ShootingtheJ wrote:
Zero? Nah, low but not zero. May is a disaster, Harrison is still searching for it, and the organization seems to have finally learned that bullpen games are a series losing idea. If they believe that Wilson can avoid walks and dingers, they might try to get 3 or 4 innings out of him.
I don't think they're for or against bullpen games as a rule. It's all just situational. You have to remember that teams only use bullpen games if they don't have a starter who inspires confidence, so it's more of a "this is the best we can do" approach than a sign that they believe bullpen games are a good strategy.
One thing I like about openers is making it harder for opponents to set their lineup. For example, if you open with May or Wilson against the Cubs and they put Happ and Busch in the top-5 of the lineup (a total Counsell move), then you can pull your SP before the second time through the order and let Ashby, Hall, Drohan, or Romero face their only real LHB threats in the 3rd inning. Nobody's going to burn a PH that early to get a better platoon matchup.
