Most bullpen ERAs are lower than starter ERAs nowadays though. The 7th 8th and 9th innings have the lowest, 2nd lowest and 4th lowest runs per inning. The fist inning has the 2nd most.

Then why erase a potential base runner with a bunt back to the pitcher with 2 on an nobody out? *unless the pitcher is batting

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Yeah but bullpen era is almost useless because of inherited runners

The inning stats include some starters.


My point is of the 11 pitchers on the team, the 5 guys starting are usually in the top 6,7 guys. (Closer and certain set up guys are better)

There's an obvious reason for that. The first inning is the only inning where the offense is guaranteed to be set up the way the offensive team wants it.

I believe I read something that said the deeper into the game a team starts an inning with its leadoff man, the higher the percentage of scoring in said inning.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Bullpen WHIP is also lower than starter's.

You're correct. Im surprised by that.

Here's an article on it

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3561

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/sta ... expanded-2

Bullpen in 1.28 and starters is 1.30. It's not a huge difference, but obviously starters aren't doing better.

Interesting you should mention that. Michael Young talked about how in the 50s and 60s there was shame in striking out. He said that in the modern game, the shame is in making an out on the first pitch. Then he went on to talk about situations. He said they were taught in the minors about awareness of game situations. For example, if you're facing a pitcher who is dominating your lineup and you're chasing a couple runs, you want to run the counts long, make the guy work, maybe draw a walk. But if you've got the lead and your guy is dominating the other team, there is no shame in hacking away at first pitches. The first pitch of an at-bat is often the best one you will see, and even if you make out and the guy gets out of the inning on seven pitches, so what. You're getting your stud- Kershaw or whoever- right back out there in his rhythm with the lead. And then idiots on message boards talk about the bad luck that the opposing pitcher had and how he lacked "run support".

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

So a guy like Rich Harden is a very good pitcher to you right?

He often didnt hang around long enough for the win, but kept the losses down

5-4
11-7
10-5
4-0
1-2
10-2


Then he went .500 for three years but he was a different guy

I think Harden was a good pitcher when he was pitching. But durability is part of the equation.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Anyone think we'll ever see the mound pushed back or even eliminating it with pitchers throwing from a flat surface? I heard Jim Kaat suggest the flat surface idea as a way to avoid arm injuries, but it would improve offense as well wouldn't it?

Sounds like JORR is almost approving of the Cub plan here?????????????

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