4/4 @ Twins

[Jasonbay44]

 

“How 'bout that Red Sox bullpen? Matt Barnes, Garrett Whitlock, Hirokazu Sawamura and Darwinzon Hernandez have combined for 33 strikeouts in 24.1 innings (12.21 K/9), a 0.37 ERA and 0.86 WHIP so far.”

[a700hitter]

 

“How 'bout that Red Sox bullpen? Matt Barnes, Garrett Whitlock, Hirokazu Sawamura and Darwinzon Hernandez have combined for 33 strikeouts in 24.1 innings (12.21 K/9), a 0.37 ERA and 0.86 WHIP so far.”

Not at all pig-like.

[Oscars]

The season has been so unexpectedly enjoyable so far ........

[moonslav59]

Funny you say that moon, I was just saying that to my spouse today. This team reminds me of both years because people counted us out including me before the season even started which reminds me of 2013. But the way this offence is hitting reminds me of our 2018 team. We just seem to be doing everything right. It’s scary to think, if the bats showed up in that first series against Baltimore we would have an undefeated Record right now. I know that is what if’s and could ifs But this team just seems so incredible right now. I thought the minnesota Series would be split as they are a very good hitting team, and we have just been so much better than them. Definitely been fun to watch in the early going

 

Let's see if we can finish off a sweep and take it the White Sox- another good team in a much different way.

[Thunder]

Let's see if we can finish off a sweep and take it the White Sox- another good team in a much different way.

 

We are slated to face Rodon on Monday. That no-hitter he threw last night was something else. Hoping he doesn't ruin Patriots Day

[Bellhorn04]

We are slated to face Rodon on Monday. That no-hitter he threw last night was something else. Hoping he doesn't ruin Patriots Day

 

Rodon threw 114 pitches last night. Which is a pretty low count for 9 innings, but a high count by modern standards, especially in the second start of the season. So he might be on a reduced pitch count Monday.

[Thunder]

Rodon threw 114 pitches last night. Which is a pretty low count for 9 innings, but a high count by modern standards, especially in the second start of the season. So he might be on a reduced pitch count Monday.

 

Good point. I keep forgetting about how coddled modern starting pitchers are. This year, I get it, after the short season in 2020. But, I hate the trend that has emerged.

[Bellhorn04]

Good point. I keep forgetting about how coddled modern starting pitchers are. This year, I get it, after the short season in 2020. But, I hate the trend that has emerged.

 

"Coddled" - good word.

[a700hitter]

Good point. I keep forgetting about how coddled modern starting pitchers are. This year, I get it, after the short season in 2020. But, I hate the trend that has emerged.

I don’t understand the coddling. After the top 5 -10 guys in each league, the rest are fairly fungible. Most throw mid -90’s with so-so command and substandard secondary pitches. I wouldn’t coddle them, and after I lost control of them, I’d let them sign somewhere else to have their surgeries.

[Maxbialystock]

I don’t understand the coddling. After the top 5 -10 guys in each league, the rest are fairly fungible. Most throw mid -90’s with so-so command and substandard secondary pitches. I wouldn’t coddle them, and after I lost control of them, I’d let them sign somewhere else to have their surgeries.

 

They are coddled for a multitude of reasons, and the most obvious of those is that it works.

 

Every MLB team carries a minimum of 13 pitchers (vs. 12 position players) because that ratio works. Statistics emphatically show that hitters do better the 2d, 3d, and 4th time they face a given pitcher in a game. Pitchers are expected to throw as hard as possible within the context of having a good repertoire, which unsurprisingly can lead to arm/shoulder/elbow problems. Every manager needs options when the guy on the mound, whether starter or reliever, goes south on him. So he needs 5 starters and 8 relievers and nothing less.

 

Position players simply soldier on when they can't hit spit that day or night or make a couple of errors or whatever. Cal Ripken, whose feat is unlikely to be repeated, played not only a record number of consecutive games, but also a record number of consecutive innings. These days, the good position players are expected to do what Ripken did 95% of the time. To put it bluntly, MLB teams simply don't need more than 12 positions players.

 

Alex Cora is one of the few managers who actually prefers 90% and will take even his best players out of the lineup every so often. Here, for example, are the total games played (regular season only) on the incredible 2018 team: JD Martinez, 150; Benintendi, 148; JBJ, 144; Betts, 136; Bogie, 136; Devers 121.

 

Let's not forget, however, that position players do not exert themselves anywhere near the degree to which pitchers do. Every single baseball game is dominated by the contest between hitter and pitcher. If we assume 270 pitches are thrown in an average 9 inning game, the odds are that maybe 65 result in hits or fielded outs. The other 200 or so are just strikes and balls (which can lead to K's, BB's, HBP's, WP's, etc). Interestingly, every MLB team carries two catchers (except on the rare occasion when they carry three) because catchers do in fact exert themselves on every single pitch thrown. Incredibly--to me anyway--two catchers seems to be the right number despite the immense effort needed to play that position and the real risk of injury.

[a700hitter]

They are coddled for a multitude of reasons, and the most obvious of those is that it works.

 

Every MLB team carries a minimum of 13 pitchers (vs. 12 position players) because that ratio works. Statistics emphatically show that hitters do better the 2d, 3d, and 4th time they face a given pitcher in a game. Pitchers are expected to throw as hard as possible within the context of having a good repertoire, which unsurprisingly can lead to arm/shoulder/elbow problems. Every manager needs options when the guy on the mound, whether starter or reliever, goes south on him. So he needs 5 starters and 8 relievers and nothing less.

 

Position players simply soldier on when they can't hit spit that day or night or make a couple of errors or whatever. Cal Ripken, whose feat is unlikely to be repeated, played not only a record number of consecutive games, but also a record number of consecutive innings. These days, the good position players are expected to do what Ripken did 95% of the time. To put it bluntly, MLB teams simply don't need more than 12 positions players.

 

Alex Cora is one of the few managers who actually prefers 90% and will take even his best players out of the lineup every so often. Here, for example, are the total games played (regular season only) on the incredible 2018 team: JD Martinez, 150; Benintendi, 148; JBJ, 144; Betts, 136; Bogie, 136; Devers 121.

 

Let's not forget, however, that position players do not exert themselves anywhere near the degree to which pitchers do. Every single baseball game is dominated by the contest between hitter and pitcher. If we assume 270 pitches are thrown in an average 9 inning game, the odds are that maybe 65 result in hits or fielded outs. The other 200 or so are just strikes and balls (which can lead to K's, BB's, HBP's, WP's, etc). Interestingly, every MLB team carries two catchers (except on the rare occasion when they carry three) because catchers do in fact exert themselves on every single pitch thrown. Incredibly--to me anyway--two catchers seems to be the right number despite the immense effort needed to play that position and the real risk of injury.

And if the pitching spots on the rosters are limited, the managers would have to go longer with the pitchers.

 

I understand the stats about the 3rd time through the order. The coddling goes beyond that, and I don’t think it is very productive. As for the stats regarding the 3rd time through the order, when these momo managers are armed with that information they overdo it. I laugh when a pitcher cruises through 5 or 6 innings on 60-70 pitches and the manager takes him out at the start of the next inning. On that day, that pitchers is “on”. He’s in command. You ride him on that day, because anyone who has ever pitched will tell you, that you don’t always go to the mound with the same stuff, and a manager that manages you strictly by the stats is not doing a good job. Any nerd that never played can read a stat sheet. A manager needs to know if his pitcher still has it, if he is fatigued, are the batters seeing him better. The coddling of modern day pitching has become too automated. The stats are an easy out for the manager. When questioned, his answer will be “ the stats show”. Yeah, and anyone can do that.

[moonslav59]

If pitching changes did not take so long, I'd have no problem with teams changing pitchers, so often (or "coddling.")

 

Finding ways to shorten the game or reduce pitching changes can be done in a number of ways, but ending the DH once the starter is removed is not what I'd choose as a way to reduce pitching changes.

[Maxbialystock]

If pitching changes did not take so long, I'd have no problem with teams changing pitchers, so often (or "coddling.")

 

Finding ways to shorten the game or reduce pitching changes can be done in a number of ways, but ending the DH once the starter is removed is not what I'd choose as a way to reduce pitching changes.

 

Agree.

[Maxbialystock]

And if the pitching spots on the rosters are limited, the managers would have to go longer with the pitchers.

 

I understand the stats about the 3rd time through the order. The coddling goes beyond that, and I don’t think it is very productive. As for the stats regarding the 3rd time through the order, when these momo managers are armed with that information they overdo it. I laugh when a pitcher cruises through 5 or 6 innings on 60-70 pitches and the manager takes him out at the start of the next inning. On that day, that pitchers is “on”. He’s in command. You ride him on that day, because anyone who has ever pitched will tell you, that you don’t always go to the mound with the same stuff, and a manager that manages you strictly by the stats is not doing a good job. Any nerd that never played can read a stat sheet. A manager needs to know if his pitcher still has it, if he is fatigued, are the batters seeing him better. The coddling of modern day pitching has become too automated. The stats are an easy out for the manager. When questioned, his answer will be “ the stats show”. Yeah, and anyone can do that.

 

I agree you can carry a sound approach too far, and we have seen it done repeatedly.