McCovey Chronicles · Apr 9, 2019
Yes, Bruce, there is a third time through the order penalty
As Franmil Reyes’ 9,000-foot home run off of Reyes Moronta flew over the left field side of Oracle Park and into Solano County, it seemed pretty clear that as big a mistake as Moronta’s pitch was, the fact that Moronta had come into the game to bail out Madison Bumgarner was the bigger miscue.
Maybe you already know this, but the explosion of bullpenning, bullpenry, and bullpensahappening over the past few years is largely the result of clear, obvious, and eye-opening numbers that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that starting pitchers are less effective their third time through a batting order.