This may sound like a dumb question, but how can a team use their closer in the 7th? If they use a guy in the 7th then he isn't the closer, is he? I'm perplexed on this one. Or are they using the term "closer" to describe their best bullpen pitcher? And what's so special about the 7th anyway? I don't get it.
D2,
If I may attempt to clarify. The theory is based on leverage. Research over time has shown that certain situations are likely to be the most dangerous in a ballgame. Usually closers are used in situations such as nobody on, no out, up by 2 runs. That is relatively easy for most pitchers. They advocate using your best bullpen pitcher as a "relief ace". This means using him when the game is most likely to be at risk (again, mounds of data indicate that at a certain point the game is most likely to turn (say 7th inning 2 on, nobody out, tie game, or 8th inning 1st and third, no out, down by one or up by one). Those are examples off the top of my head and may or may not actually be the ones they cite. Boston used Pappelbon earlier this year in a game in Texas in the 8th. That was a good example. Another classic example is Torre failing to use Rivera against the Marlins in the 10th inning of the world series, instead trying to save him for a save situation. The save situation never came, instead Jeff Weaver gives up the home run to Alex Gonzalez.
I think this sort of presupposes that the closer is always the best pitcher in the bullpen. Not sure this is always the case. Teams tend to designate a "closer" to have some predictability and familiar roles. A guy who is used to pitching just the 1 full final inning. THere are often better pitchers in the pen.
It seems to me that there is a significant psychological and experience element in closing beyond just the usual 1 inning of work. That's why teams try to find the right guy and stick with them. This doesn't always result in the very best pitcher being used in this role.
IN the scenario presented, where the game is on the line in the 7th, I'd use the best reliever avalable other than the closer.
My experience tells me that when you have a guy in a closer's role he can often do well in that role even if not the best pitcher< BUT often performs poorly in unusual non-save situations.
It seems to me that there is a significant psychological and experience element in closing beyond just the usual 1 inning of work. That's why teams try to find the right guy and stick with them. This doesn't always result in the very best pitcher being used in this role.
IN the scenario presented, where the game is on the line in the 7th, I'd use the best reliever avalable other than the closer.
My experience tells me that when you have a guy in a closer's role he can often do well in that role even if not the best pitcher< BUT often performs poorly in unusual non-save situations.
If I was a manager I would not have a "closer". With a lead late in a game, my best pitcher in the pen would be pitching whenever the best part of the opposition's lineup would be batting late in the game. I get a kick out of the manager's that use their closer just as the save rule is written up. They will let a guy get in all kinds of trouble with two outs in the ninth and trot out the "closer" right when it becomes a save situation instead of earlier to ensure the win. Comical is what it is.
it was a good show, i saw it twice.......
bill james also says to never sacrifice....... the Out is always worth more than the base (Always)......... never try to steal a base........ it doesnt matter what order the hitters are placed in...
he also listed his best player at every position.......
and Babe Ruth was by far the greatest player of all time......
those were just some other tidbits from James.......
bill james also says to never sacrifice....... the Out is always worth more than the base (Always)......... never try to steal a base........ it doesnt matter what order the hitters are placed in...
he also listed his best player at every position.......
and Babe Ruth was by far the greatest player of all time......
those were just some other tidbits from James.......
