Manage this (with a bow to Francis 7) .

No idea, but I love the new avatar.

Door #2.  Always put your best team and effort forward first then figure the rest out later...in other words, always manage your team/situation from a position of strength if possible.

And, 2 is my favorite number.

Pitching - My starting pitching would be 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1. The idea would be to have the rotation set for 3, 2, 1 going in the playoffs. I'd also work in my mid relievers and closer during the games leading into the playoff.

Lineup - Standard (A) line up for all games.

@fenwaysouth ding-ding-ding door 2 was correct

Play one game at a time and win each one with the best available option you have. After all, I seriously doubt anyone on a 3 to 4 man pitching roster will be over used in a 7 game season. 

On a side-note, I would make sure if I had a legit standout number 1 stud he would be ready for game 1 of the single-elimination playoff. I have never liked the feeling of rolling the dice when it is lose and go home. Depending on the time between games and tournament format, he might be rested enough to pitch another game later down the line, but we'll figure that out when the time comes. Have to win 1st for that to even be an option.   

Not roster related, but consider having senior night the first game (just in case) - make sure those two kids and their families have their moment, even if everything falls apart. So many kids never got a senior night last year.

OT, but I started the thread, so there's that.

As you might imagine, JCG, there are plenty more pics where that one came from.  Ten years old next month and now for some inexplicable reason when I ask her if she wants to eat, she shakes and twists her head around like Linda Blair, and then hops up and down like she's on a trampoline. Very, very weird

@Fan2024 posted:

Not roster related, but consider having senior night the first game (just in case) - make sure those two kids and their families have their moment, even if everything falls apart. So many kids never got a senior night last year.

This is an awesome thought. Thanks.

@smokeminside posted:

OT, but I started the thread, so there's that.

As you might imagine, JCG, there are plenty more pics where that one came from.  Ten years old next month and now for some inexplicable reason when I ask her if she wants to eat, she shakes and twists her head around like Linda Blair, and then hops up and down like she's on a trampoline. Very, very weird

I observed and commented to my daughter when she gets home from work she appears more excited to see the dog than her husband. She commented if her husband ran to the door, got excited and wiggled his arse she would be more excited to see him.

This point of view might go against the grain... Team & Fun > Winning... IF I was the HS coach with a 7 game season I'd make it my goal to preach to the boys that with this shortened season our top 2 goals are #1) Development of everyone (in our limited time) and #2) Have FUN while being good teammates.

I love the suggestion of having Sr. Day game #1.  I'd do that and start all Seniors and have them play the first 4 innings regardless of where they are on the depth chart.

I'd attempt to spread out playing time for the 7 games prior to the tourney.   Hopefully this would keep everyone engaged and build team unity while keeping all returning players (and families) excited for future years.

Assuming 7 Inning games I'd create a depth chart at least 3 deep at all positions and let the kids know where they're at on your depth chart.  I'd also communicate clearly that all of the top 3 level's will get some playing time.  Then I'd play my # 1's for the first 4 innings of all 7 games and then sub in the #2 & #3's will get the final 3 innings of each game.  I'd rotate my #2's & #3's (#2's play 4 games & #3's play 3 games) on the roster just to give them opportunities to play (and maybe even climb the ladder throughout the 7 games if they get hot).  IF no changes are made in the depth chart as the season progresses then the #1's would have played around 28 innings, #2's would have played around 12 innings & #3's played around 9 innings.

My pitching rotations: I'd identify my starters and have them try to make it the first 4 innings and then rotate relievers in for the final 3 innings (regardless of the score).  Again my objective would be to get them some innings and hopefully build some confidence.  I'd just make sure my #1 was available to start game 1 for the tourney and my top 2 relievers would be ready to go.

As the 7 game season goes on you can try to manage your top starting pitchers to face the better competition you think you will see.  You could also cherry pick your hardest 4 games and use these games for your #2 position players... This is a double edge sword because sometime pitching/playing against a lesser opponent will help build confidence (vs getting beat up if things don't go your way).

Finally for the single elimination game tourney I'd play to win and play all available # 1's the whole game and let the #1 pitcher go as long as he's dealing and within pitch count limits.  Again - I'd communicate this clearly to the players before the tourney starts.

1 would throw every game he can throw against the best competition.  2 would throw against the next best competition.  3 and 4 would get mop up duty and live pitching against batters during the week.  But it also depends if your 1 and 2 can throw complete ballgames then it would be 1 starts 2 finishes and them 2 starts and 3 finishes as many as possible.

I would keep in mind that, to a typical HS player, the season does NOT mean nothing.  To him, next year is an eternity away and not even on the radar at this point.  I would try to keep this season as much like a regular season as possible in every sense - just fewer games.

keep in mind that smoke's school won the last state championship and is a perennial powerhouse across the board, so "just go have fun" isn't in the DNA. 

I'd play matchups.  there isn't unlimited talent in the league (even though it's pretty  deep,, as HS's go), so pick your spots.  there's a couple of cupcakes on the schedule (relatively speaking...they're still usually pretty ok) so that's where you develop the inexperienced guys.  that football school is pretty loaded on the diamond and they have some pretty good arms so i'd make sure #! was ready to go against them. those guys on the hill are usually good, too, and they can swing it (don't now about their arms this year).  ideally, you don't get two tough teams back to back, i guess.

schedule is key here.  who do you play and when.  As long as #1, 2 and 3 are fresh and ready to go against those canal rats.

full disclosure, smoke's son plays at my alma mater and, between friends and family in and around the program, i tend to keep up with the current state of baseball there.

@JCG posted:

No idea, but I love the new avatar.

I dunno JCG. I found the old one soothing and made me forget momentarily about being in cold New England.

@Ripken Fan posted:

I dunno JCG. I found the old one soothing and made me forget momentarily about being in cold New England.

Hmmm... oddly enough, it’s (relatively) frigid in SoCal today. Maybe my wife and I will spend our morning walk discussing which we would rather do - take a two week vacation in Hawaii, or adopt a Golden Retriever.  Tough call!