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By Connor Byrne | at
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John Murray
It’s actually quite amusing that managers want to stretch out pitchers so they can be like Andrew Miller. Although, hey, Miller has never thrown 75 relief innings since becoming a full time reliever, and 2016 was the first time he’d thrown more than 65. Maybe we should see Andrew Miller actually be the guy managers think he is before we start making other pitchers “be like Andrew Miller”. A month in October born out of necessity doesn’t mean Miller can do that all season.
jayceincase
I like the strategic thinking of using the best reliever in advance of the ninth, but there is no way multiple innings can be maintained throughout a season. If the ‘save’ is needed in the 8th because it’s the heart of the order, by all means bring the closer early. This reads havoc with actual saves statistics, but it’s all about W’s and the best pitcher may need to go earlier than the ninth. Ever hear of this logic Buck Showalter?
sufferforsnakes
Francona has already said he won’t utilize Miller exactly the same way that he did last season. Boone Logan was brought onboard to alleviate some of the work load, and Hoby Milner is looking good this spring as a Rule 5 pick.
davidcoonce74
I think it would be possible to stretch a guy out a little bit but, yeah, nobody is going to be able to dominate for two innings every other day. Mike Marshall was a freak of nature, but he also didn’t really throw that hard or have the kind of nasty slider a guy like Miller does. I think the way the Padres used Brad Hand last season is about the closest we’ll see over a full season.
terry g
True I don’t think you’ll ever see a relief pitcher go 208 innings in one season again or pitch n 106 games. I don’t think you’ll see too many 300+ inning starters either. The game has changed quite a bit.
davidcoonce74
Yeah, velocity is king, along with the desire for longevity for pitchers. Those seasons where pitchers threw 300 innings with 78 strikeouts are long gone.
lesterdnightfly
An O’s fan sent me this take on his favorite team: O’s starting staff is lacking, and the farm system is bad, so Duquette signs Pedro Alvarez. Hmm…. But hey, the O’s still cling to the MASN money in the courts, and should draw 2.5 million to see their flat-footed sluggers, so it will be a successful season.
Kind of see his point….
GarryHarris
It seems to reason that the ideal pitching staff has 5 SPs capable of pitching 200 IP a season and 7 RPs who work 65 IP each.
biasisrelitive
yeah but good luck with 200ip from starters even without injuries
GarryHarris
Its just the ideal.