The point of this thread is to demonstrate the consequences of baseball analytics on relief pitching with bullpens filled with one inning wonders and lefty-righty match up specialists. Coupled with the increasing inability of starting pitchers to get through the opposing lineup more than two times, the average team has 7-8 of these guys in the pen everyday. A total of 240 in the majors is probably not an exaggeration.
I would venture to say that the average reasonably attentive baseball fan could name no more than 25 of these guys, perhaps less. If you follow your home team, you should be able to name 6 or 7. Add a dozen or so name brand closers, like Kimbrel, Chapman, Familia & Davis could bring you up to 20. Perhaps considering last year’s bullpen for your team would add a few more if you have a good memory.
That leaves roughly 200 anonymous relievers, most of whom can throw over 95 mph, to fill the chairs in the bullpen. Pitching changes add to the length of the games. Remember the golf carts that were used in some stadia to shorten the time of pitching changes way back when. Today’s game needs motorcycles with side cars.
Isn’t it reasonable for a reliever to have the ability to get through a nine man lineup occasionally even it takes 2-3 innngs? If such relievers existed (and they probably do), an extra position player of two could return to the twenty-five man rosters, giving the managers more flexibility in the late innings.
To verify my hypothesis that there may be average reasonably attentive fans on Net54 feel free to see if you can name 25 active major league relievers without looking anywhere except between your ears. Good luck.
