watch Padre games. The pleasure is getting to listen to the Padre broadcast booth. They are one of the best in baseball, a pure joy. It gives me that brief respite from one of the worst broadcast booths.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 