So, we learn that pitching HAS won championships. Thass’ the fact.
:: zaps Igor with a quick 10,000 ::
:: taps chin, tousles own hair ::
WHY would that be the case?
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You feel me? It’s fine to say that human beings ARE conscious. A 3-year-old can get that. He really can. It’s just that it's harder to explain WHY humans are conscious. So here we are: pitching HAS won. But the cause-and-effect? Do tell.
I mean, why? Why should good pitching beat good hitting?
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One possibility: In the postseason, you can concentrate your pitching into the top 50%, 60% of the staff. This we knew. The Yankees manufactured a lot of retch-inducing glory by using just Pettite, Wells, and Rivera. Your best two relievers can go long if you’re just doing it for a couple weeks.
You can’t do that with your hitters. There is no way to put a Pete Carroll “compression tackle” onto your lineup, folding it like an accordion.
So, that would make SOME sense – in the playoffs. It becomes everybody’s whole offense against everybody’s top-half pitching.
Don’t explain all of it, though. All them 114-ERA+ champions weren’t identical in having Stars & Scrubs pitching staffs.
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Another possibility: When the games get super tough, it is simply a more reproducible process to throttle the other guys out via rear naked choke. In other words, Felix Hernandez’ changeup is more reproducible than Robinson Cano’s line shots down the 1B line. Maybe the Toronto Blue Jays of each baseball season are simply destined to have the dice 'crap out' on them at some point.
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:: shrug :: I dunno. But here are a few Seattle-related implications, er, questions for yer:
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Q. Does this apply to the NFL? Do you bet defense there? The more so in the postseason? Pro Football Focus says winning is 5 parts offense, 4 parts defense, and 1 part special teams. Maybe Pro Football Focus is off their rocker, or didn't see Super Bowl IIL, or maybe Dr. D needs to cut back on his Turkey Tail Mushrooms.
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Q. Why, in the name of all that is Edgar, are the Mariners chiseling Hisashi Iwakuma over the 3rd year on his deal?
And word is, that’s exactly what they’re doing. Iwakuma wants “at least three” years, as every blinkin’ free agent pitcher up to and including John Lackey will get, but the M’s want to hold the line at two.
Explain, using the 1-syllable words that poor addled Dr. D so craves in these situations. ... in the Fangraphs interview we just linked, Jerry DiPoto affectionately ticked off his starting rotation: Felix, Karns, Taijuan, Paxton, and Elias. If pitching is da name of da game, why aren't we shedding Trumbo and, um, Mather to bid on Cueto or Zimmerman?
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Q. In the big picture, isn't it enough that DiPoto is "On It"?
I spose it is.
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Bah humbug,
Jeff