The State of the Game- MLB

[DaClyde]

I wonder how a lot of the middle relief guys get enough work to improve their game. If you only get to pitch an inning or less a few times a week, it seems like it would be difficult to really get into any kind of decent rhythm or pick up any good habits. Doesn't surprise me to see middle relief guys coming out of the bullpen with 5+ ERAs, but it must be frustrating for them.

[chaddurbin]

it's the byproduct of the extraordinary infusion of analytics being brought into the game and expanded september rosters. you don't want SP going thru the order for a 3rd time, you want to maximize every percentage point of expected win possible in your favor.

the dodgers FO are doing this to the extreme...the have the most roster moves, they have the most unstable starting lineups, their players wear freaking gps watches on the field and they utilize lasers to get exact placements for shifts and such...as a fan of the team i think it's GREAT.

[bravos4evr]

it is the era of specialization. Combine that with falling attention spans and analytics and this is the result.

That being said, so many pitchers throw 95+ these days (until their arm falls off) that I can hardly blame coaches for following the trend. Like defensive shifts ,the numbers show that specialized pen use leads to more wins.


IMO, the difference is that expansion, 5 man rotations,the price of pitching, but most of all, injury, have shrunk the quality of the starting pitching pool. 30% of all MLB pitchers have had TJ surgery (and growing) so teams are wary of overuse (which,IMO leads to less durable arms)

This goes back to high school and younger. Young arms pitch year round, putting too many miles on themselves, throwing max effort 100% of the time...etc the result is 24 year old MLB arms that have more miles than Nolan Ryan had at 30+

[SmokyBurgess]

In a perfect world...

2 leagues with 8 teams each (Contraction will clear up water downed pitching.)
DH gone...and inter-league play gone.
Scheduled doubleheaders.

Hey! I can wish, can't I?

[bravos4evr]

Originally Posted by SmokyBurgess

In a perfect world...

2 leagues with 8 teams each (Contraction will clear up water downed pitching.)
DH gone...and inter-league play gone.
Scheduled doubleheaders.

Hey! I can wish, can't I?

I think 12 teams each would be fine, no DH and no inter-league play.

the real question, what 3 teams do you ditch from each league?

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

I think 12 teams each would be fine, no DH and no inter-league play.

the real question, what 3 teams do you ditch from each league?

Tampa Bay & Miami to start - Florida should again be reserved for spring training.

Arizona for the same reason

Oakland & Toronto

...let's see - that leaves one more to delete from the National League...

San Diego


and without interleague play, the World Series would be 'pure' again.

-by that I mean, I always enjoyed the prospect of two teams who had not met before (at least recently) playing for 'all the marbles'.

Of course, none of this would ever occur because of the owners and the players' union.
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[tachyonbb]

Raymond, The Philadelphia Athletics was one of the original American League franchises. I agree that Oakland needs to upgrade to nicer facilities but I would not drop them as they are one of the originals. Drop the Rockies or Seattle instead.