Have visits to the mound become harbingers of doom?

[RU Rah Rah]

This came up in the IGT last night, when Bush surrendered a gopher ball to Luke Scott in the fifth inning right after a visit to the mound from Maddux (or was it Ned?). Several of us remarked that this seems to be a disturbing trend this year.

 

My questions would be:

 

1.) Has this really happened more often than normal this year? I seem to remember it happening at least a half-dozen times, but it's possible that my memory is distorting things.

 

2.) Given that mound visits often happen in tight situations (runners on base, pitcher tiring, etc.), could it be possible that that we might naturally expect them to be followed by game-changing results?

 

3.) Could it be that Maddux/Ned are proffering bad advice in these situations?

[JohnBriggs12]

This "trend" has been going on for some time. I remember back when Matt Kinney pitched for Brewers. It was uncanny. Every visit by Maddux almost immediately resulted in a HR. A grand slam by Cliff Floyd comes to mind while he was a Met.

 

This year I haven't kept count but a bunch of HR have followed Maddux visits. Often on the very next pitch. Yost has gotten into the act a few times this year. My guess is Maddux says "trust your stuff", they do and well so much for trusting your stuff.

[rluzinski]

It seems like Yost and Maddux is always telling their pitchers to stop nibbling and throw a strike. Of course, to maximize the chance of a pitch being a strike, the pitcher has to basically throw a fastball down the middle.

 

I've never been a big fan of mound visits to begin with. Why not just allow plate visits as well? Maybe Yost can explain the finer points of hitting to Prince, after he works the count to 2-2. What's the darn difference?

[Fatter than Joey]

I've never been a big fan of mound visits to begin with. Why not just allow plate visits as well?

 

I suppose the difference is a batter is not going to get tired in an AB

[rluzinski]

I have no problem with a manager jogging out to find out if a pitcher is fatigued.

[AdvantageSchneider]

Or to review a scouting report.

[rluzinski]

I have no problem with a manager jogging out to find out if a pitcher is fatigued.

 

Or to review a scouting report.

 

And here I thought my preference was for managers to limit their mound visits to discussing a pitcher's level of fatigue. Thanks for clearing that up. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif