We talk about the games that start with Tyler Holton or Beau Brieske or Alex Faedo as being "bullpen games", but that's not really what they are, are they?
A bullpen game is one in which we waste seven pitchers going one to two innings apiece in a bid to rest starters. But really, isn't what we have are doing actually "opener" games, in which A.J. puts a bullpen arm out there based on whatever seems to be the best matchup against the first time through the top of or completely through this particular order, and then we bring long guys Maeda or Sammons or Hurter to come in during the second and then chow innings until the seventh or so? I think A.J.'s strategy is to get a good start against a time first time through the order while hopefully we can steal a run or two ourselves and take an early lead.
Please forgive me if this has already been reported, but I haven't seen anything written about it in this precise vein, so, sorry for the Captain Obvious routine here.