Rain Delays?

[David Watts]

This morning I had a game with a 39 minute rain delay. After the delay, neither starting pitcher showed up tired and stayed in the game. I then had another game that featured a 60 minute rain delay in the bottom of the second. Again, both starting pitchers stayed in the game. In fact, one went 7.2 innings total. In the past a pitcher would show as tired after a 60 minute delay. Not many real life pitchers are going to return in that situation.

Are any of you noticing this?

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by David Watts

This morning I had a game with a 39 minute rain delay. After the delay, neither starting pitcher showed up tired and stayed in the game. I then had another game that featured a 60 minute rain delay in the bottom of the second. Again, both starting pitchers stayed in the game. In fact, one went 7.2 innings total. In the past a pitcher would show as tired after a 60 minute delay. Not many real life pitchers are going to return in that situation.

Are any of you noticing this?

Yesterday, the Reds and Pirates had an hour and 15 minute delay and the Reds' Sclafananinania (that's not how you spell it) and the Pirates' Burnett stayed in the game. On Opening Day there was a rain delay of around 30 minutes after the 5th inning or so (can't remember the exact time) and Cueto and Liriano both stayed in the game.

[Questdog]

Originally Posted by David Watts

This morning I had a game with a 39 minute rain delay. After the delay, neither starting pitcher showed up tired and stayed in the game. I then had another game that featured a 60 minute rain delay in the bottom of the second. Again, both starting pitchers stayed in the game. In fact, one went 7.2 innings total. In the past a pitcher would show as tired after a 60 minute delay. Not many real life pitchers are going to return in that situation.

Are any of you noticing this?

Yesterday, the Reds and Pirates had an hour and 15 minute delay and the Reds' Sclafananinania (that's not how you spell it) and the Pirates' Burnett stayed in the game. On Opening Day there was a rain delay of around 30 minutes after the 5th inning or so (can't remember the exact time) and Cueto and Liriano both stayed in the game.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Yesterday, the Reds and Pirates had an hour and 15 minute delay and the Reds' Sclafananinania (that's not how you spell it) and the Pirates' Burnett stayed in the game. On Opening Day there was a rain delay of around 30 minutes after the 5th inning or so (can't remember the exact time) and Cueto and Liriano both stayed in the game.

Well, I stand corrected. Just checked and you're are correct.

[Sweed]

I've noticed a difference in v16 compared to earlier versions. I don't know if Markus and team have done studies to base how long a delay is compared to how likely a P is to come back into the game and for how long. It would be interesting reading if they have.

I think v16 is an improvement over previous versions with rain delays and P's coming back. I always thought P's would tire too soon after one rain delay (dependent on time of course). No data to back that up and am happy to back off seeing it as an improvement if somebody has data to show it is now less realistic.

It used to be I'd have a guy pitching the game of his life and then here comes the rain in the 4th inning and I know it's over. Now I'm reasonably sure he'll at least give it a good go to try to continue. I've got to think in most circumstances with a delay of ~an hour a P will try to soft toss, run\jog for quite awhile to attempt to stay in the game not only to try to get a win but to save bullpen too. Again no data to backup any of this, so if you know more feel free to fire away and I'll be quiet

Maybe the pendulum has swung too far the other way? I don't know as I play out all of my games and have had only a few rain delays. Something I've been watching and will continue to do.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Sweed

I've noticed a difference in v16 compared to earlier versions. I don't know if Markus and team have done studies to base how long a delay is compared to how likely a P is to come back into the game and for how long. It would be interesting reading if they have.

I think v16 is an improvement over previous versions with rain delays and P's coming back. I always thought P's would tire too soon after one rain delay (dependent on time of course). No data to back that up and am happy to back off seeing it as an improvement if somebody has data to show it is now less realistic.

It used to be I'd have a guy pitching the game of his life and then here comes the rain in the 4th inning and I know it's over. Now I'm reasonably sure he'll at least give it a good go to try to continue. I've got to think in most circumstances with a delay of ~an hour a P will try to soft toss, run\jog for quite awhile to attempt to stay in the game not only to try to get a win but to save bullpen too. Again no data to backup any of this, so if you know more feel free to fire away and I'll be quiet

Maybe the pendulum has swung too far the other way? I don't know as I play out all of my games and have had only a few rain delays. Something I've been watching and will continue to do.

I will be interested to see what happens if the delay occurs past the 5th inning.

[endgame]

There's probably some rationale I'm missing, but I have no problem with a pitcher returning after a reasonably short delay. As QD pointed out, it happens. What I do not fully understand is why, as I've seen it and only a couple of times, they're only around long enough to face a couple of batters. Why not just say done for the day?

[Hockey13Playa]

Originally Posted by David Watts

I will be interested to see what happens if the delay occurs past the 5th inning.

I wondered the same.. seeing 60-100 minute rain delays in the beginning of games and noticed the starting pitchers stayed in game.

To answer your question about past the 5th inning and beyond... they do in fact get tired. I don't remember the exact inning but but I had another 30+ minute rain delay in probably the 4th - 6th inning and both starters ended up getting pulled.

So in short I think it works pretty well in my opinion!

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Hockey13Playa

I wondered the same.. seeing 60-100 minute rain delays in the beginning of games and noticed the starting pitchers stayed in game.

To answer your question about past the 5th inning and beyond... they do in fact get tired. I don't remember the exact inning but but I had another 30+ minute rain delay in probably the 4th - 6th inning and both starters ended up getting pulled.

So in short I think it works pretty well in my opinion!

Cool. That does sound like an improvement.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by Sweed

I've noticed a difference in v16 compared to earlier versions. I don't know if Markus and team have done studies to base how long a delay is compared to how likely a P is to come back into the game and for how long. It would be interesting reading if they have.

I doubt they have. But such a study could probably be done by using Retrosheet play-by-play files, which do include notations on rain delays.