Quote:
Originally Posted by rotnoid
I'm not ripping it up at all. I think you may be on to something. In theory it makes good sense. Low pressure situations for the relievers and the starters, who presumably have better stuff, are in there when it counts. In fact, in a set up like this, pitching staffs could maybe even get smaller which would allow the extra pinch hitter needed.
I wonder why an AL team hasn't tried it yet. Or Tony LaRussa. Might just be worth a shot, at least for a couple weeks in the minors to see what the impact is.
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Interesting potential benefits. I would like to think of additional ones, yet it is difficult for me to assert benefits never having seen it done before to get a realization of its effects + or -.
I had a simplistic view when I thought of it considering all of the difficulties that the Reds have with a
quality setup man, lefty or righty situational later in the game and with a closer etc. So I thought that they have various guys that could start one inning getting his three outs turning it over to another to do the same. Hopefully they have different type stuff to keep the hitters off balance and then turn it over to guys that you can count on for seven good innings.
I wasn't sure that it mattered what portion of the game that the traditional starters throw their 100-120 pitches, if it was an absolute must that they start in the first or second inning, and I did not see why it would make a difference if they started in the second or third.
I was
trying to think of a way to get away from the late inning pressures, the multiple changes, the problem area of matchups, meaning the
areas that seem to come back and hurt the Reds after the starter leaves and the bullpen pitcher takes over. Pressure should be reduced on a traditional reliever because he would not be coming in a pressure situation, he would be coming in to get three guys out with no score at the time, which might help some of them. I would rather have an Arroyo or Harang finishing out the 8th and 9th innings than any of the bullpen guys the Reds have etc.
I was looking for what could be the benefits from it. I thought that most people would just dismiss it out of hand.