Can anyone explain baseball pitching strategies?

Dude, you are asking the question that led to millions and millions of people to hate baseball. Wow, this pitcher has pitched seven innings of shut out ball, striking out 15. Let's take him out and put in another guy. Let's actually do what the other team would want us to do - take out a pitcher that is white hot. It's the reason why I no longer watch baseball. Can you imagine a hockey goalie who has a shutout being removed for the third period?

It supposedly has to do with pitch count and "going by the book." Starter goes seven, then bring in your eighth inning man, then your closer for the ninth. Managers do that in order to save their own asses. "Look, I didn't make a mistake; I was following the book." It really started with the late '90s Yankees with John Wetteland and Mariano. They were so good the game really was a seven inning game. Starter gave you solid seven, those next two guys would not lose the game. The problem is every manager now thinks just call you call a guy a closer they are automatically Mariano Rivera!

It has ruined baseball. Baseball now is a game that is just a three inning game - 7, 8, and 9. That's all that matters. The pitchers in those innings now decide the game. It used to be the starter was the one who held the game in his hand, now it is scrubs replacing an effective starter. Let's take the effective starter out until we find someone who could lose the game for us. Bizarre, but true.