Official. Reds add Sonny Gray to Roark & Wood Added.

[CJD]

(01-25-2019, 06:42 PM)Circleville Guy Wrote: 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.

I think with the introduction of sabermetrics and all the weird statistics that come with it, teams have just become very good at optimization of player use.

I'm sure pitchers nowadays can still go 200 innings, it's more teams just don't want them to because, say, they have some sort of statistic that says keeping a pitcher under 150 innings per year not only increases their efficiency but increases the duration of their career as well (just made this idea up as an example of how those stats and trends can affect team building decision making).

Remember, there was a time not too long ago when teams didn't even track OPS and WAR. Those were concepts created with sabermetrics and moneyball.

There's also the consideration that an understanding of launch angles and gapping means hitters are getting better and better each year as well. I often ponder if Nolan Ryan could strike out Joey Votto or Mike Trout the way he could the players of the 70s and 80s. 

The game is constantly evolving and, as more data is found and used, decisions improve.

That's why my stance on all of this is generally "if our coaches do something, I assume there is a good reason for it."

If they use an opener, I will think this. If they don't use an opener, I will also think this. It's why I'm so excited that we have a new manager who is statistically minded rather than our old worn out "traditionalist" coaches that never had success here.

Only time will tell, but for the time being I am putting my trust in the coaching staff until they give me a reason not to :).