The 162-Game Grind: How Teams Manage Fatigue
A major league season runs 162 games, so it rewards the teams that last, not just the strongest ones. Off days, rotation and bullpen planning are how clubs fight fatigue.
A major league regular season is 162 games, played almost every day from spring into fall. Over that kind of schedule, the question is not only who has the best roster but who is still sharp in August and September. Fatigue never appears on a lineup card, yet it often decides a team's second half.
You cannot see fatigue, but the numbers can
A tired player does not always say so and does not always get hurt. More often the signs are small: a hitter's bat gets a little slower and he starts losing to fastballs; a pitcher loses a bit of velocity and his breaking ball loses its bite.
One game rarely shows it. Over weeks it becomes obvious, which is why teams track their players over the long run instead of waiting for something to go wrong.
Off days are planned
Even a team's best players rarely play every single game. Managers schedule rest on purpose, often after a long road trip, a cross-country flight or before a day game that follows a night game.
Sitting a star for a night looks like a loss. It usually buys steadier play over the following weeks.
The bullpen needs the most care
Relievers can warm up and pitch several days in a row. A reliever who has pitched three straight days is usually protected on the fourth.
Good bullpen management spreads the load, so the best one or two arms are not worn out by the end of the season.
Why depth matters
Part of a bench player's value is exactly this: giving the regulars a regular breather. A utility man who can play the infield and outfield, or a backup who can step into a starting spot, lets a manager rest players without losing too much.
September belongs to the teams that last
At the end of a close race, the difference is often health and energy. A team that ran its players into the ground all year may have nothing left when it matters most. A team that spread the work has something left for October.
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