Before every game, a plan is constructed to collect 27 outs for a victory.
While, the ideal narrative for a coach’s game plan will etch a starter for six or seven innings with the closer nailing down the ninth.
The manager, pitching coach, and bench coach face the toughest dilemma in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings.
They peruse through advance scouting reports, which are compiled by Major League scouts, data/statistical gurus, video advance scouts, and a team of interns, resulting in intelligent, purposeful moves.
It is a true chess match. While considering the human element, each coaching staff analyzes their pieces, the opponent’s pieces, past moves, and future moves.
If manager John Gibbons pulls starter Marco Estrada and brings in the left-hander, Aaron Loup, to face Texas Rangers’ power-hitter Joey Gallo, will Rangers’ manager Jeff Bannister pinch-hit with Mike Napoli?
If so, would a Loup/Napoli matchup be better than Estrada/Gallo? This has to be thought out and decided BEFORE it happens because Loup has to have time to warm up.
This is simply one decision in a sea of decisions the staff must consider.
Photo from Pat Sullivan/AP
In part one of “Bench Warmers”, we discussed how teams can analyze and build their bench. The ideal bench can provide offensive and defensive diversity to a lineup for any in-game situation.
For the bullpen, you need to counter the opposition’s lineup and bench.
The bullpen is not compiled of a bunch of non-starters.
Using the traditional 12-man pitching staff (5 starters and 7 relievers), you will need to define the role of each bullpen arm.
However, for the playoffs, the starting rotation is limited to only 3 or 4 starters. This allows for an extra arm or an extra bat on the bench.
For planning, below are the definitions for the roles of relievers and examples of each heading into the playoffs:
LR – Long Reliever.
This can be referred to as the “swing man”, “long man”, or “mop up” guy.
During the regular season, this player may make a spot start for a double header or fill in to give the rotation an extra day of rest.
He will accumulate approximately 90+ innings and make a handful of starts. In the playoffs, the fifth starter usually fills this role.
When the starter has been knocked out early or injured, expect the long reliever to enter.
The two main goals of the long reliever are to keep the team in the game, so the offense can claw their way back, and to absorb innings.
Absorbing innings is significantly more important than people think. The innings, the long reliever pitches, has a major impact on future innings and are more important than the current collected outs. Saving some of the higher level pitchers for later innings or perhaps the following day can be the difference between a win and a loss.
In the playoffs, you don’t have the luxury of giving away a win. Example: Pick any 5th starter for the postseason because more than likely, they won’t be making any starts and are stretched out enough to save a pen.
Additionally, their “stuff” may play up a tick knowing they may only throw a couple of innings.
RH – Right-Handed Reliever (2).
These relievers typically pitch in lower-leveraged innings, but, if the starter doesn’t extend deep in the game, can be called upon for a hold situation.
The right-handed and left-handed relievers pitch in similar situations, but their use depends on how the lineup stacks up.
Usually, one reliever induces a high amount of ground balls, and the other provides a higher swing/miss rate.
Depending on the situation (i.e. a needed groundball double play or strikeout), the manager will use the proper pitcher for the required situation.
Example: Hansel Robles has been lights out for the New York Mets. Lacking the Major League experience to be pitching later in the game, he has shined this season with a 10.2 Ks/9.
He’s your swing/ miss guy. Carlos Torres, who has a 1.53 GO/AO, would be the man called on early to get a double play ball.
Photo from Steve Mitchell USA Today Sports
LH – Left-Handed Reliever (2).
The term LOOGY is often overused in this situation.
The acronym means Lefty One-Out GuY. As a old thought process, the left-handed reliever would come in and pitch against a single left-handed hitter in a crucial situation.
Now, most managers prefer to have a second lefty in the pen. If one is a “true” LOOGY, then the other needs to be equally effective versus both left and right-handed hitters.
The need for two is simply that starters don’t go as deep into the game as they use to. Lineups are shuffled and rarely stacked with more than two left handed hitters in a row.
Thus, this forces the opposition to make an additional move or two in the pen.
A game changing scenario may arise in the sixth inning and the manager doesn’t want to be at a disadvantage late in the game because he burnt his one left-handed option already.
LOOGY example: Randy Choate of the St. Louis Cardinals appeared in 71 games this year while only accumulating 27.1 innings and a 18:3 K:BB ratio versus left handed hitters.
LH Example: The Cardinals other LH is Kevin Siegrist. He’s had a fine year with a 1.16 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 combined however 2015 has shown an unusual reverse split where LHHs have an .811 OPS against.
SU – Set Up.
The setup man pitches the 8th inning with the lead.
He is arguably the second most effective pitcher in the pen and would be inserted into the closer’s role when needed.
Despite the increasing salaries for setup men, it isn’t the same as pitching the ninth. Some say the addition of Jonathan Papelbon and removal of Drew Storen from the closer’s role contributed to the downfall of the Nationals.
I’m sure Matt Williams had to have a serious sit down to explain the move, but the bottom line is setting up isn’t closing.
Example: Wade Davis of the Kansas Royals was one of the best all season.
While setting up for closer Greg Holland, he accumulated a sub 1.00 ERA and an amazing 0.787 WHIP. With the season-ending injury to Holland, Davis slides into the closer’s role and flame thrower, Kelvin Herrera should man the 8th.
Photo from Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
CL – Closer.
This is obviously the best, most reliable reliever on the staff.
The prototypical closer has the electric fastball in the mid to high 90’s, a knee buckling breaking ball, or unrecognizable changeup.
The closer allows fewer balls put into play and provides a lesser chance of a hitter reaching base than any other reliever in the bullpen.
The logic is the fewer hitters reaching base, the higher percentage of maintaining the close lead. This is why the high strikeout rates are so important for this role.
There are certainly exceptions to the rule like Houston’s Luke Gregerson, the Angel’s Huston Street, and the D’Backs Brad Ziegler. None of them light up the radar gun, but they are well traveled and maintain a slow heartbeat.
The bottom line is to keep calm and collect outs. In a perfect world, the closer is poised, deceptive and has great stuff.
Example: Closer Mark Melancon went from falling out of graces in Boston to saving 100 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
This year he converted 96.2% of saves at 51/53 which led all of baseball in both categories.
Data from baseballreference.com
Observe the chart above. It’s nearly a perfect rise and fall of the pitching roles in baseball.
It is no surprise that the game has changed with weight training, icing, pitch counts, agents, and growing financial investments from organizations.
The days of starters throwing 300+ innings are long gone and completing games is nearing extinction.
Significant roles are now defined for every man on the staff. Sitting in the bullpen and watching the game evolve, a player can now anticipate when the phone will ring.
Who’s getting the call from being a spectator to savior at a moment’s notice?
References:
1. "Baseball Reference." Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball Reference, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
NOTE: All statistics accurate as of 10/08/15
By Simon Ferrer
AriBall.com
