I see this often in major league games. It’s that of a closely scored game in say the 7th or 8th inning with the top of the lineup or heart of the lineup coming up. Closers come in during the 9th inning right? Of course, but I can’t really figure out why managers don’t bring their best pitcher in while the game is at a peak rather then in the ninth where it’s not predictable as too what will be on the table so to say. So my question is why managers don’t more often bring in their best pitcher, and sometimes they do, in these situations which I’ve just described? Do you think they should? Would you stretch out your closers between innings if the pitch count is low?
2007-05-20 10:54:43 · 6 answers · asked by pooperscooper 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
if i was a manager and i didnt have a steady bullpen except for the closer and it was a close game, i would probably bring in my closer. I am a huge devil rays fan and we have pretty much the worst bullpen in the majors besides Al Reyes our closer, who has been close to perfect. i will use today as an example. it was the 8th inning and the devil rays were winning 3-1 after another great performance by james shields. instead of bringing in reyes in the 8th, maddon brought in brian stokes and shawn camp, the 2 worst pitchers in our bullpen. They gave up 3 runs. reyes came in in the 9th and pitched a great inning. the rays ended up losing 4-3.
2007-05-20 11:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by ryansraysrule 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've pointed something out that baseball analyst Bill James wrote about four years ago ... and his point was more or less ignored and misinterpreted.
If the middle of the Yankees' order is coming up in the eighth inning and the Red Sox are leading by a run, that's the time you want your best pitcher out there (in this case, Papelbon). If he gets out of the inning, then you can bring in someone else to pitch the ninth if you want to save wear and tear.
The only catch would be: ninth-inning losses are quite devastating, as a win becomes a loss. It's something to be avoided, if possible. But better to be ahead after eight than trailing with your best pitcher still in the bullpen.
2007-05-20 18:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by wdx2bb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normally "closers" will come into games in the ninth, but depending on how managers prefer to use closers it is rare that you will see a true closer go more than one or two innings at the most. Anybody can get a save under the right circumstances, but unless the given teams have more than one person that can save games you normally won't see closers earlier than the eighth. This is because of the wear and tear placed on a closer's arm over the length of a 162 games managers will usually not let closers go longer than two innings at the most in a game.
2007-05-20 18:25:02 · answer #3 · answered by Jeffrey W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive wondered that too. they have a rotation that they use, but i think its all chance anyway. even the best pitchers have bad days and its not predictable. other times the managers dont know what they have in a pitcher. take the chicago cubs for an example. they had dennis eckersley as a starter. when traded he turned into a closer and was one of the best. unless a pitcher was having a really good day, i would change them more often. pitchers and hitters get to know the other guy a little too well.
2007-05-20 18:25:48 · answer #4 · answered by chris l 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, some pitchers have a certain mindset that they will be in in the 8th or that they will have to shut the other team down here in the 9th to get this win. Alot of the time you have to trust your pitchers and go with what they are comfortable in.
2007-05-20 18:42:50 · answer #5 · answered by Ed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pitching has become a specialty position where middle releivers now make alot of money to pitch from the 6th inning to the 9th.....setting up the closer.
2007-05-20 18:45:10 · answer #6 · answered by Bend Them Strings 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋