What about this?

[yvesdereuter]

Re: What about this?

I see what you mean now. But what's the point in switching it up? Why not carry the same amount of relievers that you carry now? You don't need that many bench guys. Why have a guy start for only 1 inning? In my opinion it's pretty much wasted effort. How does this help you win games?

Because as it is now, your relievers coming in is predicated on the starters ability to make it out of the 6th or 7th inning. So his role is driven by an uncertainty whereas, if you were to take your middle reliever or first line of relievers and pitch them at the beginning of the game, youd have more control of the consistency and quality of the performance throughout the game...in theory. But you need to find guys who are well suited to pitch in the first inning just like you need to find a pitcher who is well suited to close. Someone correctly pointed out that the status quo provides flexibility in those middle innings but to a degree that need for flexibility could be elminiated by further defining roles and having designated pitchers open the game. Do you follow what Im saying? I hope thats clear.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: What about this?

Because as it is now, your relievers coming in is predicated on the starters ability to make it out of the 6th or 7th inning. So his role is driven by an uncertainty whereas, if you were to take your middle reliever or first line of relievers and pitch them at the beginning of the game, youd have more control of the consistency and quality of the performance throughout the game...in theory. But you need to find guys who are well suited to pitch in the first inning just like you need to find a pitcher who is well suited to close. Someone correctly pointed out that the status quo provides flexibility in those middle innings but to a degree that need for flexibility could be elminiated by further defining roles and having designated pitchers open the game. Do you follow what Im saying? I hope thats clear.

Yeah I get it now. Makes sense but I prefer the current way of having a starting pitcher start the game and have the relievers come in based on how the starter does. I also like the current way because it makes it that much more exciting when someone throws a no-hitter or complete game.

[dkgojackets]

Re: What about this?

I think another aspect has to do with batters improving the more they see a pitcher. You would rather have to make the decision to let your "starter" face a guy for the third time or go to the pen in the sixth instead of the eighth because you have more time to recover in case the other team ends up scoring some, which is more likely to happen against a starter in the long run.

I like this type of thinking though. Ive been wondering before about an all relief staff, 13 guys that can give you an inning or two every game.

[fugazi]

Re: What about this?

I have wondered more about the ideas of "pairs" of pitchers...one guy (ideally) would pitch until the 5th, the other goes for the last 4 innings...completely different styles, deliveries, arms...

A guy like Marmol could probably be relatively dominant over 3 innings, and instead of pitching every other day for 1-1.5 innings, he would pitch 3-4 every 3-4 days...