MovieChat Forums > Major League (1989) Discussion > Pitching rotation issue

Pitching rotation issue

posted 7 years ago by CthulhuWept
5 replies | jump to latest

Watching baseball in recent years, I can't help but wonder about the scene on the bus when Lou tells Vaughn that he's starting a different guy against New York. I guess it's supposed to be a let-down or something? Honestly, though, why would it matter? They play series of games, not one-offs. If Vaughn didn't start the first game in the series, he'd start the second, right? And wouldn't Vaughn already know the rotation? Isn't the rotation set for a purpose, that of keeping the pitchers rested?

And why is that game against New York so important? Again, they play series of games, right? The movie made it seem like this was the FINAL GAME, but it was the first game that they played after getting to New York, which would imply that there would be at least one more after it.

Maybe I'm getting some details messed up, though. I guess it's possible that there are one-game "play-in" series. Can anyone elaborate?

[–] RTF2451 7 years ago

There was a day and age before wildcard games etc. where the team with the best record in each league would play the World Series. Since, in the movie they end the season tied, it was a one game play-in game

[–] CthulhuWept 7 years ago

Okay, that makes sense in regards to the number of games. But it leaves the rotation question open. Wouldn't the rotation schedule still have been known, prior to the bus trip on the way to the game?

And if the other guy wasn't always the intended starter for that game, does that mean he was put into that role out of rotation, thereby denying him a proper rest period? That seems to be more important than his experience against the Yankees.

Also, why does it matter about Vaughn not starting against New York? Isn't he a closer? So, wouldn't he already know he's not starting?

[–] skeetchtvs 7 years ago

Vaughn was a starting pitcher for them, Lou says it's Vaughn's turn in the rotation but made a call to start Harris instead because of Vaughn's struggles with the Yankees he went with someone else.

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 6 years ago

The Indians and Yankees were tied at the end of the regular season. Only one team could be the AL East Champion and move on to the playoffs. So in the rare situations where this happened, they had a 1 game playoff, with the winner going to the playoffs, and the loser being done for the season. So as a coach you would want to start the pitcher who gave you the best chance to win that game.

While Vaughn may have been the better pitcher, and it was his turn in the rotation, he had struggled every time he faced the Yankees, and he was a young guy who could have gotten rattled by being in such a big spot. So he chose to go with the veteran Harris for the start.

[–] Adster (262) 6 years ago

I was thinking the same thing last night, what in real life the entire rotation would have been screwed up, if it was Vaughns turn and they went with someone else that means he would not have had much Rest it's usually 5 days rest or 4 days rest in the playoffs.