I do know what a closer is, what I am asking is, why does a pitcher become a closer? What are the physical and mental characteristics that make a closer a closer?
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There's more, but here is a start...
Short Memory and a Great Arm or a Great Pitch.
Short Memory and a Great Arm or a Great Pitch.
Closer usually can throw serious cheese although some are finess guys like Doug Jones. I believe the mental part is very important. Extreme confidence if not cockiness is required. They simply have to want the ball and are not afraid of failure.
Here was a great Q/A I saw the other day with Andrew Carignan who was closing for UNC just a few short years ago and is now in the big leagues.
http://woody20.blogspot.com/20...-athletics-when.html
Here was a great Q/A I saw the other day with Andrew Carignan who was closing for UNC just a few short years ago and is now in the big leagues.
http://woody20.blogspot.com/20...-athletics-when.html
He is a "Closer" because he's got a good arm, BUT is not good enough to start and get hitters out the 2nd and 3rd time through the line-up!
Many reasons....lack of stamina, lack of a deep assortment of pitches (starters typically need three or more pitches to get through the batting order 2-3 times), mechanics which may lend themself more toward a limited relief workload rather than a starter's workload, an injury which may limit a pitcher's ability to pitch deep into games (I'm thinking Smoltz for his time as a reliever), closer's "mentality" (which means a guy who is better suited to go out there and air it out for 20 pitches rather than try to pace themselves for 100 pitches). Also, you will often see some guys who have average stuff for a starter, but that stuff plays up in short bursts.
I will also add that I think the closer is a misused pitcher at the MLB level. So many managers are only willing to bring in the closer in the 9th inning to get those last three outs, when they would probably be more valuable in more "leveraged" situations. For example, why not bring the "closer" in during the 7th or 8th inning if you're in a tight situation? Why use anything less than your best reliever in the biggest situations? If you let a middle reliever or set up man blow a huge spot in the 7th or 8th, you're probably not going to be using your closer in 9th anyway.
But, most managers are so strict about only using their "closer" to close out games...this is partly driven by players and agents who want lots of "saves" because you get paid for saves, which is absurd because the save is one of the most useless stats in baseball. "Closers" are an area where I think college teams often use their guys a bit more appropriately than the MLB guys.
I will also add that I think the closer is a misused pitcher at the MLB level. So many managers are only willing to bring in the closer in the 9th inning to get those last three outs, when they would probably be more valuable in more "leveraged" situations. For example, why not bring the "closer" in during the 7th or 8th inning if you're in a tight situation? Why use anything less than your best reliever in the biggest situations? If you let a middle reliever or set up man blow a huge spot in the 7th or 8th, you're probably not going to be using your closer in 9th anyway.
But, most managers are so strict about only using their "closer" to close out games...this is partly driven by players and agents who want lots of "saves" because you get paid for saves, which is absurd because the save is one of the most useless stats in baseball. "Closers" are an area where I think college teams often use their guys a bit more appropriately than the MLB guys.
Totally agree EH. Great explanation too!
quote:
Originally posted by PGStaff:
Short Memory and a Great Arm
Absolutely incredible description. I love it!
Probably should have added: at the collegiate levels.
If someone gave me the opportunity to be successful at a baseball position, the "closer" would be the position of choice.
The opportunity to have the "rock" at the end of all the close games, to face the best an opposing manager can put at the plate at the end of the game, and to go 110% and not have to save yourself is IMHO the ultimate place a competitor can be
The opportunity to have the "rock" at the end of all the close games, to face the best an opposing manager can put at the plate at the end of the game, and to go 110% and not have to save yourself is IMHO the ultimate place a competitor can be
My son got the opportunity to close a couple of very close games his senior year. I have NEVER seen a more intense look on his face both times. He was a starting pitcher so he was more laid back when he started it seemed to me.
He has always told me even now that if he wasn't a starter that he'd love to be a closer.
I've always loved seeing those pitchers come barreling out of the bullpen with the Wild Thing glaring over the speakers...Man, if that doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!
He has always told me even now that if he wasn't a starter that he'd love to be a closer.
I've always loved seeing those pitchers come barreling out of the bullpen with the Wild Thing glaring over the speakers...Man, if that doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!
The closer is the pitcher who wants the ball with the game on the line, a guy on third, and no outs! 
My son has always been a starter who wanted to be a closer. He got his opportunity last year in college and loved it and was given the role in short season last summer with success. So, I guess we'll see after spring training where he ends up this year. Now as a parent of a closer, you either need to have nerves of steal or a stiff drink handy.
My son has always been a starter who wanted to be a closer. He got his opportunity last year in college and loved it and was given the role in short season last summer with success. So, I guess we'll see after spring training where he ends up this year. Now as a parent of a closer, you either need to have nerves of steal or a stiff drink handy.
quote:Originally posted by RHP05Parent:
The closer is the pitcher who wants the ball with the game on the line, a guy on third, and no outs!
I definitely think that it's sort of a good thing for a closer to be a little "off" (I mean that in the best possible way). You have to be in order to enter a game with the winning run at 3rd and nobody out and have no doubt you'll shut it down.
Look at some of the guys that are successful...Papelbon isn't remotely normal, K-Rod is kinda psycho, I'm not sure Rivera and Hoffman even have hearts b/c they just have ice in their veins. You literally can't rattle them. Going back a few years, there were the Nasty Boys who are all insane. I've heard stories of Dibble I believe whose first "warm up" pitch was 95+ just because he couldn't tone it down. I don't know if that's true or not. I'm not sure being crazy is required to be a closer, but it doesn't hurt...unless you're John Rocker.