Pitch counts come from the devil himself. Well....agents...and that's the same thing.
In trying to protect their investments the opposite has happened.
But this isn't a post to rid baseball of pitch counts. I believe that pitch counts are entrenched in baseball. It'll take individuals with balls to change it.
There aren't many of those types in the game.
So, since we have pitch counts, why do baseball folks still live in a box?
Everyday, starting pitchers are named, they throw 100 or so pitches, then bullpens are called in to finish games.
Why does it have to be this way?
Tradition.
Of course, once upon a time, Starters finished games.
That tradition has passed.
So why not change to allow for that change?
Right now, Managers trust their Starter to pitch through lineups. If getting outs, they will pitch through a lineup at least three times.
Starters are trusted at the beginnings and middle of games, less so at the end when pitch counts rise.
So, here's my thought.
Use set-up men to set up some Starters. Especially Starters like Salazar, Ventura, or others of that ilk who usually throw five or six innings.
Take for example Bryan Shaw of the Indians starts the game vs. Detroit and faces Kinsler, Hunter, Cabrera.
Then Atchison takes the second inning.
Salazar enters in the third inning.
If throwing well, Salazar conceivably could finish the game. A Manager's decision.
At the least, he'll hand the reins over to Allen or Axford if he is still their Closer.
The point being is that Managers and baseball people in general dislike thinking outside the box. It took over 100 years for shifts to come into play.
Starters are regarded as the long going and best pitchers. Why not have them more towards the back end of games than front end?
If asked now, whether I would want the game in the hands of Salazar pitching well after six innings or Axford, I'd take Salazar.
The way it is right now, Managers don't have that choice. By the time the real important part of games come, the Starter is gone.
Take Craig Kimbrel, the best Closer in the game.
If Mike Minor has thrown six innings and is entering the ninth inning pitching well, the Braves Manager can go with either pitcher. This decision can be based on who is coming up in the ninth inning, if Kimbrel is well-rested, or if wanting to ride the hot throwing Minor another inning.
It gives a Manager more options and has the 'Starter' throw more during the important part of games.
This is not a new idea. Several have talked about it. But, there isn't an organization who wants to implement it.
In Korea and Japan, it is an 'honor' being a starting pitcher.
Starting pitchers are paid more than other pitchers.
Agents would go ballistic in seeing their 'starting' pitchers throwing in the third or fourth innings.
But, they started it.
They're the ones that wanted limited pitches.
This would be a way of making certain that they would get what they wished for.
Moral of the story, of course being, be careful what you wish for.
You may get it.
