162 x 9 = 1458 IP
Can we do it? It used to be routine in an age when GMs didn't really pay attention to their bullpens. As I've said before it opens up CRAZY platoon opportunities.
Economically it has two huge advantages:
Platoons that hit and field like all stars are way cheaper than all stars
decent long relievers are the cheapest decent pitchers available
It also plays to the A's strengths, we have several candidates that could be in the bullpen and come in and throw 2 to 3 high quality innings at a time, and we have four pitchers with 190IP seasons under their belts.
Organizationally, we are better prepared to try this for two more reasons, we constantly stress throwing strikes and pitching to contact, and we have fielded defenses the last two years that have been very adept at turning batted balls into outs.
two more important factors, we pitch in pitchers park, and our AAA team is only a 2 hour drive away.
i see this being a big plus for the regular season, but like dingerpower pointed out in his diary, would need to be changed in the postseason.
Check this out:
Platoons that hit and field like all stars are way cheaper than all stars
decent long relievers are the cheapest decent pitchers available
It also plays to the A's strengths, we have several candidates that could be in the bullpen and come in and throw 2 to 3 high quality innings at a time.
this is a clip from an excel spreadsheet that didn't format that well:
Position Pitcher Appearances avg ip total ip comments
1 Haren 33 6 198 avg 220 ip 1st 2 years at Oak
2 Loaiza 33 6 198 avg 195 ip last 4 years
3 Harden 32 6 192 04 189 ip/ 05 128 ip
4 Blanton 32 6 192 avg 197 ip 1st 2 years
5 Kennedy 32 6 192 avg 160 ip from 2002-2005
total for starters 972
long Right Saarloos 50 3 150 avg 140 ip last 2 years
long Left TBA(Reuter?) 60 2 120 this works out to 2ip every third day of the season
setup 1 Duke 40 2 80 avg 78 ip last 3 years
setup 2 Calero 50 2 100 at StL he was used less often for over one ip/g
Closer Street 80 1 80 averaged 74 IP 1st 2 years
bullpen innings required if starters avg 6ip/start 486
bullpen innings possible with these numbers 530
1458 total innings
Notes: assumes no extra innings, but also assumes no road losses