Phillies: Double-edged surprises
By Tal Venada
Pitching management:
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
As for bullpen usage, the skipper employed eight relievers including five twice: 10 1/3 innings from the pen and 9 1/3 frames from the starting staff. But the problem is that decent relievers have one bad outing out of every five; unfortunately, five of 13 appearances in Atlanta were difficult: adding to the pressure. No bullpen rotation?
With a starting staff of three five-inning moundsman, the two horses need to provide seven frames, if possible. Jake Arrieta and Nola must give the relief corps a breather, or they will burn out. Therefore, the numbers then will have less value.
Granted, the current school of thought is hitters facing a starter for the third time are considerably more productive. But four innings each out of Velasquez, Pivetta, and Lively is equal to 15 frames from the pen. The old math!
"IN CONTRAST: “Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable.” – Mark Twain"
If Kapler only goes by analytics and was offering lip service on the traditional side of his spiel, we’re in for one-dimensional baseball. So far, it’s only one what? Loss?
Next: Phillies vs. NL West wild-card hopefuls
Behind the front-office doors, two assistants to the GM–last year’s manager and bench coach–will have plenty to say to Klentak. Well, the Phillies invested $159 million for Arrieta, Santana, and Kingery. What is that whisper? Money talking!