Comments on: Ben Sheets and the Amazing Shrinking K-Rate http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:48:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Paul http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-52415 Paul Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:09:12 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-52415 Coley, I like the comparison. The stats that Schilling put up in '97 are basically what I thought Sheets could duplicate. Maybe not 11Ks per 9IP, but with fewer walks, which is obviously a credit to Sheets because Schilling also had/has impeccable control. Coley, I like the comparison. The stats that Schilling put up in ‘97 are basically what I thought Sheets could duplicate. Maybe not 11Ks per 9IP, but with fewer walks, which is obviously a credit to Sheets because Schilling also had/has impeccable control.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-52414 Coley Ward Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:37:06 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-52414 I love Sheets. He's like a young Curt Schilling, but w/o the annoying tendencies. But he's just so fragile. I don't understand how a guy built like he is can be so delicate. I love Sheets. He’s like a young Curt Schilling, but w/o the annoying tendencies. But he’s just so fragile. I don’t understand how a guy built like he is can be so delicate.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-13144 Sarah Green Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:07:26 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-13144 In his recent SI article about Matsuzaka, Tom Verducci noted that in Japan, pitchers are actually trained to throw *more* pitches, throwing longer during games and throwing nearly every day between starts, while in the States, we are actually training our pitchers to throw *fewer* pitches by limiting them so much, as if each hurler has only so many tosses in his arm. It was really interesting. If I weren't lazy, I'd throw up the link. In his recent SI article about Matsuzaka, Tom Verducci noted that in Japan, pitchers are actually trained to throw *more* pitches, throwing longer during games and throwing nearly every day between starts, while in the States, we are actually training our pitchers to throw *fewer* pitches by limiting them so much, as if each hurler has only so many tosses in his arm. It was really interesting. If I weren’t lazy, I’d throw up the link.

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]]> By: Jojo Fireball http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-13097 Jojo Fireball Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:16:50 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-13097 What kills me about this whole issue is that arm problems in starting pitchers has gotten so commonplace that it's expected for your horse to have tendonitus or a strain at least sometime during the season and it's because of LACK of use... Not only do pitch counts weigh heavily in this paradox but also the fact that most pithcers are throwing on 5 or even 6 days rest between starts. Bullpen sessions between starts (which are usually between 60-80 pitches) are thrown at "90" percent effort and you're lucky if your guy is even working that hard. Starts, innings and good mechanics are what leads to a strong but not too strong arm that can keep you in the running in August and Sep. What kills me about this whole issue is that arm problems in starting pitchers has gotten so commonplace that it’s expected for your horse to have tendonitus or a strain at least sometime during the season and it’s because of LACK of use…

Not only do pitch counts weigh heavily in this paradox but also the fact that most pithcers are throwing on 5 or even 6 days rest between starts. Bullpen sessions between starts (which are usually between 60-80 pitches) are thrown at “90″ percent effort and you’re lucky if your guy is even working that hard.

Starts, innings and good mechanics are what leads to a strong but not too strong arm that can keep you in the running in August and Sep.

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]]> By: jvwalt http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-13053 jvwalt Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:20:49 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-13053 This early in the season, there may be a couple of other factors at work: a. Managers may think their starters are still rounding into full-season form, and need a bit more TLC. b. Managers might want to get their relievers some early-season work, partly to keep them fresh and partly to sort out the wheat from the chaff (J.C. Romero, come on down!). After a few weeks of play, we may see starters going deeper into games if they're still effective. However, your broader point is quite valid: most managers are too quick to pull a starter in favor of a middle reliever who is presumably the 7th or 8th best pitcher on the staff. And since they use so many relievers, they have to carry more pitchers and fewer position players. Remember when everybody had a 3rd catcher and a 5th outfielder? It's become standard to carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players, which has to hamstring a manager's ability to make in-game moves. This early in the season, there may be a couple of other factors at work:

a. Managers may think their starters are still rounding into full-season form, and need a bit more TLC.

b. Managers might want to get their relievers some early-season work, partly to keep them fresh and partly to sort out the wheat from the chaff (J.C. Romero, come on down!).

After a few weeks of play, we may see starters going deeper into games if they’re still effective. However, your broader point is quite valid: most managers are too quick to pull a starter in favor of a middle reliever who is presumably the 7th or 8th best pitcher on the staff. And since they use so many relievers, they have to carry more pitchers and fewer position players. Remember when everybody had a 3rd catcher and a 5th outfielder? It’s become standard to carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players, which has to hamstring a manager’s ability to make in-game moves.

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]]> By: Paul http://umpbump.com/press/2007/04/16/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/comment-page-1/#comment-13038 Paul Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:31:34 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ben-sheets-and-the-amazing-shrinking-k-rate/#comment-13038 I'm glad you brought this up. There seems to be these conflicting ideas around baseball: 1. Pitchers shouldn't be allowed to go past 100 pitches. 2. Relief pitchers are a crapshoot. If relief pitchers are a crapshoot (i.e. they're not very good; they're inconsistent; they're living proof of depleted pitching), then how does it make sense to limit your starters? And yet, I feel, both these ideas are considered viable in today's baseball world. There are very few teams in baseball who are genuinely comfortable with their bullpens. And yet, starters are seemingly being asked to go fewer and fewer innings. I'm not sure these two ideas can sufficiently coexist. I’m glad you brought this up. There seems to be these conflicting ideas around baseball: 1. Pitchers shouldn’t be allowed to go past 100 pitches. 2. Relief pitchers are a crapshoot.

If relief pitchers are a crapshoot (i.e. they’re not very good; they’re inconsistent; they’re living proof of depleted pitching), then how does it make sense to limit your starters? And yet, I feel, both these ideas are considered viable in today’s baseball world.

There are very few teams in baseball who are genuinely comfortable with their bullpens. And yet, starters are seemingly being asked to go fewer and fewer innings. I’m not sure these two ideas can sufficiently coexist.

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