Pitching rotation

Good Knight:

Good question. What is the background of the Head Coach? Is he a former pitcher?

For a late inning relief, I require a pitcher who throw waist to knees, 2 pitches for strikes and has a strong desire to pitch "late innings".

Bob

Assuming we are talking about at the college level - there are a lot of factors. Here are some, in no particular order. A starter should be able to go thru the opposing lineup 3 times on a good day. This typically requires that he has 3 different pitches that he commands well enough to throw any pitch in any count. It’s best if all 3 pitches are thrown at different speeds.  This is necessary so that the opposing hitters can’t predict how they will be pitched as the game progresses. Starters are usually not max effort guys. They cruise at a comfortable pace that keeps them under control. Starters must control their emotions and their body language to set a positive tone for their team. Not always, but starters are usually more mature upperclassmen with a lot of experience under their belts. They  have a history of throwing strikes and have a performance history that has earned the trust of the HC.
  There are even more reasons that a pitcher might be a reliever. Maybe he is a max effort guy that can only keep up that energy level for a short outing. Maybe he only has one dominant pitch and is only effective in short durations. Or he could be young and lacking experience so he gets his feet wet a little at a time. Maybe he is really good in matchup situations (L on L, etc.). Maybe he is just a great competitor that wills himself to success. Maybe he is so good that you want him available anytime you have a lead late in a game. A reliever needs to be able to get ready to come into a game on short notice. Some guys do that better than others.
  Often the determination is made based on team need and not what is best for the player. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn’t. Some pitchers are effective as both starters and relievers. Some are only effective one way or the other. I was both a starter and a reliever in my college playing days. I much preferred the starting role. Not only can you tailor your game prep to match your own personal pace, but you know when you are going to pitch. As a reliever you might have an idea when you will pitch but it’s never certain. Some personalities are extreme enough that they suggest which role is better for that player. Conversations constantly take place among the coaching staff as to what role is best for each player. But for the most part the most proven, most dependable, and most mature guys are your starters and the rest of the staff relieves in some role.

I think adbono did a good job answering your question.

I have seen it go both ways. 100mph guys as starters with plus pitches or crafty lefties as starters who get everyone out or each could be relievers. I think a lot just depends on throwing strikes and getting guys out.

Either way it will be up to what the coach decides. Sometimes it takes half the season before roles become established.

Just enjoy the ride and don't think too much!

At the pro level I think it is several things

1) command and control

If you take 20 pitches per inning it will be hard to get deep into games so as a starter you have to simply throw more strikes to be efficient

2) stamina

You need to be able to maintain your velo and command for close to 100 pitches

3) at least 3 usable pitches with some command (very rare exeptions)

4) a good fastball

Many relievers have "bad fastballs". That is ironic since many of them throw very hard but many relievers have bad fastball shape (spin axis etc) and command and in order to survive they get moved to the pen where their FB can play up if they throw it 2-3 mph harder in a shorter stint plus they can throw it less and lean on their good breaking ball more.

Stats show  that bad fastball guys with a dominant breaking ball  can have good strikeout rates but usually have bad home run rates  and thus you put them in the pen and let them throw 50 percent sliders.

If you make them start and they throw 2 mph slower on the FB and only 30% sliders instead of 50% hitters will take that fastball out of the yard. They still might strike out a lot against that type of pitcher but walks and homers can pile up and make him an ineffective starter.

I would think a good closer is hard to find but easy to identify by the following:  Personality, attitude, brass balls and stuff.  he can be effectively wild, but not so much as giving up free passes.  That personality and attitude needs to be a little bit mean a bit cocky but one that takes ownership.

As far as starters, i can't add anything that Adbono didn't cover.