Role of starters in modern baseball and the damage they can cause – MLB Feature
A starter is the one who sets the tone for the proceedings. A team with a strong ace boasts an edge over the opposition. If a club suffers with a weak offence, it still can escape a chunk of the damage. First few innings lay the foundation and for a starter
that means restricting the leadoff batter, dominate in pitch count and spoil plans for initial walks or base-loadings.
For if little care is shown at this time, opposition will see their strategy implemented right away. An initial run-rampage thus suffered can harden the task for bridging up the deficit by the hitters later in the game.
Good run support is one of the biggest things a starter can hope. It cannot be everything in-itself nonetheless. A lead of five to six runs can easily be blown up, in case the starter lacks control is unable to eschew walks and is prone to meltdown as the
pitch-count rises against him.
Few fundamental characteristics build the pyramid of success and paucity of these will nullify everything that an offence can bring.
Having a diversified repertoire is a great thing to have with a few varieties which can ensure long-term success.
R.A. Dickey, a starter with the New York Mets excels in throwing knucklers and while one can take huge surprise of such a magnificent survival with just one weapon in his artillery, it proves an importance of having all-out expertise.
Off-course the kind of expertise possessed matters equally. Fastballs at sheer pace of around 90 to 95mph can be horrifying for hitters and can act to dislodge even the best in the business.
They say, in case a hitter is good at nearly everything and is better at switch-hitting can outwit change-ups as he is quick at reading the curves, only way to overcome the giants like this requires fastballs.
A fastball followed by a slower pitch can destroy the whole composure of a hitter, thus resulting in miscues, fly balls and ground outs.
Confusion created by this continues having an impact as the rest of the hitters take the plate. Gio Gonzalez can be cited as one of the best in this category. No wonder he is leading the Washington Nationals in almost every game he is playing.
Time spent on the mound by the starter explains how much the bullpen will have its role in the play. As a matter of competitive edge, seven to eight innings speak of the excellence of a starter. The fact a starter is allowed these only when he is effective
enough as chances are the team is going to win.
Even a starter who can throw a few quality innings can be condoned provided the relievers and closers are capable of blocking any late up-surge by the opposition.
Ideally speaking, a team with an ace who can stand tirelessly for whole nine innings, with an impeccable consistency can easily considers itself lucky. The Nationals are going through a kind of start of their regular season they have not experienced in years.
Only reason behind this is powerful arms they have that can throw shut-out games.
Every time a starter appears on the mound, he comes with a plan, which more often than not fails. Those who are as good as Roy Halladay at adjustments can survive but those having the opposite can easily witness their worst on the day.
Having skills shows the potential, it is the way one applies one’s intellect and studies things precisely on the spot which leads to the ultimate materialisation of the talent a pitcher has.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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