What keeps teams from removing starting pitchers and having relievers pitch 3 innings or so each?

Question

If they pitch less each day, their arm strength doesn't diminish, and a bullpen has around 10 to 12 pitchers stocked (5 starters, 5-8 relievers). Using a shorter time period for pitching, they could use 3-5 pitchers a day and have their arms not wear out, and keep a fresh bullpen. The 3 inning range will keep their rotation through a lineup to a minimum so hitters will keep guessing and not get accustomed to a pitcher through the innings. What's so bad about that?

Answer 1

Pitchers need to pitch in order to get themselves into a rhythm. If you limit their starts to only 3-5 innings, you're actually doing more harm than good. While you may think you're keeping them fresh, you're actually diminishing their arm strength. The human body is extremely adaptive--if I limit myself to 4-5 innings, then after a while that's all I'll be able to pitch. Going into the 6th & 7th innings will be much harder b/c my arm won't be used to it. Furthermore, middle relievers typically pitch 2 or 3 times per week, sometimes even 4. Having them pitch 3-5 innings would wear them out b/c they're not used to it.

What if, according to your schedule, two of those middle relivers get rocked, giving up 7 runs in the 6 inning of an afternoon game? You've already used three different guys from your pen, including your closer, the night before in a game that went 11 innings? Who do you use? Who's fresh?

This "rotation" is unsustainable in the long run.

Answer 2

A lot of great starters need a couple of innings to get rolling. We've seen many pitchers who are a little too strong early and might give up a couple of runs in the first or second and then get into their rhythm and shut down the other team for the 3rd through 8th inning.

You really want your best pitchers giving as many innings as they can. Doing it your way would mean having a pitcher throw 3 innings every other day. You'd need 9 pitcher who could do that. Not many arms can deal with that wear and tear.

Answer 3

If your starting pitcher pitched 3 strong innings why would you take him out? After pitching 3 innings you can't pitch the next day you would have to give the pitcher at least two days rest and you probably can't go 3 innings every 3rd day the whole season. It sounds attractive and I think teams have done things like have 9 guys throw one inning each but it was more of a gimmick than anything else.

Answer 4

It's easy to say that it's not going to wear arms out. However, as a pitcher myself it is not as reasonable as you think. There is more throwing and pitching involved than what you see on tv and at the ball park. There is throwing before and after the game. Not to mention that on days they don't enter a game, they are usually working on other pitches, location, or velocity. It isn't possible to pitch every single day and have your best stuf every single day. It doesn't work like that. Even if it's 10 pitches a day after a week you need at least one day off. Believe it or not relievers have more stress on their arms because of less time to recover from the stress put on the the arm. It is good in theory but physically it is just not realistic.

Answer 5

I've thought about this alot myself. If you look at the stats, many pitchers have great numbers against a team the first and second time through the lineup, but the third they get pounded. The only reason I can think of is that it would be tough to take out a guy with a shutout through 3. Most teams take out their starters when they get into trouble anyways, so let them go until they hit the wall.

Answer 6

Starting pitchers need to go at least 5.0 innings to qualify for a win, and they don't much like giving that up.

Larussa tried this with the A's back in the early 1990s -- it lasted about a week.

Answer 7

Most teams don't have the luxury of guys they could trust to work 3 innings every night. Some are lefty specialists, there are a lot of factors.

Answer 8

Who knows