Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 06, 2004
Four-Man Rotation

The Twins Geek looks at how April would be an ideal time for the Twins to try a four-man rotation. There's only one day in April on which they would need a fifth starting pitcher.

This, by the way, is something I don't really understand about how clubs use their rotations. If a pticher needs four days off, then why push them back another day by starting your #5 guy if you have a day off? Someone is likely to blow up in the 2nd inning, so in that time frame, just use the #5 guy as your long reliever.

Update: Redbird Nation and Go Cardinals agree that a four-man rotation would improve the Cardinals.


Posted by David Pinto at 05:00 PM | Strategy | TrackBack (0)
Comments

There aren't many teams who *can* run a five-man rotation effectively. The Cubs are certainly one team, as are the Yankees and Red Sox. I'd argue that the Phillies can do so as well (in fact, the occasional skipped start might help keep from putting too much stress on Brett Myers's arm).

But, most teams just don't have five good starting pitchers, and I really don't understand why they'd rather run a guy out every fifth day who is basically expected to lose.

Posted by: John Y. at March 6, 2004 06:24 PM

No they don't! Go Cardinals takes the view that the 5th starter is more valuable to keep in the rotation, while reducing the need to use the more marginal members of the relief staff.

Posted by: Frank R at March 7, 2004 04:13 AM