Why only 6 innings ?

[Big Reed]

I will start by saying I don't get the opportunity to see many games.

 

With that said, in following a paper trail boxscore of the Brewers' season this year, it seems as if every pitcher is on an innings and pitch count. It's as if Yost has informed every pitcher, just give me 6 innings and our relief staff will take it from there. I am asking why?

 

I can see where you might want to limit the innings of Gallardo and Parra. but why is Yost limiting the pitches and innings for pitchers like Sheets, Suppan, Bush and Capuano? Admittedly, it might be a very smart thing to limit Cappy's innings. But even when he was pitching good, Yost would yank him after 6 innings.

 

When Gallardo and Parra were pitching in the minors, didn't their coach allow them to pitch 7-9 innings a game?

 

I've noticed the pitch counts when the starter is yanked in a good outing is around 95-105 pitches. I can understand when a manager yanks a pitcher if he isn't doing well. But I would think a pitcher like Suppan, Sheets or Bush would be allowed to pitch 7-9 innings and 120-130 pitches if they are pitching well that night.

 

I'm begining to believe if our starter gets into a jam in the 6th inning, to leave him in there rather than to bring a reliever in to put gas on the flames. I am led to wonder if the brewers' relief staff has the highest inherited runners scored amount in the majors. The 6th and 7th innings have been killer innings for the Brewers. I am just led to wonder why Yost doesn't leave his starters in for 20-30 more pitches and 1-2 more innings rather than saying thanks for 6 innings and a quality start.

 

Are the starters asking to be taken out after 6 innings? Do they have nothing left after 6 innings? or is it a manager decision and he's trying to save their arms for December? input appreciated.

[trwi7]

When Gallardo and Parra were pitching in the minors, didn't their coach allow them to pitch 7-9 innings a game?

Umm never.

 

And it all depends on pitch count. If you have a low pitch count like Bush against SF you're going to stay in the game longer if it was like Sheets yesterday who was at 118 pitches through 6 innings you're not going any further. Not only do you risk injury but the pitcher is much less effective with a high pitch count.

[Thurston Fluff]

Sheets has a semi healed finger. Quite frankly I'd rather have Sheets throw 6 innings every fifth day than have him throw more and not be available for a start or two. Soup has a history of being a 6 inning pitcher after that it gets dicey, YoGa and Parra were on innings limits all the way through the year both major and minor leagues. If Cappy could get through six innings without being torched it might have been a differant story. Bush, when he has pitched well enough to go past six, has done so. Most pitchers in the NL don't go past that due to the need to pinch hit in tight games. This staff had two guys coming into the year that could be viewed as a 7-9 inning type of pitcher in Sheets and Cappy. Sheets would have if he could have stayed healthy and Cappy we all know the story of why he hasn't. Funney how some complain about the starters not going long enough yet all the way through others complained that he left the starters in one inning or hitter to late.

[sbrylski]

In general, once a pitcher hits the 100 pitch mark their preformance in their next couple starts suffers. There have been studies on it, and pitch count is actually more important than number of days rest. Those 20-30 extra pitches this game can mean an extra run a game for their next 3 outings.

[dadofandrew]

120-130 pitches is a very high count and should be avoided like the plague, with rare exceptions of a guy who is pitching well in a playoff game. 110 is a good guideline for the regular season.

[Ennder]

Its a combination of high pitch counts and our pitchers hitting a wall on a regular basis in the 7th. This season it really hasn't mattered who pitches the 7th, they have sucked at it.

 

We have a .928 OPS against in the 6th inning and an .813 OPS against in the 7th inning.

[mothershipconnection]

The pattern likely was strengthened when the pen was doing well. Yost could go out with a lead, give his starter a break, and watch the team roll to victory. Also, we've had many starter meltdowns in addition to the bullpen ones, and he may feel that the starter is primed for a blow up more than the reliever he picks.

 

I looked up the numbers, and they're UGLY.

Capuano gets bad in the 6th (1.258 OPS against) and 7th (.855). He allows a .773 OPS from pitches 51-75 and .852 from 76-100.

Bush allows an OPS of .722 in the fifth which jumps to .872 in the 6th and keeps getting worse. He allows a 1.052 OPS from pitches 76-100

Suppan goes from an .800 OPS allowed in the 5th to 1.150 in the 6th and 1.024 in the 7th. His OPS after the 75th pitch is over 1.000

Vargas goes from a .649 OPS allowed in the 5th to 1.264 in the 6th and 1.038 in the 7th. Batters have an OPS of .680 in pitches 51-75 and .918 from 76-100

Sheets is our workhorse, and hasn't gotten hit much harder in 76-100 than 26-50.

[TerraceReserved]

Its a combination of high pitch counts and our pitchers hitting a wall on a regular basis in the 7th. This season it really hasn't mattered who pitches the 7th, they have sucked at it.

 

We have a .928 OPS against in the 6th inning and an .813 OPS against in the 7th inning.

 

Do you mean the .928 OPS against is in the 7th inning? Cause with those number it shows our pitchers being better in the seventh inning, right? (or am I missing something here......)

[logan82]

That might be true. If they are pitching well you would see very few times when they have bad 7th or 8th innings. If they are pitching poorly they would be removed in the 6th or earlier.