01-25-2019, 06:42 PM
(01-25-2019, 06:28 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Well, if you use your setup man as an opener, you potentially allow your starter to go into the 8th inning meaning you can go straight to your closer.Potentially, yes. You also have that reliever warming up as a starter, which is also completely new and different. I understand what you’re saying, I’m just not a fan of it, that doesn’t make me right though. I just don’t see how for years, starters could throw 200 innings and complete games and now they can’t. They’re bigger, stronger and have more technology and quicker rehabs. Nolan Ryan swears that starters aren’t stretched and don’t throw enough. I remember starters always ice their arms right after the game, I rarely see that during an interview after the game. I don’t know, maybe I just miss old baseball. I miss old music and original movies too, so that’s probably part of it.
The concept of an opener isn't a situation where you need more relievers. It's literally just shuffling the order of the pitchers.
If A is the Starting pitcher, B is the reliever and C is the closer, the traditional strategy is ABC whereas the opener strategy is BAC.
What BAC allows is you to match up your opponent's top 4 to 5 hitters with a reliever more suited against them and then letting your starter start with easier hitters, catch his rhythm and go deeper into the game while avoiding the best hitters a 3rd time.
