This weekend, the Tampa Bay Rays are using one of their relief pitchers, Sergio Romo, in the first inning of games. I haven’t carefully studied the reasoning for it. At first glance though, regardless of the specific merits, it strikes me as the kind of open-minded thinking in general that I’d want my front office and manager to employ in today’s rapidly changing game.
During Sunday’s television broadcast, Thom Brennaman and Chris Welsh took their swing at the Rays new strategy. The exit velocity and launch angle left something to be desired.
Brennaman called it “staggering” and laughed at the Rays.