No More Third Time Through

Remember how crazy it was in the World Series when Rich Hill was pulled after 4 1/3 shutout innings?

The Dodgers had established a policy on Hill never to let him see the opposing order a third time. Previous experience suggested that he fared significantly worse when batters started to size him up.

Of course, that put an awful strain on the bullpen and maybe prevented Dave Roberts from yanking Yu Darvish in Game 7 after five pitches. We'll never know.

What we do know is this: most pitchers suffer this effect. 

There is a lot of justification for going to the pen the third time through when many starters are on the mound.

In other words, get used to it. 

The revolution in pitching is already underway, so it wouldn't be surprising to see teams double-up on starters. Starter A goes 18 batters, starter B goes 18 batters and the bullpen cleans up if there's anything left. Fewer LOOGYs and more long relievers/short starters. 

Or maybe it won't be fewer LOOGYs; it will be fewer backup catchers. Teams will continue to value defensive flexibility, making the Evan Gattises of the world more valuable as double-backup catchers, thereby allowing for yet another arm.

In any case, if you thought baseball as you knew it was nothing like 2017, wait 'til 2018.