# Starting pitchers doing their side session in game

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-pitchers-doing-their-side-session-in-game/624796>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 11, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-pitchers-doing-their-side-session-in-game/624796 "2012-06-11T07:33:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-pitchers-doing-their-side-session-in-game/624796/1 "2012-06-11T07:33:26Z")

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Is there any significant downside to a pitcher doing his “side session” as a relief appearance? IOW-2 days after his start, he’s available to pitch in relief.

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**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-pitchers-doing-their-side-session-in-game/624796/2 "2012-06-11T12:54:30Z")

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Pitchers are usually focusing on a particular pitch or location in their side session. An in-game situation may not accomodate the session’s focus. He might want to work on throwing fastballs low and away to right-handed hitters, which wouldn’t make sense to do 15 times in a row during a game. During a side session, a coach can help tweak your mechanics, if necessary, which is not ideal during a game. Also, I doubt pitchers are throwing 100% in side sessions between starts.

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**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-pitchers-doing-their-side-session-in-game/624796/3 "2012-06-11T13:58:17Z")

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> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#):
>
> Also, I doubt pitchers are throwing 100% in side sessions between starts.

I think this is they key part. Both mental and physical effort are much higher in a game situation than a side session.

You also can’t count on having a particular number of pitches with a particular pace like you do in a bullpen session.