[Pelican]

I think of a "Stopper" as a guy who comes in - often in the midst of a rally - when you really need a strikeout. You need a guy with great stuff, and (unless the bases are loaded), you aren't as worried about control. I set the strategy to allow the Stopper to be used before the ninth inning. Not every team has one. If your relievers behind your Closer are just mediocre to good, there might not be a Stopper there.


A Closer to me is a ninth-inning guy, who typically comes in to start the inning. So he does not typically inherit runners in the midst of a rally. Control is critical. You don't want baserunners. I like a Closer with high Movement, less likely to give up the long ball. And, in the modern game at least, a Closer gets one inning, period. After twenty-five pitches, I'd consider pulling him.

I have experimented with a true closer in historical seasons, when no such animal existed IRL. Again, if you have the right guy, it can be very effective. You're trading CG for Saves. A Stopper can also work in historical seasons; although back in the 1930's and 1920's teams were more likely to use a SP to put out the fire. Again, it helps to have the guy with great stuff but low Stamina in that role.