Jake Malloy - 1930's Manager Jake Malloy - AIM Manager for the 1930s. The '30s saw a fundamental change occur in baseball, going from the offensive juggernauts of the early years of the decade to a more pitching dominanted game by the later years. Because these changes Malloy adjusts many of his strategies based on the general "style" of play of the team he is managing. This is manifested particularly in his use of the bullpen where many stars or quality pitchers were used in dual roles - as starters who would go quite long in games and as what we now call "closers" or relief pitchers who would enter games late in critical situations. Additionally, Malloy alters his pitching changes based on the pitching staff he is managing, alterations that are generally determined by the total relief appearances of the team he is using. This "team adjustment" definition is taken into account (along with other factors) in determining how quickly to pull pitchers. Two critical factors on a replayers part must be included, then, in this area. One, it's not advisable (or needed) to bench starting pitchers. Malloy will keep one rested starting pitcher from being used except in emergencies OR, most important, in critical situations late when ahead. In those latter situations, particularly against strong hitting lineups, Malloy will bring in a key starting pitcher to quell a rally. This is usually only done in the ninth or later with the tying runs on base and more than one out. In other words, very limited. However, if you absolutely want to make sure a starter is not used, you MUST bench him before the game begins. Second, it's not wise, although not critical, to carry more than 12-14 pitchers on a team. Because Malloy calculates the total relief appearances of the team he is managing and then uses that measure (in part) in making relief changes, carrying more than a dozen or so pitchers may lead to a quicker hook than was used historically. If, however, pitchers 12-14+ only had a handful of appearances (less than 10 or so), this shouldn't affect his decisions. Malloy is programmed, then, to manage a variety of teams over the ten year period. He is keyed to recognize the types of teams he is assigned to and alter his strategies accordingly. So, he does not have one set style of management; instead, he has a number of styles contingent upon the type of roster he is assigned to handle. He does, however, have several basic strategies that apply not matter what team he is assigned to manage.. These include:: 1) Limited blowout substitution strategy. This strategy is directly related to the game margin. In heavy blowouts or routs, for example, he will be more willing to sub for star players, especially if the substitute is "itchy." In "closer" lopsided games, he will tend to only take out superstar-type players. 2) Keeping bench balanced. Malloy will NOT substitute offensively for any of the three key positions - catcher, 2B, or SS - UNLESS it's the ninth and later and his team is losing OR his team has at least one other player who can play the key position being replaced (this excludes the current player IF he plays one of the positions). 3) Malloy will, as was done historically, use pitchers as pinchhitters or pinchrunners. This is especially true, for example, in his use of Red Lucas and Red Ruffing, probably the two greatest hitting pitchers in major league history.
Notes: -
Uses the majority of his bench, but not for many games, mainly to pinch hit/run. |