When do you take out a starting pitcher?

[orangecat1]

re: the other day, Colby, less than 100 pitches, six innings allowed one hit, and you pull him out? honestly trying to figure this out, thinking maybe he's trying to give him extra rest for the next series?

like most, I didn't see yesterday's game, Harrison pulled after 5 innings. same question.

by doing it this way, it does guarantee the bullpen will get action which could keep them sharp. that's good.

on the other hand, at this opint in the season, I would think the hitters know the relievers pitches just as well as the starters?

 

[FWHORN]

It is the end of a long season and no doubt there are some tired arms. A desire to keep them fresh and the fact that the Rangers have developed a pretty good bullpen of middle relievers, set up men and a closer means Washington is able to manage the game inning to inning rather than having to rely on a potentially tired starter to get him 7-8 innings.

 

[majorwhiteapples]

Managers and pitching coaches know when the arms are starting to tire and the ball is starting to get up in the strike zone. When that control is starting to waver, they know what they are doing. While it is a game of percentages there is always the chance of the wrong percentage coming out on top.

 

[Dewbrewer]

Wash and Maddux certainly have a plan here. Wow. I was also a bit surprised to see pitchers not going over 100, no matter what. Also thought Ogando would finish off game 4 as he was unhittable in the 8th and Feliz had a 4 out save the day before. BUT, what the heck, the strategy worked!! Keep it rollin' Rangers!!

 

[Horns11]

Colby's problem isn't pitch count, it's HR percentage. In a close game, you can't risk that a tired 95th pitch is going to be the one to tie the game. I'd say it was 50-50 whether or not that's actually as big a problem as Wash/Maddux think it is.

 

[CanaTigers]

To me it would depend on different things for different pitchers. If he is mostly a fastball pitcher has his velocity dropped? If he is a ground ball control pitcher is he hitting his spots? If he gives up homers above the relief guys what is the lead and would a homer hurt?

 

[SigPi_Horn]

Right now.