Week ALE ALC ALW NLE NLC NLWThe competition in the NL West is absolutely brutal (see above), and you have to just win the games you can win, and not worry about the rest. This past week Jake Peavy made a start on 3 days rest, but for Ed Whitson's sake, why?!!?
2007-09-09 8 -8 22 -5 -47 30
Sure, Arizona had taken the previous game and would take the division lead with a win on Wednesday, but that single game would hardly make or break the Padres' playoff chances, so there's no need for Peavy to even try to be heroic. I could understand if pitching Peavy on Wednesday would allow Bud Black to slate him in for an extra start by the season's end, but looking ahead, that can't happen. Jack Cassel pitched all right in his previous start, so it's not like Stauffer or Hensley would have to be out on the mound. Saving Peavy for Friday gives him, Maddux, and Germano good rest for the weekend series against Colorado and Chris Young a full week between starts (not to mention the luxury of pitching at Dodger stadium instead of Coors and against a weaker lineup**), and gives you the best chance to win the games you can win. Squeezing Peavy in against a team you're tied with when there are 20 games left is a little panicky.
There's a little bit of hindsight here, because I'm writing after the disastrous weekend results, but that's how I felt on Tuesday -- I just don't like modern pitchers working on 3 days rest without a good reason.
** Young was looking a little healthier in the game against the Rockies than in his previous two starts; here's hoping he's good to go for the playoffs
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