Originally Posted by
Carp
May be for guys like Newk, who wear down quickly throughout the game. I won't deny what the numbers say for the 3rd time through the order either.
But I don't believe there are many managers, even analytical ones, that removes their ace in the 6th inning of a 1-0 game if they haven't thrown over 90 pitches (aside from injury obviously). So yes, I think it absolutely means something. Even the Dodgers routinely let Kershaw go 6 innings or more in 21 of his 27 starts.
Being too analytically driven can you cost you games like this. Gabe Kapler is living proof of this and we saw it first hand at the start of the season.