Questions about the MLB All-Star game

[YogSothoth]

@Thudlow_Boink

I don’t think you can expect a pitcher to pitch an inning or two, sit for a couple of hours, and then pitch again at full effectiveness.

Now I’m trying to remember whether I’ve seen this happen during a regular game interrupted by a long rain delay.

They don’t have to be effective. Its an exhibition. If the score is 30-35, so much the better

@Mister_Rik

That doesn’t work, either. Once a pitcher’s arm is “warmed up” from throwing a lot of pitches (they all throw more pitches than you see in the game, since they warm up before coming into the game), you either keep him in or he’s done for the night. A pitcher whose arm has “cooled down” after he’s finished pitching is in danger of injury if he tries to pitch again later. If you listen to/watch games, this is something the announcers bring up whenever there is a long delay in the game (rain, etc.), or when the pitcher’s team’s batters have a run of good luck that results in the pitcher sitting for a long time between innings. It’s not uncommon, after a delay, for the manager to take the starter out of the game and bring in a reliever. If the arm “cools down”, it’s just too risky to put the pitcher back out there. If not for the injury risk, just the fact that the pitcher is not going to be as effective as he would have been without the “cooldown”.

ETA: As far as leaving pitchers in the All-Star Game too long, I’ve gotten the impression that it’s a matter of professional courtesy that the manager doesn’t put other team’s players at risk.

Are MLB pitchers really that fragile? I don’t know, I’m really asking. Just seems like these guys who are at the peak of their game should be able to handle one single night of odd pitching.

[Marley23]

@YogSosoth

Are MLB pitchers really that fragile? I don’t know, I’m really asking.

Even if they aren’t, teams think they are. Pitching really is hard on your arm.

Just seems like these guys who are at the peak of their game should be able to handle one single night of odd pitching.

Instead of thinking about it in terms of their ability to handle it, look at it this way: why would a team want a star player to take any additional risks in a game that’s pretty much meaningless?

[Mister_Rik]

@YogSosoth

Are MLB pitchers really that fragile?

Mainly they’re expensive