1. Here’s the ball. I’ll see you after the game.
2. A rotation of 4 starters with a 50% chance of completing the game.
3. A rotation of 5 starters with a 15% chance of finishing the game.
4. A closer to help the #2 pitchers finish the game.
5. A holder (sometimes called a set up guy) and a closer in most games.
6. 2 holders and a closer in most games.
7. The extinction of the 2 inning relief pitcher, requiring at least 2 more holders in the pen.
8. A starter who can pitch 6 innings becomes a franchise player.
9. Two pitchers on every roster who need or who are recovering from Tommy John surgery.
10. 4 starters on a team with a 50-50 chance of completing 5 innings.
11. Managerial excellence based on his ability to change pitchers every inning after the third and to put the fielding manifesto in everyone’s cap.
12. Despite all of the above, and a lot of travel days in October, a team in the World Series is deemed in good sharp if they have 3 marginal 5 inning starters and 9 100mph cannons in the bull pen.
13. Of course with events like Charley Morton’s broken fibula, baseball’s greatest stage wouldn’t be complete without 2 or 3 bullpen games.
WaJo would look at Marty and say “What the f*** is a bullpen game?”
And Matty would reply "Give me the ball. I'll see you after the game."
