Number of Pitchers on Active Roster

11-08-2008, 11:56 AM

Wonder if any of you can help me out. Do most Major League teams keep 12 pitchers on their everyday roster? That seems high to me.

Curtis · 11-08-2008, 02:38 PM

Today it's twelve to thirteen. Back in the 60s and 70s it was ten to eleven, with nine not unheard of (especially in the 60s).

I BELIEVE that it was the standardization of the five man rotation combined with the new roles of setup man and closer that made the difference. Probably each added one pitcher to the roster. Previously the fifth starter was a spot starter and long relief man. When he became a fulltime starter an extra reliever needed to be added.

The same occurred when setup/closer came into vogue. My recollection is that 'back in the day' if your team was up by two or three runs at the time the other team came to bat it would never enter your mind to bring in a reliever.

Two other factors probably enter into it, but they evolved more gradually. Pinch hitting for position players has decreased over time, so there's less need for bench strength. Righty/lefty pitching matchups have been in use since immediately after WWII (as far as I know Casey Stengal was the first manager to do that as a regular thing, and also the first to institutionalize the platooning of position players), but didn't take off in a really big way until maybe twenty years ago.

Afino · 11-08-2008, 03:56 PM

I play in the 1950's (1954 currently).

I personally keep a 9-man pitching staff (with a 4-man rotation). I sometimes call up a 10th man in the case that my bullpen gets overused and tired. Or as Curtis just said, I've used a swingman between the 5th starter (if needed for doubleheaders, etc) and a long relief man.

Most AI teams have a 7 or 8 man staff, and I've previously posted on how I think that should be changed in OOTP10. It's very unrealistic (IMO) and it causes bullpens to never rest.

11-08-2008, 04:56 PM

Thanks, I appreaciate it. I still can't see the need for 12 pitchers, but it helps to know that the game is getting things right.

11-08-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afino

I play in the 1950's (1954 currently).

(Most AI teams have a 7 or 8 man staff, and I've previously posted on how I think that should be changed in OOTP10. It's very unrealistic (IMO) and it causes bullpens to never rest.)

I really wish there was a way to control roster makeup league wide. We could still use, "use of relievers", "use of closers", and "pitcher endurance" the way we do now, but if we want all the teams in a league to have 10 man pitching staffs we would be able to do so. I just noticed the AL teams in my league (DH) were only using 8 man pitching staffs. My team and all the other teams in the NL were using 10 pitchers.

Just a thought.

Curtis · 11-08-2008, 05:36 PM

Personally, I prefer ten pitchers in pre-modern (note that I never go back before 1962) and eleven with no DH in the present day when I'm playing an MLB setup. In my Nippon League I have twelve pitchers and no DH on a 28 man roster. During spring training I went with fourteen pitchers (six starters) and eighteen position players with a DH.

I don't mind using the DH in exhibition, spring training and All Star games, but stay away from it during the regular season and playoffs. I may have outsmarted myself. In the final ST game I was DHing my starting first baseman (and didn't insert him until the sixth inning) to try to keep him from being hurt, because he represents 45% of my total payroll. You guessed it; while running to first in the top of the seventh inning he twisted his knee and will be out for eight to nine weeks.

Wow, did I ever veer off topic!

bp_ · 11-08-2008, 07:44 PM

I almost always use 11 pitchers in OOTP. I don't find the need for more than that as long as all my starters have good endurance.

AirmenSmith · 11-08-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis McGee

Thanks, I appreaciate it. I still can't see the need for 12 pitchers, but it helps to know that the game is getting things right.

My guess is that the need for 12 pitchers is because most of the starting pitchers nowadays don't come close to pitching complete games. They are worth to much to over use.

11-08-2008, 11:56 AM	#1
Travis McGee Guest Posts: n/a	Number of Pitchers on Active Roster Wonder if any of you can help me out. Do most Major League teams keep 12 pitchers on their everyday roster? That seems high to me. Last edited by Travis McGee; 11-08-2008 at 12:31 PM.

11-08-2008, 03:56 PM	#3
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,828	I play in the 1950's (1954 currently). I personally keep a 9-man pitching staff (with a 4-man rotation). I sometimes call up a 10th man in the case that my bullpen gets overused and tired. Or as Curtis just said, I've used a swingman between the 5th starter (if needed for doubleheaders, etc) and a long relief man. Most AI teams have a 7 or 8 man staff, and I've previously posted on how I think that should be changed in OOTP10. It's very unrealistic (IMO) and it causes bullpens to never rest. __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers

11-08-2008, 07:44 PM	#7
bp_ Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,804	I almost always use 11 pitchers in OOTP. I don't find the need for more than that as long as all my starters have good endurance. __________________ Commish: Over The Mound

11-08-2008, 02:38 PM	#2
Curtis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Watertown, New York Posts: 4,567	Today it's twelve to thirteen. Back in the 60s and 70s it was ten to eleven, with nine not unheard of (especially in the 60s). I BELIEVE that it was the standardization of the five man rotation combined with the new roles of setup man and closer that made the difference. Probably each added one pitcher to the roster. Previously the fifth starter was a spot starter and long relief man. When he became a fulltime starter an extra reliever needed to be added. The same occurred when setup/closer came into vogue. My recollection is that 'back in the day' if your team was up by two or three runs at the time the other team came to bat it would never enter your mind to bring in a reliever. Two other factors probably enter into it, but they evolved more gradually. Pinch hitting for position players has decreased over time, so there's less need for bench strength. Righty/lefty pitching matchups have been in use since immediately after WWII (as far as I know Casey Stengal was the first manager to do that as a regular thing, and also the first to institutionalize the platooning of position players), but didn't take off in a really big way until maybe twenty years ago.

11-08-2008, 04:56 PM	#4
Travis McGee Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks, I appreaciate it. I still can't see the need for 12 pitchers, but it helps to know that the game is getting things right.

11-08-2008, 05:36 PM	#6
Curtis Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Watertown, New York Posts: 4,567	Personally, I prefer ten pitchers in pre-modern (note that I never go back before 1962) and eleven with no DH in the present day when I'm playing an MLB setup. In my Nippon League I have twelve pitchers and no DH on a 28 man roster. During spring training I went with fourteen pitchers (six starters) and eighteen position players with a DH. I don't mind using the DH in exhibition, spring training and All Star games, but stay away from it during the regular season and playoffs. I may have outsmarted myself. In the final ST game I was DHing my starting first baseman (and didn't insert him until the sixth inning) to try to keep him from being hurt, because he represents 45% of my total payroll. You guessed it; while running to first in the top of the seventh inning he twisted his knee and will be out for eight to nine weeks. Wow, did I ever veer off topic!