Next 14 games.

thewupk said:
I posted this in the game thread last night but since the Rays have gone to using their closer to start games from time to time on May 17th I believe they have the best era in baseball. Seems they found something that works for them.

And yes lol @ the Nats
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It makes sense. You attack the other teams three best hitters when you know for certain that those three will be hitting in one inning. If your starter is a better pitcher then you don’t do that. But otherwise. Yeah I am on board.
 
Orphan Black said:
Nats shut out again today. need to pick up as many games on these guys as we can
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One thing several commenters mentioned at the time of the Herrera theft: it was a good, decisive, usefully-early trade, but dude can’t hit, and the lineup has been the far bigger problem than the pen. Some of that’s health, but some of it isn’t—and Soto’s due for at least some downward regression, knock-on-wood, even if a few other guys regress upward.

Nerfherders said:
Is that 3 shutouts in 4 games? Yeesh.
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At least the past two were somewhat excusable, facing Snell and Eovaldi with pre-injury stuff.
 
bravesfanMatt said:
It makes sense. You attack the other teams three best hitters when you know for certain that those three will be hitting in one inning. If your starter is a better pitcher then you don’t do that. But otherwise. Yeah I am on board.
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The idea of hitting the best hitters 1-2 in the lineup also plays into the effectiveness of the opener strategy. Back when teams hit their best hitters 3-4 behind speedy bad hitters the strategy may not have been quite as effective.
 
Enscheff said:
The idea of hitting the best hitters 1-2 in the lineup also plays into the effectiveness of the opener strategy. Back when teams hit their best hitters 3-4 the strategy may not have been quite as effective.
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what does the data say about limiting relievers to 1 inning regardless of pitch count and situation though?

Madden seems to be enjoying himself.
 
Southcack77 said:
what does the data say about limiting relievers to 1 inning regardless of pitch count and situation though?

Madden seems to be enjoying himself.
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It has long since been shown that over time BP arms perform exactly the same regardless of leverage.

Maddon manages the Cubs...
 
bravesfanMatt said:
It makes sense. You attack the other teams three best hitters when you know for certain that those three will be hitting in one inning. If your starter is a better pitcher then you don’t do that. But otherwise. Yeah I am on board.
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Additionally, it allows the SP to face 19-24 batters without suffering the 3rd TTO penalty against the top of the lineup. If they go past 18 batters they will be facing the bottom half of the lineup a 3rd time, which isn't quite as painful as facing the bottom half of a lineup the 3rd time.
 
Enscheff said:
Additionally, it allows the SP to face 19-24 batters without suffering the 3rd TTO penalty against the top of the lineup. If they go past 18 batters they will be facing the bottom half of the lineup a 3rd time, which isn't quite as painful as facing the bottom half of a lineup the 3rd time.
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Interesting.

Is it always the same "opener" or do they use different guys. And is it a set rotation or just based on a matchup or how the bullpen usage has gone that week?

The biggest drawback, other than players probably hating it, would seem to be the danger of over-usage.

One value of using a starting pitcher is that a few times a week you might not even need to get into your high leverage pen.

It's a weird little experiment.
 
Southcack77 said:
Interesting.

Is it always the same "opener" or do they use different guys. And is it a set rotation or just based on a matchup or how the bullpen usage has gone that week?

The biggest drawback, other than players probably hating it, would seem to be the danger of over-usage.

One value of using a starting pitcher is that a few times a week you might not even need to get into your high leverage pen.

It's a weird little experiment.
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I haven't seen an interview where a player suggests they hate it. Whether the BP guy pitches in the 1st or the 8th, the usage is the same.

It's probably especially useful when the opener has the platoon advantage against 2-3 of the top 3-4 hitters.

Folks try to marginalize every innovation as a "weird little experiment", until it catches on. If it catches on I'm sure you'll be against it then as well, still citing 90s thinking about why it doesn't work.
 
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Maybe it’s the biggest thing since the closer.

Maybe it’s batting the pitcher 8th which peole talk about endlessly but doesn’t make a bit of difference beyond the warring anecdotal result of the night.

The rays are certainly well positioned to have some fun.
 
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