Clutchness

[Butcher]

There's a school of thought (that I mostly agree with), that you should have a late inning "fireman" instead of a "closer."

For example...on our team, Marmol is probably our best bullpen guy with Marshall a close second. Say you're winning by one run with the heart of the opposition's order coming up in the 8th inning. Do you bring in your best bullpen pitcher in the 8th to face the big guns? Or do you save him to face the bottom of the order in the 9th because he's your "closer?"

Or if your starter is cruising along, but gets in a jam in the 7th...anyway, you get it.

Pretty much every team pitches their best bullpen pitcher in the 9th if they have the lead, no matter what the situation.