Comments on: Thoughts About the Closer Role

By: sirsean

sirsean — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:50:44 +0000

It seems to me that people would be pretty pissed off if a crappy pitcher blows the game in the 9th while the best reliever is sitting on the bench, having been used up in the 7th or 8th. And most managers probably just want to play it safe in that regard (Eric Wedge notwithstanding, apparently).

I don't agree with what the Brewers are doing, and I'll have to look into how they're winning, especially since their leadoff guy (Weeks) is channeling Punto and their big hitters (Fielder/Braun/Hardy) aren't living up to their potential, but having Kendall's .400 OBP in the 9 hole is one strategical move that's probably making a difference.

By: Texas

Texas — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:22:41 +0000

Yeah, there hasn't been much discussion about the potential of blowing it later.

I'm much more willing to take the chance that we blow the game later knowing that we're giving the team an opportunity to win.

i don't necessarily agree with what Yost is doing in Milwaukee but it says something about pitching and the way that it is managed that a team, especially a NL team, is willing to carry 14 pitchers on its roster. In reality that only leaves two bench players as you need to have backup catcher, who will only play for the other catcher. Somehow the Brewers are doing well though, so if it works?!

By: sirsean

sirsean — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:04:15 +0000

Gossage used to get 3 inning saves too. I think that’s a bit much, of course. Modern pitchers can’t handle that kind of stress on their arms. But coming into the 7th inning if necessary is probably a good idea (although it’ll look pretty dumb if an inferior pitcher blows the game after the closer has been taken out — that’s something that hasn’t been discussed much).

The Brewers just recently carried 14 pitchers, and I don’t see that gaining any traction around the league unless they increase the size of the 25 man roster. It leaves only 3 guys on the bench — which is especially impossible in the NL (where the Brewers are trying to do it). Yost has been repeatedly using pitchers as pinch hitters for other pitchers since he doesn’t have enough guys on the bench.

By: Texas

Texas — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:58:06 +0000

Ganderson-

That is how managers used to use their "closer". Rollie Fingers use to come in as early as the 7th inning sometimes and finish off the game. Unfortunately since the late 80's the closer role hasn't changed nor have managers philosophies towards it. What has changed has been the division of labor of the bullpen. We now have highly nuanced setup guys (and stats designed specifically for them) as well as specialty relievers who might come in to pitch to one or two batters (normally R-R or L-L matchups).

There are teams that are carrying 14 pitchers on their Everyday roster. I believe the Brewers at one point were carrying 14 pitchers. I don't believe that we will see a overhaul of how managers use closers unless someone is brave enough to demand that his best pitche pitch when the game is on the line, whether that be in the 7, 8, or 9th inning

By: ganderson

ganderson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:35:01 +0000

I fancy myself a bit of a baseball expert, but my fantasy results usually don’t bear that out….

By: sirsean

sirsean — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:20:43 +0000

I'm sure the stat guys will come up with some other stat that we can measure for fantasy purposes. I'd say the requirements are:

1) Simple enough that TV talking heads can understand it 2) The second or third best way to actually statistically measure a reliever's performance, that way stat guys have the advantage of using better stats

2 is why fantasy scoring doesn't use VORP, but VORP is a great way to decide which players to draft.

By: Ganderson

Ganderson — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:10:33 +0000

I’ve always felt that the current mode of using the closer will pass- your best reliever should be used in high leverage situations, whether they’re in the last inning or not- but if the role of closers does change what are all of us fantasy geeks going to do with our closers?:)

By: Baseball » Thoughts About the Closer Role

Baseball » Thoughts About the Closer Role — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:32:25 +0000

[...] Fire Gardy wrote an interesting post today on Thoughts About the Closer RoleHere’s a quick excerpt … hat the GM could have done to get us a better deal on someone’s contract. I can watch baseball games…. … than the “business of baseball,” and I’d rather think about what the manager could do to improve our chances of winning a game than think about w… [...]