Closer or Middle Relief

skalepp · 11-26-2013, 05:53 PM

I'm having a difficult time what establishes a pitcher a CL or MR? There is one CL in AAA I want to bring up but I don't want to quite hand him the ball in the 9th YET. So how can I decide which MR pitcher would make a good fit for the 9th inning? or which attributes contribute to more of a closer versus MR pitcher?

le receveur · 11-26-2013, 06:17 PM

i let my coach decide who he wants, without labels. if he messes up i will fire him. I actually call all my non starters relievers, hoping to foul the arbitrator.. ;-)

be careful in locking any one into a position, at one point my pitching coach decided to put my shut down closer into the rotation, in game 2 of the post season.. i was about to fire the guy. the guy ended up winning post-season MVP, and has now put up 40 WAR over the last 5 years as a starter. (contract runs out next year, not sure i can afford $126 Million over 7 years. yikes)

nutt · 11-26-2013, 06:52 PM

I usually take a one or two-pitch pitcher and make him a closer with low stamina. I'll see guys coming out of college in the draft, throwing 96-98 with 8 stamina but the Rookie Ball staff wants him to be a closer....and the guy has four pitches!

I try to force things within the organization, but at the ML level, I tend to leave it up to the manager to call the shots.

The Game · 11-26-2013, 07:09 PM

Since I manage along with being the GM of most of my teams I like 2 pitch low stamina guys with very high GB%, Good K/BB ratio. I usually prefer RHP but my current guy is a LHP. My current CL can go 2 IP with a STA of 2, he also has 4 pitches.

Fyrestorm3 · 11-26-2013, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skalepp

I'm having a difficult time what establishes a pitcher a CL or MR? There is one CL in AAA I want to bring up but I don't want to quite hand him the ball in the 9th YET.

Regarding this point, you don't have to make him a closer on your big-league club just because he's a closer in the minor leagues. Even in real life, it is very, VERY rare for a pitcher to be called up to the big leagues and instantly become the closer. Let him prove himself as a MR first.

Personally, if you don't have a bonafide closer available, I just say take the guy who's pitching the best in the bullpen and make him the closer. No real need to overthink it - the closer role is a little overvalued as it is.

Rex Dart · 11-27-2013, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

Personally, if you don't have a bonafide closer available, I just say take the guy who's pitching the best in the bullpen and make him the closer. No real need to overthink it - the closer role is a little overvalued as it is.

More than a little, IMO, but one of the things I've wondered:

What exactly is the effect (if any?) on giving a reliever the "CL" designation versus the "MR" designation? Imagine I have these two pitchers, for example (and assume performance isn't a fluke, and that other stats, peripherals, etc., are comparable to the ERA):

CL Al Aaronson: 30 IP, 4.50 ERA
MR Bob Banner: 30 IP, 1.00 ERA

It's fairly obvious that I'd want to put Banner in the role of Closer, and have Aaronson in middle relief. If I do that, should I also change the CL/MR designations of the two players? Why or why not?

le receveur · 11-27-2013, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Dart

Imagine I have these two pitchers, for example (and assume performance isn't a fluke, and that other stats, peripherals, etc., are comparable to the ERA):

CL Al Aaronson: 30 IP, 4.50 ERA
MR Bob Banner: 30 IP, 1.00 ERA

It's fairly obvious that I'd want to put Banner in the role of Closer, and have Aaronson in middle relief. If I do that, should I also change the CL/MR designations of the two players? Why or why not?

wouldn't you rather Banner comes in in the 7th with the game on the line, instead of sitting on the bench hoping that they still have a lead in the 9th?

as for Label, i don't think it affects, the only thing that seems to dictate the coach is a specific strategy assignment use this guy as Closer...

(label change does not fool the arbitrator either, i tried. but number of saves will kill you... one more reason to put Banner in the 7th)

Rex Dart · 11-27-2013, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by le receveur

wouldn't you rather Banner comes in in the 7th with the game on the line, instead of sitting on the bench hoping that they still have a lead in the 9th?

Well, sure, but that gets into a whole 'nother set of issues regarding how LaRussite methods of managing a pitching staff have effectively crowded out any other kind, and since I'm generally not managing game-by-game (I think?) putting Banner in the "closer" role is more likely to get him into high-leverage situations than any other role would.

le receveur · 11-27-2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Dart

Well, sure, but that gets into a whole 'nother set of issues regarding how LaRussite methods of managing a pitching staff have effectively crowded out any other kind, and since I'm generally not managing game-by-game (I think?) putting Banner in the "closer" role is more likely to get him into high-leverage situations than any other role would.

i'm currently testing having my 2nd best reliever labelled as "use as closer", i'll let you know how that goes.

11-26-2013, 05:53 PM	#1
skalepp Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 119	Closer or Middle Relief I'm having a difficult time what establishes a pitcher a CL or MR? There is one CL in AAA I want to bring up but I don't want to quite hand him the ball in the 9th YET. So how can I decide which MR pitcher would make a good fit for the 9th inning? or which attributes contribute to more of a closer versus MR pitcher? Last edited by skalepp; 11-26-2013 at 05:54 PM.

11-26-2013, 07:09 PM	#4
The Game Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Inside The Game Posts: 30,937	Since I manage along with being the GM of most of my teams I like 2 pitch low stamina guys with very high GB%, Good K/BB ratio. I usually prefer RHP but my current guy is a LHP. My current CL can go 2 IP with a STA of 2, he also has 4 pitches. Attached Images __________________ Go today don't wait for tomorrow It isn't promised, all the time you get borrowed Don't live your life for other people Don't bottle your emotions till they crack and fill a couple just sorrows Take your mind and refocus go get a paper write your goals out Throw your middle fingers to all your haters "Stay Strong"

11-26-2013, 06:17 PM	#2
le receveur All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: canada Posts: 1,736	i let my coach decide who he wants, without labels. if he messes up i will fire him. I actually call all my non starters relievers, hoping to foul the arbitrator.. ;-) be careful in locking any one into a position, at one point my pitching coach decided to put my shut down closer into the rotation, in game 2 of the post season.. i was about to fire the guy. the guy ended up winning post-season MVP, and has now put up 40 WAR over the last 5 years as a starter. (contract runs out next year, not sure i can afford $126 Million over 7 years. yikes)

11-26-2013, 06:52 PM	#3
nutt OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,263	I usually take a one or two-pitch pitcher and make him a closer with low stamina. I'll see guys coming out of college in the draft, throwing 96-98 with 8 stamina but the Rookie Ball staff wants him to be a closer....and the guy has four pitches! I try to force things within the organization, but at the ML level, I tend to leave it up to the manager to call the shots.