Norberto7
07-07-2005, 11:09 PM
After considerable thought and careful analysis, Rays manager Lou Piniella decided not to follow through on his plan to open games with relievers and then bring in his starters. But Piniella thinks it would be a great concept for teams to use in the minors to give their young starters, who are limited by pitch counts, the opportunity to learn how to pitch in the late innings.
-- St. Petersburg Times
Has anyone else heard about this? I read it in cnnsi's Truth and Rumors (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scorecard/07/07/truth.rumors.mlb/index.html) section. Personally, I am disappointed that he's not trying it out, if only because it flys in the face of all logic. I'm having trouble thinking of the positives of this scenario besides the one the article mentioned. I can think of a couple:
1. If the reliever gets in early trouble, there is less hesitation to make a change if need be.
2. Conversely, if a reliever is doing well, and has the ability to stretch it out, you can ride that wave longer than if he was in in the late innings.
3. It won't be until the 5th or 6th inning until hitters have seen the same pitcher twice, keeping them off balance.
Obviously the only negative you need to know that makes the whole thing logically untenable is the situation where your "starter" gets shelled, but your bullpen has already been used.
Nonetheless, I'd love to see the theory actually played out. What better place is there for such tinkering than Tampa? Sure, it's a slap in the face of tradition, but hey, so are the Devil Rays.
-- St. Petersburg Times
Has anyone else heard about this? I read it in cnnsi's Truth and Rumors (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/scorecard/07/07/truth.rumors.mlb/index.html) section. Personally, I am disappointed that he's not trying it out, if only because it flys in the face of all logic. I'm having trouble thinking of the positives of this scenario besides the one the article mentioned. I can think of a couple:
1. If the reliever gets in early trouble, there is less hesitation to make a change if need be.
2. Conversely, if a reliever is doing well, and has the ability to stretch it out, you can ride that wave longer than if he was in in the late innings.
3. It won't be until the 5th or 6th inning until hitters have seen the same pitcher twice, keeping them off balance.
Obviously the only negative you need to know that makes the whole thing logically untenable is the situation where your "starter" gets shelled, but your bullpen has already been used.
Nonetheless, I'd love to see the theory actually played out. What better place is there for such tinkering than Tampa? Sure, it's a slap in the face of tradition, but hey, so are the Devil Rays.