I'm curious what's going on with Tyler Black. He hasn't been listed on the ACL roster (rehab assignment) for a few days and didn't get activated by Nashville. I wonder if he had a setback or there's a new injury there.
Again they are very different things and I'm not trying to debate the two. I'm just showing you there's pretty clear logic to a one inning opener especially in terms of trying to get a few more outs from your SP.
Chad Patrick is a pretty good example of someone who could be benefiting from a 1 inning opener. He's been pulled in the 5th inning or after 5 innings to avoid the top of the order a 3rd time multiple times this season because Murphy doesn't trust him to face the top of the order a 3rd time. Give Patrick an opener so he comes in facing the 5 hitter in the 2nd and he'd probably have given you 5-10 more outs this season which is 5-10 fewer outs the bullpen would have needed.
I'll reiterate once again. I was not comparing the two. My comment has nothing to do with debating 1 inning vs 3 inning opener. I was responding to Brock saying this:
Okay nobody said the 1 inning opener was superior to the 3 inning opener. You're changing the subject. I was just explaining the pretty clear logic in using a 1 inning opener and how it's different than starting a guy and pulling him when the top of the order comes up a 3rd time.
Starting a guy and pulling him for same reliever once top of the order comes up a 3rd time - 18 hitters
Opening for a guy and pulling him for relievers once top of order comes up a 3rd time - 22/23 hitters
Using the 1 inning opener gives you much more leeway to get 5+/6 innings from your starter. There's the logic. It's pretty clear.
The whole point of the 1 inning opener is so that the order starts at 5 for the starter instead of 1. Facing the top of the order a 3rd time instead of coming at batter 19 would come at batter 24 which gives your starter a better chance at going 6 innings.
Civale’s season long numbers don’t look good but he’s been solid since coming off the IL. In 3 starts he has a 3.14 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 2.80 xERA.
Woodruff would likely be a downgrade to our current rotation in my opinion
I just want to add I think the ball/strike umping in AAA has gotten better because of the challenge system. Umps get immediate feedback on their incorrect calls and can adjust their zones. The worst umps I've seen in terms of ball/strike have largely been MLB umps.
Payne's injury issues really wiped away any momentum he had going for himself at the plate. Feel like his swing looks different every time he swings. Just in a really rough spot and it's seeping into his swing decisions now as well.
I think Ashby just didn't have enough time to get completely warmed. Miley faced 2 hitters and threw 9 pitches after the HR to push the lead to 8. Considering Miley works very quickly there wasn't a ton of time to get loose and warmed.
Now why Ashby is as deep in the doghouse as he is? Who knows. Only Murphy can answer that. At this point though with how much time he's had between outings, he's probably going to be shaky in his next outing due to rust.
Ashby has looked totally fine in his two outings this year. A bit wild in the second one but certainly nothing that should have him this deep in the doghouse. He has great stuff and his track record as a reliever in MLB has been superb.