I'm an analyst too. I work with numbers all day. I love sabermetrics and baseball analytics. But, you also need to have a feel for the game too. Baldelli does not. He's far too analytics driven. Tom Kelly kept Jack Morris in Game 7 of the '91 World Series, despite everyone (even back then) saying that 10 innings for a pitcher is insane. He was ready to pull him and Jack Morris talked him out of it. Kelly then made a gut decision. His head was in the game, not a spreadsheet. The data can tell you that the odds are better if you make a switch, but every situation is unique and different.
Far too many managers these days pop up off the bench and spring out of the dugout like they've been shot out of a cannon once a pitcher throws his 100th pitch. It's annoying. Especially when they bring a reliever in who blows the lead.
I have heard John Smoltz makes this point multiple times, when you have too many relivers in the game, you're banking on ALL of them being on their game on that particular night. Not just one or two. He's right.
Nolan Ryan's philosophy was that you could take him out of the game if there was someone better to come in.
Obviously the game has changed and pitchers don't throw 30 complete games in a season, or 10, or 300 innings, or 250; but a starting pitcher can throw 200 innings. They don't turn into a pumpkin once they throw their 101st pitch in a game. A pitcher can work out of a jam. They're just not given the chance too anymore.
I'd rather have Sony Gray work out of his own jam than Emilo Pagan,