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Jared Diamond

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 06:03 AM

Can't stumble across a Mets article by the Wall Street Journal's Jared Diamond, without briefly forgetting that he's not that Jared Diamond, and I'm not about to read about the Mets in the context of evolutionary anthropology or some other multidisciplinary scientific construction. Funny thing is that even after I realize it's a different cat, I'm still inferring an increased level of gravity thanks to the big-thinking cap I put on as soon as a I read the byline. Anyhow, Jared writes this morning that the key to a good bullpen isn't investing money, or directing your best young arms there, or sharing closer duties, but rather getting as much as you can from your starters, and so leaning into your relief staff as little as possible. I agree! And I would have agreed if he had any other name. (Well, maybe not Bill Madden.)

metirish Feb 19 2013 11:43 AM Re: Jared Diamond

I'd be shocked if the Mets get 1000 innings out of the starters But there is another, less obvious explanation for the 1,000-inning phenomenon—one that particularly matters to the Mets. It turns out that just by pitching a little bit more, the starting rotation could fix the Mets' most glaring problem: the bullpen. the article doesn't say when was the last time the Mets starters achieved this number.

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 11:53 AM Re: Jared Diamond

I'm not that sure that it should be impossible. I mean, it may take eight or more starters to get there, but...

Edgy MD Feb 19 2013 12:04 PM Re: Jared Diamond

Here's ten years' worth: 2012: 975.1 IP by starters (having a CYA winner helps) 2011: 974.0 2010: 972.0 2009: 924.1 2008: 971.0 2007: 940.2 2006: 918.2 2005: 1022.2 (Martinez [31 starts], Glavine [33], Benson [28], Zambrano [27!], Ishii [16], Seo [14], Heilman [7], Trachsel [6]) 2004: 928.2 2003: 921.0 I guess that should be displayed with the bullpen ERAs next to the starters' IP. Maybe later. What a spikey outlier that one year is, though.

metirish Feb 19 2013 12:06 PM Re: Jared Diamond

Good work, thanks. Possible , yes.

G-Fafif Feb 19 2013 12:12 PM Re: Jared Diamond

Saw an expert analyst on MLBN explain really good teams have "solid hitting, solid starting pitching and a shutdown bullpen." So go get those, Mets, and you'll be set.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 19 2013 01:09 PM Re: Jared Diamond

Guns, Germs, and Nails: The Story of the 1986 Mets.