Re-Evaluating Bullpen Usage

[AdamGreenwood]

Baseball is fairly slow to adjust strategies, but here's an obvious one.

 

With the new extra-inning rules, a runner starts on second base.

 

Therefore, I think if it's a tie game in the 8th+, the best strikeout relief pitchers should be saved for the tenth.

Maximize the chance of stranding the runner at 2nd, and let your 2nd tier relievers handle the 8th/9th.

 

For example, the Pirates just blew their closer in the 9th inning of a tied game against the bottom of the Reds order, leaving a 2nd tier reliever to handle the 10th inning, with the top of the order and a runner on 2nd. Needless to say, it didn't end well.

[Sammy225]

Where are you in the order in the 9th? If you are going throught the 1-2-3 or 2-3-4 then maybe you want to use your best reliever because you can't get to the 10th if you can't get through the 9th. But if you are down in the bottom of the order then ya use someone else i think.

[Spanky99]

Sure, but with how SP barely get into the 6th anymore, those options get slim quick in 9 innings of work. I'm sure plenty of teams have already scraped this scenario analytically.