The 4 Man Rotation

[SPTO]

Will we ever see it again?

Here's a post from the NLDS thread that really got me going.

While I am obviously happy with how everything has gone so far, I've gained a TON of respect for CC with what he has done the past month plus. To see a guy take the ball on 3 days rest 4 times in a row and potentially put his health/career in danger....just months before hitting the free agent market? All for a team he knows he's not going to be with next year? I'm sorry but that's awesome...and refreshing to see.

Wow I didn't know Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jim Palmer et al, etc etc were all putting their healths at risk!

It's amazing they still have their arms today!!

(/end sarcasm)

Sorry I just laugh at the whole "omg this guy is so great for pitching on 3 days rest BS". There's a lot of managers out there who would love to go back to a 4 man rotation but because pitchers are paid so much money teams wouldn't allow it to happen.

We've seen this year in the regular season and playoffs some pitchers working on 3 days rest and amazingly they didn't suddenly fall down to injury. I happen to think that pitchers are babied way too much these days what with pitch counts and having to rest every 4 days. The guys from the '60s to late '80s didn't constantly go down with injuries the way they are today.

In fact, I heard that Dr. James Andrews (the main doctor to deal with arm problems in MLB) has recently stated that the amount of TJ surgeries and other arm related problems are at an epidemic scale nowadays. It can't be all bad luck can it? I mean maybe the coddling of pitchers has actually proven to be a negative rather then a positive.

Your opinions please.

[btown12]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Will we ever see it again?

Here's a post from the NLDS thread that really got me going.



Wow I didn't know Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jim Palmer et al, etc etc were all putting their healths at risk!

It's amazing they still have their arms today!!

(/end sarcasm)

Sorry I just laugh at the whole "omg this guy is so great for pitching on 3 days rest BS". There's a lot of managers out there who would love to go back to a 4 man rotation but because pitchers are paid so much money teams wouldn't allow it to happen.

We've seen this year in the regular season and playoffs some pitchers working on 3 days rest and amazingly they didn't suddenly fall down to injury. I happen to think that pitchers are babied way too much these days what with pitch counts and having to rest every 4 days. The guys from the '60s to late '80s didn't constantly go down with injuries the way they are today.

In fact, I heard that Dr. James Andrews (the main doctor to deal with arm problems in MLB) has recently stated that the amount of TJ surgeries and other arm related problems are at an epidemic scale nowadays. It can't be all bad luck can it? I mean maybe the coddling of pitchers has actually proven to be a negative rather then a positive.

Your opinions please.

You should understand that post in context to the game of baseball today before going on your rant. I agree with you that pitchers are babied in today's game, that's why I think it's great to see what CC did. I'm sorry if that didn't come across in my post.

Anyways, unfortunately I don't think we'll ever see the 4 man rotation again, just like we'll never see a guy throw 25-30 complete games in a year. The way baseball's economic structure is set up today, with middle relievers and closers getting upwards of $5 million a year, I just don't ever see it happening.

[snepp]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Your opinions please.

I approve of this post.


At what point does the excessive coddling become counter-productive?

[theaub]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Roy Halladay should be pitching every four days (especially with the crap that's going to be behind him next year). I wish someone had the balls to do it.

[rsox]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

The only way i see teams switching to a 4 man rotation on a regular basis is if MLB were to reduce the number of games played during the regular season.

[dkgojackets]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

A four man rotation would be no big deal, the agents would have a riot though. Probably much better given the quality of #5 pitchers.

It isn't making a start every four days or even complete games that hurt a pitcher's arm, its the 30+ pitch marathon innings that do the most damage.

[bsb13]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

A four man rotation would be no big deal, the agents would have a riot though. Probably much better given the quality of #5 pitchers.

It isn't making a start every four days or even complete games that hurt a pitcher's arm, its the 30+ pitch marathon innings that do the most damage.

Yup, pitchers are babied way too much these days. Heck, its rare to even see pitcher pitch a complete game anymore. Anybody remember the world series between the braves and twins when Morris pitched into extra innings? thats something we will never see again.

[rsox]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Anybody remember the world series between the braves and twins when Morris pitched into extra innings? thats something we will never see again.

Didn't Roy Halladay throw 10 innings in a game a few years ago?.

[duke776]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Didn't Roy Halladay throw 10 innings in a game a few years ago?.

Aaron Harang also did it last year.

[SPTO]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Yeah, Roy Halladay did pitch a 10 inning game a couple years back. I'm actually surprised the Jays don't try to baby him since he's the most prized commodity on the team. That being said, Roy can afford to go deep into games and such because he's one of the most economical pitchers in the game.

[soltrain]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

I could see the Player's Union really flipping their **** if four man rotations became the norm again.

However, there is zero reason why a team can not have a four man rotation if the rotation's arm strength is built that way from day one of Spring Training.

[DrJones]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

It isn't making a start every four days or even complete games that hurt a pitcher's arm, its the 30+ pitch marathon innings that do the most damage.

From what I've read and heard, this is correct. Excessive pitch counts are what hurt arms, not the time between starts. The reason why it's somewhat risky for CC is that he's never done it before, and he's being asked to throw 110+ pitches per start. People who pine for the good old days should also remember that the average lineup is superior today to the teams of 20, 30, 40 years ago. Remember the days when the majority of 2B, SS, and C were .220-hitting defensive specialists? Those days are gone.

[bsb13]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

People who pine for the good old days should also remember that the average lineup is superior today to the teams of 20, 30, 40 years ago. Remember the days when the majority of 2B, SS, and C were .220-hitting defensive specialists? Those days are gone.

I still believe good pitching will always beat good hitting. I think there is a number of factors for the reason why hitting is so superior these days. You have hitter friendly ballparks, strike zones, and pitchers cant throw inside anymore without hitters getting their panties in a bunch.

[bsb13]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

Didn't Roy Halladay throw 10 innings in a game a few years ago?.

Aaron Harang also did it last year.

Well I stand corrected. Let me ask though...Did their arms fall off? did they spontaneously combust?

[rsox]

Re: The 4 Man Rotation

did they spontaneously combust?

Harang might have. It would explain how he went from 16-6 with a 3.73 ERA in '07 to 6-17 with a 4.79 ERA in '08.