I have no problem with your way of thinking. Caution is fine. The suggestion that losing an early game can be a benefit later is worth debating. But the way you frame the argument? My choices are: 1."risk" to win early and 2. long-term injury? Well, then I didn't understand the choices and you are correct. You frame it in such a way (risk to win?) that it is not worth discussing. Same with the poster who suggested another option was pitchers' arms falling off from overuse. I think there is room for more nuance here. If Woodruff or Burnes came out to start the next inning, perhaps their arms would have fallen off. But they also may have been okay. And then they may have batted in the next inning and trashed their shoulder diving back into first base. We will never know. I can see where you are coming from. Thanks for elaborating. You right, there are multiple outcomes for each decision. Also I see your point on losing a game here and there can add up and be the difference in making the playoffs at the end of the year. Also remember, just because CC makes a decision and it goes wrong, it doesn't make the other option automatically right. Woody could have given up a couple runs that next inning too. We never know. I guess that's the beauty of baseball and sports. I think when I read through the posts I started to feel like people were getting angrier than they actually were, with CC. Got defensive, again, because I think he's a great long term fit here. I didn't want to see the frustration with him snowball. I randomly thought of this after reading the last few posts. How much do you think managers factor in positive mental outcomes in their decisions. Hey Woody has been pitching great to start the season, let's take him out on a high note here, and preserve his arm a bit. Win win. Then we can lean on him more down the road and hopefully he's more confident in himself. I guess it can work both ways though, less confidence to go deeper in to games and get out of jams on their own.