The Opener

[frankbmd]

Who’s your favorite?

Comments?

[The-Cardfather]

This one is definitely my favorite.
.

[skooter]

The one on the right.

[pokerplyr80]

This one always gets the job done for me

[frankbmd]

The expected responses were anticipated.

Ultimately if for whatever reason the “opener” achieves the status of the “closer” in the modern game, could not an opener start 50-60 games in a season? And then if the “Mariano Rivera of openers”, in terms of longevity, comes along and ends up starting 900+ games in his career, what will his legacy be with 900+ starts and 0 wins?

Other questions the modern game presents are equally as nebulous. For example with a team routinely employing a defensive shift putting the third baseman in short right field and that player gets the majority of fielding stats in that location, is it possible that he would qualify as a gold glove third baseman utilizing his skills as a short rightfielder?

Where are Abbott and Costello when we need them?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Do you mean the comics who did "whose on first"?

Whose your favorite comic?

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Do you mean the comics who did "whose on first"?

Whose your favorite comic?

We have now heard from a forum member who is way out in leftfield.

Who’s yours?

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Whose your favorite?

Comments?

Judge Jeanine Pirro! Right on---all the time! --- Brian Powell

[Tripredacus]

I wish I knew. I play fantasy baseball and I think that they (Yahoo) does not even track it properly. They show the starting pitchers for any given day, but it has no indication as to what an opener is. I know that Sergio Romo has been throwing as an opener (I guess he must be my favorite) but he is never shown as being starting any particular game. It is a bit annoying that I can't figure out how to properly use those pitchers in fantasy (roto or h2h) other than just putting them into RP slots in leagues that have no advantage to getting saves and holds.

[frankbmd]

I think Stanek on the Rays leads the majors in games started this year.

He could be the first HOF opener.

[Tripredacus]

I think also he has the most games playing first base by a pitcher this year also

[Mark17]

Gene Mauch, who was famous for over-managing himself out of a couple of pennants, had a theory which was never fully implemented. His idea was to have 2 starters ready, a righty and lefty, but name some middle reliever type as his starter.

The idea was, every game his announced starting pitcher would be this middle reliever guy, the opposing team would have to set its lineup, the game would start, Mauch's starter would only pitch the minimum required (like, facing one batter,) and then, based on the opps lineup (right-handed or left-handed predominance,) Mauch would choose his "real" pitcher and trot him into the game, very early in the first inning. Mauch was a big subscriber to the whole righthanded-lefthanded pitcher-hitter thing and figured he would first force the opposition to commit a lineup, then Mauch could decide which of his real starters was the best matchup.

Had he actually followed through, he could've had a pitcher with 162 starts, few wins and losses, and about 50-60 innings pitched. A "Designated Starter" so to speak.