If Major League Baseball starting pitchers threw more complete games, injuries would be more common, but salaries would probably go down for middle relief. The starting pitcher's frequency of throwing a complete game has dropped off significantly since the early 1990s. The scientific analysis of injuries and the direct correlation of innings pitched per season has piled up over the years. Pitchers like Phil Niekro, Burt Blyleven, and Nolan Ryan thrived on pitching complete games and also pitched well into their 40s. Most of the pitchers who are into their 40s, (i.e. Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine) do not get much farther than the 7th inning.

Middle relief has almost become an art-form for a manager to use. Bringing in a lefty for a batter who doesn't hit lefties well, then come back out and yank him for a right-handed pitcher for the next three batters. The odds would favor the pitcher in these scenarios, which is positive for the manager. Middle relief and/or set-up men are getting huge contracts to come in and face one to two batters a game. Reducing the middle relief pitchers on your roster would decrease your payroll, a GM could add a few more possible starting pitchers, in case one of your rotation would have arm troubles. Injuries would happen, since they would be pitching more than 300 innings a season.

This method worked in the days of the strikeout pitcher like Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, I don't see why this couldn't work in today's game. Although it seems easier said than done, it would only take one or two youthful pitchers to be damaged from overuse (Kerry Wood and Mark Prior) and the middle relief pitcher would, once again, be getting huge contracts.

Learn more about this author, Sweetbob.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about The case for more complete games?
We want to hear your view. Write now!