Quote:
Originally Posted by METSSC  If you're gonna need the pen to pitch 3 innings in every game you start the odds of them blowing a game for you go way up. I never recall Seaver having this problem because he finished his games. Yeah yeah I know the game has changed blah blah blah. To be worth the money he's getting he has to be a guy that can throw complete games otherwise youre better off spending the money on top arms for the pen and start your rookie arms and sign a bunch of Livans. |
Valid point but the money you cited is the reason they have pitch counts in the first place and in turn why pitchers don't finish games. It's about protecting the investment and that's the organization's position, not the player's position.
To be fair, I would say in the case of Johan, it's more like two innings since he seems to go around seven innings, not six. Most major league pens have a capable set up man and closer to get the job done.
Is it natural for them to blow a game here or there? Sure, but six in a little over 2/3 of a season is inexcusable.