Closers and Saves..

[Myztery]

I'm not sure what everybody else thinks, and I know that many, if not most people, will disagree with me but....I feel like being a closer/saving games is perhaps the most overrated position in baseball. I mean, technically, there is nothing in terms of stuff or control that can ensure one's success as a closer, but I think that the hardest part of closing ballgames is the fact that many people blow the position way out of proportion. I've always felt like a good closer is vastly overrated, and when people refer to save totals as a way to measure success I feel like coming into a game in the ninth with a three run lead, 1 out, a man on first, and the tying run on deck and closing out the game is not that impressive. I think the most important thing for a closer is the ability to throw strikes. That's it. What does everybody think?

[D-Unit]

The fact that the closer's job is to "close" the game becomes a psychological term. Some people for some reason can strike out the side in the eighth inning, but can't end it in the ninth inning (see Byung-Hyun Kim, 2001 World Series). There could be some kind of certain mentality, players always talk about how people like John Smoltz and Jonathan Papelbon can have the mindset to start games and close them.

[utahjazzno12fan]

I have to agree with you somewhat, but not mostly. Look at the Braves. A good closer would have set them in a much better position. Save totals are not a good measure of success really. What if your team always blows out a team? Really a better measure is blown saves.

[drbeep97]

A closer is a very important position. The phillies have been missing closer Tom Gordan and they've blown a few games that if Gordon were back they probably would have won. A closer can mean the difference between a play-off team and a mediocre team.

Getting the last three outs is very tough. I normally start for travel but they tried to convert me to a closer last fall from the ace of the staff (i was 14-2 with a 0.88 ERA). i blew 3 saves out of 5 and we lost all 3 games. I just don't have the mindset. The closer is a very special breed.

[utahjazzno12fan]

Drbeep,

I understand what you are saying.... I have the closer mentallity. I only had 1, maybe 2 innings in me. I have no curve ball... Only a fastball and change up.