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To DRP or Not DRP
by Jerry Driggs
With the inclusion of the Designated Pitcher Rule for 2013, teams will need to give a little more
thought to their pitching strategy for each series. This article is intended to give you some
strategy considerations to help you determine what is best for your team. In the quest for more
stats to record, it was recommended we add saves and we thought it was a great idea. Last year
we added runs scored, this year saves.
Basically stated, the DRP may come in and relieve the current pitcher at any time. If the game
is in the 4th or 5th inning the DRP may pitch the remainder of the game - no matter how many extra
innings the game takes.
DRPs must be designated BEFORE each series and the other team informed of the choice. To
have saves recorded as an official stat, the player must be designated as the DRP that series. A team
may designate a different player as the DRP each series (not game).
There are several key advantages to a DRP. First, the DRP can relieve the starting pitcher. The
COWL rule has always been the starting pitcher must pitch the 1st 2 innings with no relief. This was
done in response to teams starting a pitcher, having them pitch long enough to the be pitcher of record
for the inning (2 outs) and then pulling the pitcher. We have not really enforced the 2 inning rule, but
the inclusion of the DRP will make this a meaningful rule once again.
DRP Advantage #1 - the DRP can relieve the starting pitcher at any time. If this is done before
the start of the 3rd inning then the DRP may only pitch until the beginning of the 3rd inning - and no
more for the rest of that game (until extra innings as explained below). If NO DRP is chosen by a team,
then the starting pitcher MUST pitch the 1st 2 innings with NO relief.
If a DRP is chosen, all other players are allotted 4 innings of pitching and all of these must be
used by each different player before the innings refresh for the entire team.
If no DRP is chosen, all players are allotted 5 innings of pitching and all of these must be used
by each player before the innings refresh for the entire team.
DRP Advantage #2 - each player must pitch less innings before the entire team allotment resets.
DRP Advantage #3 - the DRP can pitch any inning after the 3rd in any game. This, in effect,
enables a DRP to pitch up to 6 innings in a normal 3 game series.
DRP Advantage #4 - the DRP MUST pitch ALL extra innings in ALL games that reach extra
innings. This rule allows a team's best pitcher to pitch those crucial innings when the game is on
the line. It also helps prevent a team from choosing a DRP just to hide their worst pitcher.
Speaking for the Legends, we will likely choose a DRP. Ben or Levi are the obvious choices for us.
Ben because we want him to pitch as many innings as possible, Levi because he has gotten better and
better at pitching and has become our choice to shake things up from the mound. He has no conscience
about throwing balls or even walking batters - a real problem with me and some other pitchers because
we just absolutely hate to walk people. But there are times when a walk is the best thing - to avoid
someone who is hot, to put pressure on the next guy - to make someone who really wants to hit swing
at a bad pitch. Levi is our best at doing this. We feel confident with him on the mound and the game
on the line - even though we are blessed with a couple of really solid starting pitchers.
The Conclusion of the Matter ? Return to Top
We are really excited to see how the DRP plays out. Some teams will take advantage of it to keep
one of their guys OFF the mound - and run the risk of going into extra innings and having their worse
pitcher be stuck trying to win the game. Some will choose their best starter - hoping to get extra
innings for that player, and figure out not all innings are created equal. Some will choose their
toughest pitcher and discover if you are down by 10 runs a relief pitcher is of little consequence.
Other teams will choose to forego a DRP, and find they face the same really difficult pitcher even
more innings than before - reducing the cushion we all had when essentially everyone from every team
had to pitch - unless you had 5 players.
Choose wisely grasshopper.
| Name and Date | Comment |
Ty Marshal 1/27/2013 NJWL |
The same pitcher pitches all our games but we play fastpitch. We would like to play slow pitch but have been out voted when we tried. |
We tried fastpitch Ty, but our guys decided slow pitch was more to their liking - less 1-0 games, less trying to get walks, more runs, hits, HRs and diving plays with slow pitch...our rules have evolved over the years to try and make it more fun and competitive for all - even girls and Little Leaguers...Jerry |