Mark Grove Sportswriter

 I jnow it sounds stupid. But why not?  You might be an okay outfielder or infielder at best, but your batting skills and defensive skills were never string for you.  But you have a rocket of an arm. Ask yourself do I want a rubber arm and rotator cuff or Tommy John Surgery like issues be a fireballer?  It can happen and does. Why not practice as a reliever in short or long relief or as a closer.  You may be better suited to it. And you need to still have good defensive skills and know how to pitch with runners on the bases. great throwers don't automatically make great starters.  I would rather see bullpens used more but limited to mainly relievers in long relief or risk using their bullpen too much. I personally like using relief pitchers more than depending on starters going 5 or 7 innings.  Yes, i could be totally wrong. But i want to focus a lot on data analytics for relievers and how they are trained in the bullpen and how intra squad games are u...

 I found it odd. I can't rememeber what reliever was pitching. The Jays were playing St. Louis cardinals. It was the bottom of the ninth and the jays were winning 10-7. There was 2 out and one on base. The reliever was having a difficult time and so he was pulled for the closer Jeff Hoffman. If I have Hoffman's first name wrong i will correct it. Anyhow the reliever was paulled for Hoffman and what di you think happened on Hoffman's first pitch? Cirrect--a slam dunk of a himer!  Afte rthat Hoffman settled down and the batter popped out if I am correct. I was a little drunk yesterday.   Why do you think John Snneider pulled his reliever for Hoffman? Did Hoffman have experience against the batter? or was it a scouting report stat that got them to switch to Hoffman? Im just curious. In the end the Jays won. Was it a pitching count issue, or the fact this reliever was having difficulty and both Schneider and pitching coach pete Walker wanted this to go no further, and st...

  So Zuck, Are You And Your Cronies Going To Hide My Content ? Sorry, I'm being glib and sarcastic. I am looking at interviewing a baseball pitching coach on relief pitching. I have contacted on triple A team, and two seni pro teams in a canadian league in London. So one of may many questions on relief pitching is how do or does a pitching coach determine if a potential reliever is best suited in short relief, long relief, set up man or closer? What I want to do is interview a number of pitching coaches on relief pitching, and learn from these experts. What I want to eventually do is take a baseball data analytics course focusing on relief pitching. I know it sounds boring, but to me it's fascinating on how relievers are scouted and trained. Are relievers usually starters who don't have that edge anymore starter wise? Or are they taken from outfielders or utility players who don't have strong defensive or batting skills, but have rockets for an arm? And how are potenti...

 How many variables Do Minor league and MLB teams go over training wise when it comes to relievers? I'm talking recording ball control when pitches go over the plate? What types of pitches are thrown? Pitching velocity?  How Does A Pitching Coach determine what role a reliever should be in relief wise?  How does a pitching coach monitor and figure out what types of pitches a reliever is more effective at throwing? Does a pitching coach see how a reliever does when runners are on base, and see if they are more effective in striking out batters, pop outs, ground outs etc? 

 I often wonder what percentage of starting pitchers in the NLB become better equipped to be relievers than starters? Andm do even the best starters stay as starters too long, ther by inhuring their rotator cuffs too much, or elbow issues and getting Tommy John like symtoms--there by possibly injuring themselves too much and having to give up pitching all together? ITake a great starter like Max Sherzer or Chris Sale. I don't know what Sherzer is doing win--loss wise this year with the Blue Jays--but I don't think he has been used a lot. I don't know if he has a regular spot in the rotation. Part of me wishes they did not acquire Max. t may be better for a starter like Sherzer to be a reliever. I realize not even starters are cut out to be relievers. I would like to know protocol on taking a starter and putting them in a relief position--be it long relief, short, set up man or closer.  I think it would be an interesting article and educate pitching coaches on how best to kn...

 Does a bullpen  like a starting pitcher rotation?  Or does a bullpen opertae more on scouting reports of both batters on opposite teams and a particular relief pitchers ability against certain types of batters? I am trying to interview a pitching coach from 3 different sources. MLB, minors and semi pro. But for now I have not been able to land an interview.  And what aspects of a relief pitchers ability pitching type wise, velocity and ability not just to strike out players, but get them to pop out, ground out or strike out more important? I will have more on this later. And hopefully a few questions answered questions on relief pitchinh.