Quote:
Originally Posted by JayP
It's actually not a tough decision at all. It's just a question of using rational thought instead of traditional baseball logic.
How are closers delicate? I don't see how being the guy assigned to pitch the 9th inning of ball games makes them any different than any other reliever.
Either way, I don't care if Rauch can only get 3 outs. Have him get the 3rd out of the 8th and the 1st and 2nd of the 9th if the guy is so fragile that pitching more than an inning will ruin his career. It would give your team the best chance of winning which is what should be most important to the players, not accumulating saves. Then let whatever mediocre reliever you want get the final out in the 9th with 2 outs.
Relievers are just as capable as getting 4-6 outs as there were 10-20+ years ago. The difference is the ridiculous save stat (which should be abolished) and how it gets guys paid. It's baffling that managers still manage around it though because an obvious case of putting personal numbers ahead of the team.
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You can't use a closer everyday whenever this situation comes up. There are 162 games. Closers can pitch maybe 80 innings a season? Also a team needs to use the rest of the bullpen in certain situations too.
A pitcher in the 9th is definitely different than the rest. It's the end of the game! Yes it maybe a macho thing and a confidence thing. I think it's for the good of the team to have a set closer for the 9th and have confidence in the rest of the bullpen to pick up the rest. You want the other team to know "HEY, if you're down in the 9th, you're dead" Bring in the closer in the 8th is usually a sign of panic.