Delicate Flower?

Phillies' reliever Pat Neshek has come under fire in the past few days for being unable to pitch in a game.  He's a side-armer/borderline submariner speciality reliever who can't always "go" even when he hasn't pitched much recently.

Phils' manager Gabe Kapler, when interviewed by 94.1 WIP's Angelo Cataldi this morning, said that it was his choice not to put Neshek in during a critical late-inning situation in which another less-bankable Phillies reliever coughed up the lead.  It was obvious to discerning listeners, however, that Kapler was covering for Neshek, and that Neshek had advised Kapler he couldn't go.  Why is that obvious?  Because no manager would ever not put the right guy in that spot unless the manager was told the pitcher couldn't do it.

Armchair baseball experts cried foul across the Delaware Valley.  C'mon, they screamed, we only needed him for one inning, and he hadn't pitched an inordinate amount of innings recently.  What's the big deal?

Newsflash:  The big deal is that we are dealing with a professional baseball player playing at the top of his game against the best hitters in the world.  We're dealing with strict game-day routines and off-day workouts that run like clockwork.  For whatever reason, Neshek knew something was off and he just couldn't pitch effectively.  And for him to have pushed himself in that situation, barely 1/4 of the way into a long season, would have been baseball malfeasance.

Another tidbit that factors in here:  the reason Neshek utilizes an awkward-looking sidearm throwing style is because of an arm injury he suffered in high school.  This is a guy that knows his body and knows how to bounce back from a serious injury effectively.  He's very likely also a guy that knows how to avoid future injuries, or at least minimize their likelihood.

When Neshek talks, we should listen.

And try to understand.