It's not rude to disagree. However, you're taking two things that often occur together (good closer/good team) and assuming that one causes the other. The majority of good teams are in fact well balanced on offense and throughout the pitching staff. There are some excellent closers on terrible teams who are wasted. The closer position is overrated because the majority of relievers would save ~80% of the games if given a 1-3 run lead and only needing three outs. Ott is an elite reliever, so his rate is better. However, by exchanging Ott with one or more other relievers and placing him in the starting rotation, the expected value of wins is greater because the gain on the front end more than offsets the loss on the back end. I hope this clarifies as you took a portion of my post and apparently generalized that I said that closers are unimportant.
I don't think nootch was out on a limb with his assumption there. You said closer is overrated. Overrated usually means unimportant. You also list reasons why it's unimportant. You get the lead, you wanna keep the lead. Closer is an important position.
Overrated means rating the impact of a position too highly, quite different from unimportant. I used words such as "not as essential" when compared to starting pitching. Words can be deceiving if you don't read closely. The closer position is needed only after starters that allow your team to have the lead. You can't get the lead without them, rendering a closer useless. I feel our second best pitcher would be better utilized in a more essential role.
Tell that to every MLB GM out there because they seem to be wasting an awful lot of money on elite closers. You are making assumptions that just aren't true. Would the majority of relievers save 80% of games with a 1-3 run lead and runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out? Closers are like goalies. They are a different breed with the mentality to blow off a bad outing and get back out there the next day. Not every pitcher, especially young college guys, can do that successfully. I say leave Matty right where he is. I prefer for the game to be over in the 7th or 8th.
Well, we were bound to lose a series sooner or later. As I had stated before this last 11 day stretch I wouldn't be surprised if we lost 1 or 2. Although I didn't think it would be a series, not having Ranaudo hurts. We most definately need him back. I hope that the scope shows nothing today and we get him back by SEC play, or this could turn out to be a long season. Not too upset losing the series, I was expecting to lose 2 games during this 9 game stretch, top notch competition or not it is still tough to pitch through that many games in that short a period of rest, without your ace. All that said, time to move on and get to the next game, we got a lot of season still ahead. :geaux::tigbas::LSU231:
no. some teams load up on offensive talent, and try to just pound you into the ground some teams get a lot of guys who hit for average, and run the bases well, and play station to station baseball. some teams assemble the best starting pitching staff available. ALL teams go for a great closer. it is almost the only position all teams agree upon (philosophy wise). so we can use our relievers to blow the lead in the 9th instead of the 5th now? in today's game, it has become a rarity for a starter to go the distance. so you need a good bullpen. hopefully, in that bullpen, you have a guy who is automatic. a guy who you can absolutely depend upon to get you 3 outs no matter the situation, or part of the line-up he's facing. if you have THAT guy, what inning are you gonna use him? the 9th is the only answer. those guys are not as common as you seem to believe. i understand your position, just disagree with it. it takes a certain talent level and mental make-up to make a good closer. a good closer is not always easy to find. an elite closer is just shy of finding a winning lottery ticket. a guy capable of blowing a lead at any given time is easy to find (we got a few on the staff now). if you find an elite closer, you use him.
btw, sec play starts this coming weekend. arky at the box. and i agree, we need ranaudo back! but even with him back the other starters and me middle relievers need to step it up. so far the starters dont seem to be able to go more than 5 and the middle men have not exactly been setting the world on fire. that said, i believe cpm can make adjustments needed and everyone will step up their game.
