Jack Morris
GS: 527
CG: 175

Pretty good, I'll admitt. But it seems to me Mr Morris left quite a lot of his games in the hands of relievers in his time, no?

But were they big games? I'd bet Morris would tell you that in big starts, he went the distance. Whether that's true for the rest of his career, I don't know. But it sure was true in one game in particular...

Melvin said. "It just makes sense to have your best pitchers, the ones you're paying the most money, working those pressure innings"

Speak for yourself, Doug. The Yankees are paying Mariano some ridiculous sum. He damn well better be pitching those high pressure innings. Ditto for Nathan and Francisco Rodriguez/Cordero. What about Papelbon and his puny salary? Does he not deserve those high pressure innings?

But if the Yanks want Carl Pavano pitching in high leverage situations every game, be my guest. After all, they're paying him 10 million bucks to pitch.

More relevant are comparisons to the '50s, '60s and '70s, when pitchers' endurance matched the game's ever-growing emphasis on scoring.

Yeah, tons of scoring in the '60s.

I would bet that Jenkins would be completely for handing the game over to a Proven Closer(TM), especially if the Proven Closer(TM) was a Gossage-like 2 or 3 inning guy. It's probably the middle relievers and setup men that Jenkins dislikes.

Of course, I am not sure whether Jenkins understands that your "best pitchers" may not be your best pitchers after 3 times through the lineup in the 7th or 8th inning.

I am not sure whether Jenkins understands that your "best pitchers" may not be your best pitchers after 3 times through the lineup in the 7th or 8th inning.

Precisely. The main thing wrong with this is the obsession over the CG, and 'finishing what you started (no matte what shape you're in!)' If it were anything like this article and focused on why pitchers don't pitch deeper, even without the data analysis, I'd have no qualms with his old cootness.

Lincecum threw 132 pitches tonight, as a DBack's fan I heartily approve their new Jenkins inspired pitch counts, as it was such a very important game. For the Diamondbacks, that is.

I feel sorry for Jenkins.

I don't want to hijack this thread but I think teams have become overly cautious protecting their young arms as well. For example, the Mets were talking about giving a lot of extra rest to Pelfrey in an attempt to limit his innings. This in the middle of the pennant race. I am not saying I want Pelfrey throwing 120-130 pitches a game but babying doesn't mean they won't get hurt. Just look at Joba. Be cautious when you can but don't be so overly protective of guys that you blow a legitimate shot of winning with the hope they'll stay healthy in the future. They might not be healthy in the future even if you are careful.