I think we are missing an important point in this upcoming season, and this poll is fairly indicative of that.
Kapler is all about flexibility. He is even "experimenting" in the Spring Training Games with ideas he has, and some of them we will see this season. The players are surely being told that to make the roster (especially the guys at the end of the roster), they need to at least be capable of filling in at multiple positions.
Why would this not extend to the pitching staff? I honestly think we will see things that will be called "weird" this year from Kapler, because, well, he is weird. He clearly thinks way outside the box and I think some of the ideas that have persistent for years, decades, even a century may not be what he wants to do. Therefore, what I really expect to see:
3 or so real Full Time Starters.
a few guys that often pitch multiple innings. These are the guys at the bottom of our list at starters, but more than just 2 of them, maybe as many as 4.
I dont think he will do this in April, but at some point we will see multiple guys on the current roster filling in those last 2 starting spots in the rotation. They may just be in there until they come to bat, or maybe a set number of innings. Those guys will be available at various times to pitch multiple innings, or maybe just for a few batters. I think our bullpen will look VERY different than everyone elses, with only 3 or relievers that match the mold of today.
So 3 Starters that go 6/7 innings, 3 Relievers that go 1 inning, 1 LOOGY, 4 Long relievers who sometimes start, 1 fill in for all of the roles except starter. Ultra Flexibility. It is what Kapler is all about.
