Tag: Bullpen usage

Before I start with today’s subject, I am out in San Diego for the week so the blogs will be a little later than usual. Baseballs bullpens over the years have gone from the part of the team that just came in to mop up games that were out of control to now being the essential part of the team, if you expect to win a World Series. They have grown in importance due the decline of the complete game and managers being much more aware of the importance of match ups, at least most managers.

In the 1960’s the complete game leaders threw around 20 to 28 complete games a year with Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson leading the way. Even in the 70’s and 80’s the numbers were pretty good with the leaders throwing between 18 and 30 complete games. Catfish Hunter threw 30 complete games in 1975. However beginning in the late 70’s and early 80’s guys out of the bullpen were starting to assert themselves. Kent Tekulve, Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter became key factors in their teams winning the World Series. These guys would come out of the bullpen late in a game and pitch anywhere from 1 to 3 innings. It was not uncommon to see these relief pitchers throw 100 innings a year. In 1988 the big change happened. The bottom fell out of the complete game. In 1990 the leader had 12 and last year there were 3 tied with 2. Tony La Russa then manager of the Oakland A’s, essentially invented the one inning closer and the 7th and 8th inning specialist. He developed the one batter left handed specialist which is now prohibited by the new rules of baseball. He did this with great success over the next 23 years. It resurrected Dennis Eckersley career and helped put him in the Hall of Fame. Naturally everybody started copying the La Russa method. There was just one problem. Nobody did it as well as La Russa. Just look at the Pirates. As we headed into the 2010’s analytics had taken over the game. This is what started the final evolution of relief pitching.

This philosophy is quite simple. When the game is on the line you bring in your best reliever. This can happen anytime from the 5th inning on. It could also mean you bring in your best reliever when the heart of the order is coming up for the other team. This philosophy is not quite simple enough for the Pirates because they rarely do it. There are teams that are embracing it. The Dodgers, Rays and Nationals are at the top of the list. They have had at least 8 pitchers record saves this year. Twenty four of thirty teams have had multiple pitchers record saves. The Tigers have used this philosophy calling it bullpen chaos. What is the best benefit of doing this. You do not waste your best relievers. If you follow this philosophy you should never have to bring in one of your best relievers in a game that is not close because he needs work. The Pirates have had to do this way too many times this year. Follow this simple method of using your bullpen and you will find success. Don’t use this method and you enter the world of the Pittsburgh Pirates.