The last time we saw the Pirates in action before they take the field against the White Sox on Tuesday night, JT Brubaker was pulled from the game after 6.2 innings and 76 pitches in Sunday’s series finale against Cleveland. Brubaker had racked up nine strikeouts and had only given up one run. Chasen Shreve replaced him to try to get the final out and gave up the game winning single instead.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was criticized for making the move. Pirates broadcaster John Wehner said on The Fan Morning Show Tuesday that Shelton’s move was largely par for the course in today’s game.
“I think the decisions have become easier for managers even though fans might not like it because I think it’s all mapped out,” said Wehner. “We see it all the time. A guy’s cruising through 5, a guy’s cruising through 6, they go out there in the next inning, that bullpen goes to work. It’s not just the Pirates. It’s everywhere.”
“I know everyone talks about innings and workload and pitch counts and everything like that, which do come into play. But again, I think that’s a predetermined number. ‘We’re going to have him go this many innings, this many pitches,’ whatever the case may be.”
“I think in most cases, teams have their bullpen set up and after a pitcher goes through a lineup twice, they’re more confident in their bullpen guys coming in than leaving their starter out there any longer than they want to.”
In other words, it’s not uncommon and get used to it.