Pitchers & More Pitchers
The score is 2– 0 in the top of the sixth; 100 pitches thrown by the starter who’s been mowing down the batters with ease. Now it’s time for the right handed reliever to come in and face the left handed hitter. He strikes out the side. Now it is the top of the seventh, and the next pitcher is having a bad day. He can’t hit the corners. His sinker is left out over the middle of the plate. His fast ball lost its velocity; so the other team had a field day hitting the ball all over the park. By the time the next reliever came in, his team was losing 6– 2. Then he got taken out for the next. Every pitcher did a good job except for that one guy as his team lost 6– 2.
Why are there so many relievers? If one is effective, why take him out? Out of five pitchers, one can have a bad day. I know they are trained to be spot relievers, but they all have to be on their game. Everybody can’t be dominant, confident, and effective on the same day. The new rule says they have to pitch to 3 batters, but that is too many. If the reliever looks bad, take him out.
To be on top of one’s game is a blessing. He feels strong and confident. Those two elements are the key to how he pitches on that certain day. Not every pitcher can feel that way. No matter how good he is, he can’t be on his A game every moment and every day.
It is inevitable that a team is going to lose once in a while. The same reasoning applies to every player. Why leave a pitcher in that doesn’t have his best stuff, and why take a pitcher out who’s having a great day? (pitchers & more pitchers, too many pitchers)
