What is the term Hook mean for pitchers?

twins_34 · 01-11-2021, 02:04 AM

Ok, this term just is over my head. When I try to look it up it seems to mean, when a manager removes a pitcher from the game? However, I dont know what the sliders mean for Fast and Slow under pitching strategy.

can someone give me a quick run down this means? How it can be used in helping minor league pitchers in their development? I am going to guess it does not matter much for my MLB team because I run how pitchers are used, but guess I would understand what its all about.

TIA!

Bluenoser · 01-11-2021, 06:23 AM

Fast = Manager who is quick to pull a pitcher. Doesn't usually give them much chance, soon as they show a sign of struggling he'll pull him.

Slow = Manager gives pitcher much more leeway. Slower to pull a pitcher, will give him a chance to work through tough spots.

thehef · 01-11-2021, 06:28 AM

Yep, giving a pitcher "the hook" means removing him from the game. It's usually used when a struggling pitching is removed in the middle of inning, but not always. It's not typically used when a pitcher is removed via pinch-hitter.

The sliders: A fast hook means a manager is more-likely to remove a pitcher; a slow hook means he's less likely to remove a pitcher. With a slow hook a pitcher will get a little more leeway to get out of a jam (or remain the game instead of being pinch-hit for), whereas a fast hook means the opposite.

I can't speak to how these work with development.

Note that "the hook" also can refer to a curveball. For example, "He started him off with two heaters for strikes, then got him with the hook."

RchW · 01-11-2021, 10:12 AM

Just a side item; Sparky Anderson was called Captain hook for his propensity for taking pitchers out quickly even back in the 1970's when complete games were far more common.

thehef · 01-11-2021, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Just a side item; Sparky Anderson was called Captain hook for his propensity for taking pitchers out quickly even back in the 1970's when complete games were far more common.

Sparky's 70's Reds teams were always stocked with solid relievers: Clay Carroll, Wayne Granger, Don Gullett (before he became an injury-plagued starter), Tom Hall, Pedro Borbon, Will McEnaney, Rawly Eastwick, Doug Bair...

They were last in the NL in CG's in '71, '72, '75, '78, and typically near the bottom in other years.

In complete contrast to his frequent use of his 'pen, Sparky was the opposite with his lineup. In The Big Red Machine's 1975-76 double-championship run:

1975 LCS: Zero lineup changes, including batting order; no substitutes or pinch-hitters except for the pitchers
1975 WS: Used three lineups (involving where Griffey, Bench, Morgan & Perez would bat, but always the same starting 8); one pinch-hit occurrence for a position player (Rettenmund batted for Griffey against a lefty - Moret - in the bottom of the ninth of game 3: the inning of the Armbrister/Barnett controversy).
In the entire 1975 postseason (10 games), no position player other than the starting eight appeared in the field.

1976 LCS: Used two lineups, with the only difference being who batted 7 & 8 between Concepcion & Geronimo, depending up on the handedness of the starting pitcher. One position player substitution, where Doug Flynn relieved Joe Morgan at 2B as part of double-switch with the pitcher in game 1.
1976 WS: Exact same lineup, all four games. No substitions for position players, no bench players used (thanks to the DH).

twins_34 · 01-11-2021, 05:05 PM

Ok thanks!

I would say then I am really slow in my hook as a gm/manager lol If my SP gets knocked around for 3 runs early, I try and pitch through the inning over pulling him. The hope my bats can catch back up!

Brad K · 01-12-2021, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twins_34

Ok thanks!

I would say then I am really slow in my hook as a gm/manager lol If my SP gets knocked around for 3 runs early, I try and pitch through the inning over pulling him. The hope my bats can catch back up!

I'd say that isn't slow for most eras.

01-11-2021, 02:04 AM	#1
twins_34 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa Posts: 2,039	What is the term Hook mean for pitchers? Ok, this term just is over my head. When I try to look it up it seems to mean, when a manager removes a pitcher from the game? However, I dont know what the sliders mean for Fast and Slow under pitching strategy. can someone give me a quick run down this means? How it can be used in helping minor league pitchers in their development? I am going to guess it does not matter much for my MLB team because I run how pitchers are used, but guess I would understand what its all about. TIA!

01-11-2021, 10:12 AM	#4
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Just a side item; Sparky Anderson was called Captain hook for his propensity for taking pitchers out quickly even back in the 1970's when complete games were far more common. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

01-11-2021, 06:23 AM	#2
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,093	Fast = Manager who is quick to pull a pitcher. Doesn't usually give them much chance, soon as they show a sign of struggling he'll pull him. Slow = Manager gives pitcher much more leeway. Slower to pull a pitcher, will give him a chance to work through tough spots.

01-11-2021, 06:28 AM	#3
thehef Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,344	Yep, giving a pitcher "the hook" means removing him from the game. It's usually used when a struggling pitching is removed in the middle of inning, but not always. It's not typically used when a pitcher is removed via pinch-hitter. The sliders: A fast hook means a manager is more-likely to remove a pitcher; a slow hook means he's less likely to remove a pitcher. With a slow hook a pitcher will get a little more leeway to get out of a jam (or remain the game instead of being pinch-hit for), whereas a fast hook means the opposite. I can't speak to how these work with development. Note that "the hook" also can refer to a curveball. For example, "He started him off with two heaters for strikes, then got him with the hook."

01-11-2021, 05:05 PM	#6
twins_34 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa Posts: 2,039	Ok thanks! I would say then I am really slow in my hook as a gm/manager lol If my SP gets knocked around for 3 runs early, I try and pitch through the inning over pulling him. The hope my bats can catch back up!