The Miami Marlins had very slim chances of making the playoffs in September, but they still decided to try some different things to test out for next year. One of the new ideas was interesting and could make its way around the entire MLB.
The Marlins decided to let former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara close a game on what would have been his light bullpen day.
“Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara has pitched more than 200 innings this season. None of them came in a save situation — until Wednesday night. With the Marlins clinging to faint playoff hopes, Alcantara came out of the bullpen for the first time in nine years and closed a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just two days after throwing 101 pitches in a no-decision at Arizona, the 31-year-old right-hander worked a scoreless ninth inning for his first major league save
Essentially, Miami would get their starters to pitch in a game on their bullpen days instead of in the actual pen. It is something the Marlins were looking into.
“As for Alcantara, while his relief-inning usage late in the season was in part out of necessity because of injuries in Miami’s bullpen, Bendix said the Marlins may explore continuing to use him and other starters in late-inning situations going forward,” Sun Sentinel’s Alanis Thames wrote.
NL East division rival Atlanta Braves adopted the idea on Thursday night. Braves ace Chris Sale went into the game in the top of the eighth for his short bullpen outing.
“Annnnd Chris Sale is in the game. Truist got LOUD when that bullpen door opened. Two outs in the 8th and Bryce Harper is up to bat, with Atlanta holding a 6-2 lead,” Braves Today’s Lindsay Crosby wrote.
Sure, it is the playoffs, and a manager is going to do whatever it takes to advance. However, just the timing of it makes it seem like they had somewhat of an influence from the Marlins.
A few weeks after the strategy was introduced to the world of baseball, manager Walt Weiss was willing to put his ace into a five-run ball game. Yes, it was win-or-go-home, but organizations typically protect their guys. Sale seems to have used Thursday night as a bullpen day and followed the trend Miami had started.
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