How would you handle these in-game situations?

Game 1: Toronto at Atlanta

1) Two outs, bottom of the fifth inning, visiting Blue Jays lead, 4-3. The Braves have loaded the bases, but starting pitcher Tim Hudson is due up. He has thrown 95 pitches and allowed the four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks over five innings, striking out two. In his last inning, he allowed a single but nothing else. All of Atlanta's pinch-hitters are available.

Question: Do you pinch-hit?

I say: Yes. Even if he stays in to pitch a good sixth inning, Hudson probably has thrown too many pitches in a somewhat rocky outing to get through the seventh. And that good sixth inning is no lock. So the odds are against you getting much value for leaving him in. Even though your pinch-hitter will get out two times out of three, even though the Braves bullpen is hardly invulnerable, it's worth the risk to push the runs across -- because there's a decent chance you'll have to go to the bullpen soon enough anyway.

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2) Both starting pitchers are long gone, and Toronto now leads Atlanta, 8-7, in the bottom of the eighth. The heart of the order is due up for the Braves: Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Adam LaRoche. The Blue Jays pinch-hit for their pitcher in the top of the inning, so they have to bring in a new reliever. Neither setup man Justin Speier nor closer B.J. Ryan have been used.

Question: Who should be warmed up and ready to pitch for Toronto?

I say: Ryan. Though he is nominally the closer, the Blue Jays should break modern convention and use their most dominating reliever in the toughest spot of the game. Even (or especially) if Ryan can only go one inning, facing the heart of the order is the real pressure situation. It will be easier for a secondary reliever like Speier to face the bottom of the Atlanta order in the ninth inning.

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Game 2: Houston at San Diego

1) Roy Oswalt has a one-hitter going for the Astros with 12 strikeouts, but they've only given him a slim 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Oswalt walks the Padres' Dave Roberts and Mike Cameron -- Oswalt's fourth and fifth walks of the game. His pitch count is now at 115. Brian Giles and Mike Piazza are due to bat.

Question: Do you relieve Oswalt?

I say: I hate to pull a pitcher when he's nearly got a no-no on the go-go, and Oswalt's pitch count isn't quite at the limit. But the whole situation is too close for comfort. My guess is that a fresh reliever is going to be more effective than a tired starter in this situation, so I'm coming with the hook. (I get the feeling Roy's not gonna be happy, though.)

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2) Whatever we decided, it backfired. San Diego scored twice to take a 2-1 lead into the ninth. Longtime closer Trevor Hoffman comes in for the save, but Hell's Bells aren't chiming quite so loudly, because in this scenario, the 38-year-old Hoffman has been shaky for the past two weeks. You take the precaution of warming up Scott Cassidy, who has been on fire almost all season in a setup role. Before you know it, Hoffman has loaded the bases with nobody out.

Question: Do you pull Hoffman?

I say: I'm antsy about this one. Not that Hoffman hasn't blown saves before, but if I'm going to remove the guy who has been the Padres' best reliever for years, who has stared down situations like this for so long, I have to believe that Hoffman is nearing the end of the line. I think I owe Hoffman a conversation in advance to explain the possibility that this kind of move will be made. Since I'm going on the assumption that I haven't had that tête-à-tête, I'm going to leave Hoffman in. But if he blows the lead, we'll have to talk.

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Game 3: Cleveland at Texas

1) Indians starter C.C. Sabathia is already trailing, 3-1, in the fifth inning when he gets into further trouble. While capable Cleveland reliever Jason Davis warms up alongside mop-up man Fausto Carmona, Hank Blalock hits a grand slam to power the Rangers to a 7-1 lead with none out. Sadly, you go to the mound to get Sabathia. But before you do, you have to decide whether to practically concede the game and bring in Carmona, or not-yet-say-die and go for Davis.

Question: Is it mop-up time?

I say: Stick with the better pitcher. Unless you're in a situation where your bullpen is exhausted and your team is truly decrepit offensively, you should give yourself a little more time to get back in the game. Four innings is plenty to score six runs in Arlington. If it's still 7-1 (or worse) in the seventh inning or so, then it makes more sense to go to the mop-up man. Unless your long reliever is really going to pitch four-plus innings, it's too soon to give up.

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2) Guess what? Sometimes faith does pay off. The Indians got their rally caps working and now trail by only an 8-6 score. However, in the top of the eighth, Texas reliever Ron Mahay retires Cleveland in order on only seven pitches, not even breaking a sweat. The Rangers go scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, meaning there's a save situation available in the ninth for closer Akinori Otsuka.

Question: Do you replace Mahay with Otsuka?

I say: Nah. Maybe you have Otsuka warmed up, but in a sense, you've gotten a free inning from a setup man. There's no reason to pull him just because The Closer Ethic tells you to.

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