How important is a 4th pitch?

pgjocki · 11-24-2024, 03:27 PM

I'm looking at a few guys who are currently relievers but who all have a 50 stamina that I want to convert into Starters but I wanted to know if they can get away with only having 3 pitches as a Starter as opposed to the rest of my staff which all have 4 pitches.

If I recall correctly Stuff changes lower when switching from a Reliever to a Starter but since Starters only pitch 4 or 5 innings anyway I figure why not go with the guys with the best "stuff' and see what happens.

Is there massive flaw in my thinking?

OutS|der · 11-24-2024, 04:05 PM

Stuff is based on all pitches. As a reliver it rates the top two pitches higher, with a starter it's the first 3. Adding or subtracting pitches past that will still have a change on overall stuff, just not as much as the first 2 or 3.

A starter can easily get away with only having 3 pitches. A knuckleballer can even get away with 2, but they are special

Larryk007 · 11-24-2024, 06:03 PM

I noticed that if an MLB pitcher did not have a least 50 movement then that pitcher had very little chance of staying on the major league club. High/low stuff and number of pitches and control did not matter, but movement below 50 was a disaster and a ticket to the minors.

11-24-2024, 03:27 PM	#1
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,590	How important is a 4th pitch? I'm looking at a few guys who are currently relievers but who all have a 50 stamina that I want to convert into Starters but I wanted to know if they can get away with only having 3 pitches as a Starter as opposed to the rest of my staff which all have 4 pitches. If I recall correctly Stuff changes lower when switching from a Reliever to a Starter but since Starters only pitch 4 or 5 innings anyway I figure why not go with the guys with the best "stuff' and see what happens. Is there massive flaw in my thinking? __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

11-24-2024, 04:05 PM	#2
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,714 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Stuff is based on all pitches. As a reliver it rates the top two pitches higher, with a starter it's the first 3. Adding or subtracting pitches past that will still have a change on overall stuff, just not as much as the first 2 or 3. A starter can easily get away with only having 3 pitches. A knuckleballer can even get away with 2, but they are special

11-24-2024, 06:03 PM	#3
Larryk007 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 515	I noticed that if an MLB pitcher did not have a least 50 movement then that pitcher had very little chance of staying on the major league club. High/low stuff and number of pitches and control did not matter, but movement below 50 was a disaster and a ticket to the minors.