Real Baseball to Fantasy Baseball
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:44 am
Something really bothers me about that World Series game last night. I was raised and always had the opinion that if a game HAS to be won, you play your best players.
When Yu Darvish started the game last night, I thought that Dave Roberts had it in his mind that Clayton Kershaw could not throw or, at most, throw one inning.
It wasn't the case. Kershaw threw four innings.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST, YOU THROW THE BEST!
I was rooting for the Astros, so it didn't bother me much from a rooting stance, but it seems to me that the modern day Manager tries to be a big factor in each game in showing how smart they are.
In this case, Roberts showed the opposite.
Anyway, this post is not about over-Managing. It is the fantasy repercussions of over-Managing.
And this comes from an exchange of e-mails with Mike Mager about baseball and its new treatment of pitching.
Baseball is going to continue to see less innings from starters. It is the way of the baseball world.
Owners want it, Managers want it, Starters agents want it, relievers agents want it.
The effects on us are many.
1. Quality starting pitching becomes rare(r).
2. Wins become more scarce from a known source.
3. Rookie starting pitchers will receive even less innings than before.
4. Middle relievers are more draftable.
Corey Kluber was the only pitcher in baseball to average seven innings a start last year.
Think about that.
That is only one inning more than the 'Quality Start' minimum that we scoffed at not long ago.
A Quality Start really has become quality.
Has limiting inngs for pitchers reduced injury?
The answer is no.
Several teams in the past had the same rotation throughout the year.
Last year, No team in baseball, kept the same rotation.
Five innings for a Win was a formality in the past, now, it is a high hurdle.
Starting pitchers average just a bit more than five innings each start.
For the first time in baseball history, no pitcher had even 19 Wins last year (shortened seasons excluded)
Middle relievers are divvying up the Wins that used to go to Starting Pitchers.
It may have Major League Baseball re-think the criteria for receiving a Win.
A new or Minor League arm is now something to baby.
Not having much more innings than the year before is the goal.
Again, these pamperers think it'll prevent injury and their new arm.
It is hard to conceive a rookie pitcher ever being a 'Rookie of the Year' again.
The change for us is that middle relievers will have more clout in drafts.
Yes, we can't forecast when Andrew Miller, Chris Devenski, Archie Bradley, or Delin Betances in getting Wins or Saves, but they will.
In fact, they could do what no starting pitcher can ever do in that it is possible that they total three Wins or Saves in a week.
Our fantasy game is changing because baseball is changing.
The over-Management of real players funnels down to our game.
One thing does make me smile though.
WE will continue to play our best players if available.
When Yu Darvish started the game last night, I thought that Dave Roberts had it in his mind that Clayton Kershaw could not throw or, at most, throw one inning.
It wasn't the case. Kershaw threw four innings.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST, YOU THROW THE BEST!
I was rooting for the Astros, so it didn't bother me much from a rooting stance, but it seems to me that the modern day Manager tries to be a big factor in each game in showing how smart they are.
In this case, Roberts showed the opposite.
Anyway, this post is not about over-Managing. It is the fantasy repercussions of over-Managing.
And this comes from an exchange of e-mails with Mike Mager about baseball and its new treatment of pitching.
Baseball is going to continue to see less innings from starters. It is the way of the baseball world.
Owners want it, Managers want it, Starters agents want it, relievers agents want it.
The effects on us are many.
1. Quality starting pitching becomes rare(r).
2. Wins become more scarce from a known source.
3. Rookie starting pitchers will receive even less innings than before.
4. Middle relievers are more draftable.
Corey Kluber was the only pitcher in baseball to average seven innings a start last year.
Think about that.
That is only one inning more than the 'Quality Start' minimum that we scoffed at not long ago.
A Quality Start really has become quality.
Has limiting inngs for pitchers reduced injury?
The answer is no.
Several teams in the past had the same rotation throughout the year.
Last year, No team in baseball, kept the same rotation.
Five innings for a Win was a formality in the past, now, it is a high hurdle.
Starting pitchers average just a bit more than five innings each start.
For the first time in baseball history, no pitcher had even 19 Wins last year (shortened seasons excluded)
Middle relievers are divvying up the Wins that used to go to Starting Pitchers.
It may have Major League Baseball re-think the criteria for receiving a Win.
A new or Minor League arm is now something to baby.
Not having much more innings than the year before is the goal.
Again, these pamperers think it'll prevent injury and their new arm.
It is hard to conceive a rookie pitcher ever being a 'Rookie of the Year' again.
The change for us is that middle relievers will have more clout in drafts.
Yes, we can't forecast when Andrew Miller, Chris Devenski, Archie Bradley, or Delin Betances in getting Wins or Saves, but they will.
In fact, they could do what no starting pitcher can ever do in that it is possible that they total three Wins or Saves in a week.
Our fantasy game is changing because baseball is changing.
The over-Management of real players funnels down to our game.
One thing does make me smile though.
WE will continue to play our best players if available.