Pitching Role Changes: Starters to Relievers, Relievers to Starters
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Seems I can’t recall ever hearing of so many upcoming pitching role
changes or possible pitching role changes between starting pitching, relief or closing roles.
Although we’ve seen pitchers such as Dennis Eckersley or Goose Gossage change roles during their careers, have there ever been so many pitchers either volunteering for role transition or being compelled to transition by their teams?
We’ve been hearing throughout the off-season about last season’s Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon’s conversion to starter, after late-season arm problems, in order to be on a regular schedule to conserve his arm and not suffer the rigors of everyday pitching.
We’ve also been hearing about the Phillies and their six starters, about possible deals for Jon Lieber to bring in a steady relief hand to share closing with Tom Gordon. We’ve been hearing that Brett Myers has volunteered to go to the bullpen to close if necessary, a position more likely to be thrust upon Lieber himself in event that the team goes into the season bullpen-lean. Last season, Ryan Madson worked in both roles and went 11-9, appeared in 50 games, starting 17, but his ERA exploded to 5.69.
And so we seem to be hearing about pitching role changes throughout baseball, or at least throughout the NL. For instance, the Colorado Rockies have told young righthander Taylor Buchholz that he’ll be beginning the season in the bullpen. And Buchholz seems willing to help the team in any way he can and is ready for the role change, just as Brett Myers is similarly willing.
The Dodgers have told young 22 year old starter Chad Billingsley, odd man out on a strong and deep starting staff, that he’s bullpen-bound. ESPN reports;
Dodgers manager Grady Little said. “The bottom line is, it’s the best thing for him right now in his development.”
And so, this season, many starters are either asking or are being asked to relieve or are asking or being asked to start in increasing numbers. It’ll be an interesting aspect of the game to watch this season; to see how these moves work out both individually and as a collective strategy.
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