Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
The game has really changed though and the starting pitcher isn't what they used to be. It's why if Verlander can get to 300 wins he might be the last pitcher to ever do it unless they change the rules.
Now if you have three great arms in your bullpen you can shorten the game. With all the off days in a playoff, you could use those three pitchers in almost every game in a 5 game series and maybe 6 of the 7 in a seven game series. Doesn't work the same in a regular season where you regularly play 6 or 7 games a week.
Starting pitching is still important since no one's bullpen is quite that deep, but it won't have the same impact on a series that it used to.
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Yeah, the playoffs are different than the regular season because essentially you don't need all your pitchers. So having strong arms in the bottom of the rotation/bullpen will win you games in the regular season (and did for the Jays this year) but doesn't help in the playoffs.