ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In those early days before they became geniuses, the people in charge were mostly desperate.
They were not trying to tear down conventions or upend the status quo, they just wanted to make the most of an imperfect pitching staff. They had guys coming off injuries, guys who had never topped 100 innings in a season, guys with just enough talent to get through a lineup once, maybe twice, a game.
What they did not have were a lot of proven starters.
