03-30-2009, 03:05 PM
<!--quoteo(post=25781:date=Mar 30 2009, 01:50 PM:name=Dirk)-->QUOTE (Dirk @ Mar 30 2009, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=25648:date=Mar 29 2009, 05:49 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Mar 29 2009, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->He'll pitch in the game's most critical situation, up until the 9th inning, where it's the toughest inning to get 3 outs and the pressure's on. The closer role may be overrated, but now people are also underrating it. You're not going to win any titles without a good closer.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Exactly. I don't know how you can make a blanket statement that the 7th and 8th innings are the games most crucial situations. The most crucial situation could come in the 3rd inning, you never know. You could easily mow through the bottom on the order in the 8th only to have to face the heart of the lineup in the 9th.
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The difference is that Marmol would often come in after the starter got himself into trouble. A couple of guys on base, the go-ahead run at 3B, the middle of the order coming up, etc. And he'd deliver a strikeout or a popup and get you out of it. If Marmol was the designated closer, he wouldn't be available to do that. Instead, Gregg would be the guy -- and Gregg doesn't miss as many bats as Marmol does. Not even close.
Most of the time, the closer comes in at the start of the 9th with nobody on base. Sure -- he can come in with a 1-run lead and might have to face Pujols or Berkman. That situation will happen. But more often than not, the situation will be less stressful than that.
Exactly. I don't know how you can make a blanket statement that the 7th and 8th innings are the games most crucial situations. The most crucial situation could come in the 3rd inning, you never know. You could easily mow through the bottom on the order in the 8th only to have to face the heart of the lineup in the 9th.
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The difference is that Marmol would often come in after the starter got himself into trouble. A couple of guys on base, the go-ahead run at 3B, the middle of the order coming up, etc. And he'd deliver a strikeout or a popup and get you out of it. If Marmol was the designated closer, he wouldn't be available to do that. Instead, Gregg would be the guy -- and Gregg doesn't miss as many bats as Marmol does. Not even close.
Most of the time, the closer comes in at the start of the 9th with nobody on base. Sure -- he can come in with a 1-run lead and might have to face Pujols or Berkman. That situation will happen. But more often than not, the situation will be less stressful than that.