Should a team carry 11 pitchers or 12?

[Mattingly]

Someone elsewhere said that 12 was a good idea. It allows you to have 5 starters and 7 guys in the pen. In addition to your closer and setup guy, you'll have 5 others backing them up.

I'm curious what you folks felt. Is 11 better, so that it allows you to have one extra utility guy and have the bullpen guys get more regular work, as opposed to designating one guy mostly for "mopup duty"? Or is 12 better, as it allows the bullpen to be more well-rested?

Please let me hear what the folks here think.

Thx.

[Big_Mac]

I think 11 pitchers is plenty for a team to carry. Alot of the 11th pitchers rarely get time as it is and if I were manager I would carry 11. That gives you six guys: closer, set-up, lefty specialist, middle relief, mop-up guy and a 'utility' pitcher. I think though that some NL teams should carry 12 pitchers for the fact that they use more relievers then the AL, also they have a extra spot because they don't have to carry around a full-time DH.

[DodgerBlue8188]

Maybe at the beginning of the year. To see which guys are going to be good for your team. I guess it all depends on how reliable your position players are. For a team like the Yankees. They have so many good position players, they dont need to pinch hit much. Plus they are in the AL.

[E.Banks#14]

The Cubs recently have began the season with 12 pitchers because of health issues (Wood, Prior, etc.). There are certain circumstances that call for having 12, and there are certain circumstances that call for having 11.

[Mattingly]

The Cubs recently have began the season with 12 pitchers because of health issues (Wood, Prior, etc.). There are certain circumstances that call for having 12, and there are certain circumstances that call for having 11.

If you get a chance, please offer some of those. I've always wanted to know more about this.

This is always a great question for the playoffs, since there are usually 4 (and sometimes 5) starters, and only the strongest pitchers will be placed on the postseason roster.

[CuriousBoston]

Twelve.

Especially if one is a barfly, elderly, with his butt in a sling, one has a stapled ankle & a bad last season, one ruined his knees when Varitek ran and jumped on him, then the entire 2004 World Series winning team piled on. (I never connected his knee problems to that until Annie mentioned it.) Oh, yeah, he's had surgeries.

Maybe 13 or 14 would be better.

[rockin500]

If you get a chance, please offer some of those. I've always wanted to know more about this.

This is always a great question for the playoffs, since there are usually 4 (and sometimes 5) starters, and only the strongest pitchers will be placed on the postseason roster.

if you have a healthy team you should never carry more than 11. Having more than 11 reduces the spots you have for offensive players and you cant be as creative with your lineup. The only time you should carry 12 is if you have injury prone pitchers or two plus starters who just cant pitch past 6 innings on a regular basis.

[Brian McKenna]

whatever the manager decides is allright with me

[Gashouse6]

You don't need 7 releivers. 11 pitchers is best.

[Astro]

if you have a healthy team you should never carry more than 11. Having more than 11 reduces the spots you have for offensive players and you cant be as creative with your lineup. The only time you should carry 12 is if you have injury prone pitchers or two plus starters who just cant pitch past 6 innings on a regular basis.

11 pitchers, if a player gets hurt you'll still have enough relievers to get through the game, then you place that said pitcher on the DL and call someone up the next day

Only time it is better to have 12 pitchers is when you have a pitcher who is extremly good with the bat, such as Brooks Kieshnick, Mike Hampton, Randy Wolf or Dontrell Willis... then they can pinch hit so you dont need as many bench players

[Mattingly]

Only time it is better to have 12 pitchers is when you have a pitcher who is extremly good with the bat, such as Brooks Kieshnick, Mike Hampton, Randy Wolf or Dontrell Willis... then they can pinch hit so you dont need as many bench players

Have any of these guys ever pinch-hit much on days that they weren't pitching? I remember Mike Hampton did once when I'd followed him. and got an RBI double.

[rockin500]

Have any of these guys ever pinch-hit much on days that they weren't pitching? I remember Mike Hampton did once when I'd followed him. and got an RBI double.

brooks has.

[Sweet Lou]

Should a team carry 11 pitchers or 12?

Yes.

[Mattingly]

Yes.

Uhmmmmm ... yes to 11 or 12?

[VTSoxFan]

I suppose it depends on the health of the team overall and the schedule they face. There was a time a couple of years ago where the Sox started out the year with 11 pitchers, but then played several grinding extra-inning games right out of the gate, and used up the bullpen before a week was out, and had to send down an infielder for an extra pitcher. I'm not entirely sure, but I think late last summer they carried an extra pitcher in the 30-games-in-30-days marathon.

So it's not set in stone, but depends on the situation.

Originally posted by CuriousBoston
Maybe 13 or 14 would be better.

Well, CB, we have something like 7 starters, so it'll eventually work out. I hope. If no one breaks down too much. Knock on wood and cross your fingers. Light a candle, burn some incense, hang a prayer flag, toss a handful of change in a fountain......