| Baseball is commonly thought of as the sport that | | | | threw for 300 innings a year while remaining |
| involves the most strategy. To be successful in | | | | healthy. So what has changed? Today's pitchers |
| the sport players not only need to be strong and | | | | are paid a lot more than they were 20 years ago |
| athletic, they also need to be very knowledgeable. | | | | and with such a large investment, teams are not |
| This article highlights a few examples of how | | | | willing to risk the chance of injury which increases |
| understanding the game better can sometimes be | | | | with the number of pitches thrown. Pitchers are |
| more important than muscle or speed. | | | | now played and rotated based on the "pitch |
| Outfielders Moving Back in Later Innings | | | | count". At 100 pitches you'll see most managers |
| When you are watching a game, it isn't | | | | looking to make a pitching change, even though it |
| uncommon for the announcers to mention that | | | | may look like the pitcher is doing fine. |
| the outfield has backed up in an effort to 'limit | | | | Double Switch |
| extra base hits'. An extra base hit is something | | | | I personally love this move. It is a favorite of |
| that goes for more than a single. If the outfield | | | | teams that have players who are defensive |
| plays a little deeper, it makes it harder for a hit | | | | specialists. It is also a great strategy for teams |
| ball to slip between the players. People ask me, "if | | | | with hitters who excel against certain pitchers. In |
| the players are deeper, isn't it harder to throw | | | | a double switch, two players are replaced to |
| the runners out?" Sure it is, but major league | | | | change the hitting lineup. For example, the Chicago |
| players hit the ball hard and it gets to the | | | | Cubs right fielder Cliff Floyd ends the inning with a |
| outfielders very quickly. Many players simply are | | | | grounder to second base. Instead of Cliff going |
| not fast enough to run down a hard hit ball and if | | | | back into the field the Cubs remove him for |
| the ball gets past them, the play can quickly turn | | | | another player like Craig Monroe. At the same |
| into a double or worse yet, a triple. Shifting the | | | | time, the Cubs also change pitchers but instead of |
| outfielders to a deep position is usually done when | | | | the replacement pitcher hitting in 9th spot where |
| a team is ahead. The goal is to force the losing | | | | the previous pitcher was hitting, he now replaces |
| team to get 4 hits to score a runner, which is | | | | Cliff Floyd in the lineup with Craig Monroe hitting |
| very hard to do. The strategy usually isn't | | | | 9th. This is called a legal double switch. Teams use |
| employed early in games because it gives | | | | this strategy so the pitcher doesn't have to hit |
| opposing teams too much opportunity to score | | | | for a couple more innings and it gives regular |
| single runs. By backing up the outfielders, teams | | | | players more at bats. It also allows the team to |
| are trying to avoid the big innings. | | | | get the better defender in the game for the later |
| Pitch Counts | | | | innings or the hitter that hits better off of lefties |
| When I was growing up, a starting pitcher would | | | | for example. This strategy gives the team |
| throw every 4th day and it wasn't uncommon for | | | | manager greater flexibility with the roster. |
| them to pitch an entire game. Pitchers often | | | | |