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On this episode of the BSN Rockies Podcast, Drew Creasman and Manny Randhawa take some extra time on an off-day for the ballclub to dive deep into some granular concepts in the game. Can we ever get to a place where we can measure what catchers do from pitch to pitch? How have concepts like “small sample size” contributed and at times taken away from the conversation? How can we really tell the difference between a slump and a new normal? What is the value of indicator stats? And, what is going on with the NL West and who is best positioned to make moves to win the division?
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Mary Pace
These podcasts are always fun. Wish I lived a little closer so I could come say ‘hi’.
I’m still a little uneasy when it comes to non-traditional pitching ideas after the Rockies 4-man piggyback debacle of 2012. Although, I’m slowly coming around on the idea of #TheOpeners (yours & Manny’s reasonable approach helps), but I have a couple questions.
I’ll start with what is the least likely scenario.
If more teams start using this strategy, do you see any motivation for players to Sabotage it (passive-aggresively or otherwise)? Stick with me here. There is already a weird tension between MLBPA and MLB after the most recent CBA & the underwhelming 2017-2018 free-agent period. If more teams switch to #TheOpener strategy, it seems the Kershaw-type contracts will be increasingly replaced with Rusin/Betances-type contracts resulting in a overall decrease in pitching salaries. Great for team payroll, bad for MLBPA members. If there is NOT widespread buy-in from pitchers, could they mount enough resistance to cause a problem? Or when it comes down to it will they do whatever is necessary to stay in MLB (Opening, Middling, Closing, Extra Innings-ing, or, in Boston, Beer & Fried Chickening)?
The next thought I have is: Is it scaleable over a 162 game schedule? Or is it something teams will pick their spots with throughout the season (i.e. stretch-run, playoffs, key stretches against division opponents who’ve seen the “normal” starters a bunch any way)? Manny said that teams would most likely use it for the 4 & 5 spots in their rotation. But as long as rosters stay at 25, teams that are dead-set on this strategy will have to a) rethink roster/bullpen construction to spread out the workload or risk a bullpen that is torched before the ASG; or b) use a lot of Dodger DL stints (assuming they have enough pitching depth to stash some at AAA).