How A.J. Hinch approaches a bullpen game - Houston Chronicle

A bullpen game with a chance to go to the World Series ostensibly would be the perfect showcase for A.J. Hinch to show off his managerial skills.

However, the Astros’ skipper had one word for the situation he faced in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park: “Miserable.”

“I love when (Justin Verlander) or Gerrit (Cole) goes out there and throws nine scoreless,” Hinch said. “Those are the fun ones.

“(A bullpen game) more entertaining and more agonizing with our decisions. … Every decision is going to be scrutinized, and based on the results, trust me, I'm going to scrutinize myself before (media) have a chance or any fans. It's crazy. It's thinking we're in the Game 6 of the ALCS and we're going to have upwards of double-digit number of pitchers pitching in a game of such magnitude. Welcome to 2019.”

The Astros, pioneers as they are in many aspects of the modern game, aren’t regular practitioners when it comes to bullpen games. They’ve had their share during the season, sending relievers Chris Devenski, Josh James and Hector Rondon out as “openers” for a game apiece. And then there were the subpar starts from bottom-of-the-rotation arms that morphed into bullpen games.

“Strategically, it's become a little bit more in vogue and teams like to use it,” Hinch said. “We just went through a whole (division) series against Tampa where they've done it. I know Oakland did it in a wild card game against the Yankees last year. It's just part of baseball now as an option.

“But the way the series has gone for both teams, the rainout, the decisions, it's kind of led to this more than I think us and the Yankees racing to it. It's kind of evolved that way.”

Hinch deployed righthander Brad Peacock, who’s worked out of the bullpen and rotation during his Astros tenure, to start Saturday. Meanwhile, the Yankees went with righty Chad Green, who made 15 starts during the regular season — but never went longer than two innings in any of them.

Facing a steady procession of different pitchers is something the Astros are more than familiar with. In the five-game division series, the Rays made 26 pitching changes — including eight in Game 5.

“You know what's weird? It's facing a different pitcher every time you step in the box,” shortstop Carlos Correa said. “We're used to two or three times seeing the same pitcher, especially in the playoffs.

“With Tampa we felt like every day was a bullpen day. So we're kind of used to it."

While Hinch acknowledged the misery he faced with the questions a bullpen day brings, he also seemed to relish the uncertainty of Game 6.

“As much as you can script them and match them out, I have no idea,” Hinch said. “I love that I have no idea. I think that's part of the challenge game today is going to be how and when to read the moves that are being made and the targets that you want certain guys to face certain guys.

“I think anything that we say now, including me and (Yankees manager Aaron Boone), is going to be a guess. We don't know until the moment of what we're going to actually do. You've got to read the game, especially in a bullpen game like this on kind of what you're seeing and what your information is telling you on how to match up with these guys.“So it's entertaining. It's curious. It's going to build a lot of drama.”

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How A.J. Hinch approaches a bullpen game - Houston Chronicle
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