So, you watch Kershaw, Bumgarner, Kluber, Scherzer, Price, and Wainwright leave the game, and your interest leaves with them. Someone hops in from the bullpen, and you start questioning the skipper's logic. Why is this guy on the mound? Here's who, and he's what his role is!
He's also called, the long man. The long reliever usually comes into the game for a few reasons. The starter has been knocked out, or his arm is tiring early. An injury. An ejection. Usually, it's very early in the game. Before the fifth inning. Or the game has gone into extras, say the twelve or thirteenth inning, you've used up everyone else. Or, you want to save the bullpen for the next game for some reason. In that case, the long reliever comes in. These pitchers are actually good enough to be a starter. In fact, their pitch selection and stamina might be only a little behind or ahead of the fifth starter. The point is, you need someone to go, a long way. So you bring him the long man. He would not be used in the closer or setup spot, unless they (and several other pitchers) were spent from their previous outings. These are the relievers that usually get the most wins, since they'll might very well earn some spot stars. Should a starter be in a slump, get traded, or is demoted, the long man might be inserted into the rotation for a few weeks. And likewise, the fifth starter becomes the long reliever. In the American League, there is no problem with them going four or five innings the odd time. But in the National League, they usually only pitch three innings at the most, for they are pinch hit for. They may, however, bat the odd time. Again, this would probably only be if there were few / no relief pitchers left. Rarely, if ever, does he ever finish the game. If the long man is used enough, he might end up with more innings pitched then the closer or setup man, despite less appearances. Generally, the long reliever is right-handed. If he's a lefty, then the middle reliever is right-handed. Mark Eichhorn spent a great deal of his career as a long reliever. He also had stints as the righty specialist and setup man in his career. More on those, later.
Middle Reliever
Also called, middle man. He generally enters the game around the middle of the game. Hence, the name. Or, he can be used in or seventh inning. Again, if it's a National League game, odds are he exits for a pinch hitter. The manager, seeing that the pitcher's spot in due up in two innings (One of those games where no one is getting on base) would bring him in in that instance. Again, like the long reliever, he has a pretty good pitch selection. But it would not be as good as the fifth starter or long man. His stamina would also be less then that of a long man or fifth starter. If needs be, this could also be the pitcher who pitches the seventh or eighth inning, assuming the setup man is unavailable. And if the closer and setup man are unavailable, he might finish the game. However, it's very rare. Middle man, like long man, are often low in the games finished department. This pitcher would bat no more than two or three times in a season. Normally, he is out of the game by the eighth inning. He also can be used in extra innings, along with the long man, if the game is looking like a marathon. Here, he would bat for himself. He can be a left-hander, assuming the long man is a right-hander. He would get some holds, but not anywhere near as many as the setup man, or closer. Fewer, too, then the right/lefty specialist and short man.
As the name indicates, he's tough on righties. And he's right-handed, by the way. No exceptions. But lefties own the right-handed specialist. He's could also be the short man on the team, and it's not to uncommon that he does both. He might only face one batter. The next batter is a lefty, so regardless of the result, he exits after facing one batter. There's a fun acroynim for that, ROOG, which stands for Righty One Out Guy. He might get the call if the long, middle, and setup man are faltering, especially if the game is one the line. The starter, too, might get pulled in favour of the righty specialist if it's an important time in the game, and it's the other team's best right-handed hitter. This can happen even if the starter is a righty. He would under certain circumstances go more than one inning. Lets say the next five batters are right-handed. So the righty would probably face at least two of them. The righty specialist generally has few pitches to work with, and low stamina. It would be an odd sight to see him go two innings. He can finish the game, if it's a dangerous hitter up in the ninth, with the manager lacking confidence in his closer, or he's unavailable. But the righty specialist generally does not collect saves or finish games. But he, along with the lefty specialist, if they are good, get a lot of holds.
In so many cases, the lefty is brought in to face the other team's star lefty hitter. If Ted Williams was playing today, this guy would be brought in every game his team faced Williams' team. He can work an inning, but it's usually only to face three straight lefties. Perhaps, if there is one righty around three lefties, he's kept in, pitching carefully to the right-handed batter. But like the righty specialist, his pitch selection and stamina are so low, that two innings are the most he'd pitch. That's assuming there are five or six lefties in the opposing lineup. When that happens, the opposing manager usually brings in a right-handed hitter in, ending the lefty on the mound's night. He can also be, the short man, since it's so often a one-batter appearance. Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup can do this for the Jays.
As mentioned, it's often that he's one of the two above. One and done. And that means one batter. Or it can be one inning, but that's pushing the envelope. His stuff and stamina are simply lacking to let him go too far. Simply put, short man does not have enough of either, obviously, to be the setup man or the closer. He throws 30 pitches? His arm is ready to come off! But still, in a tight game in the sixth or seventh inning, look for him to make an appearance. He doesn't get many wins, and probably gets zero saves. He gets plenty of holds if he does his job, however!
Mr. Eight. The team has the lead, and he comes in to "set it up" for the closer. That doesn't mean he doesn't come in in the seventh, too. That would be if there's trouble. Say the starter is working on a low-hit game, and/or shutout into the seventh or eighth. But then, some trouble emerges. In comes the setup man. Maybe I should have just used two words, Wade Davis! He's one of the finest. Now, Mr. Setup usually has some more to offer then the closer in terms of pitches or stamina. But not that much. He is also commonly the reliever with the best K/9 outside of the closer. The setup man is sometimes also used as a closer. Say it's the nightcap of the doubleheader. The closer pitches the opener, and it's another save situation in the second game. If the closer is spent (and the setup guy's isn't), look for the setup man to come in to mop up. The setup man will also become the closer if the finisher becomes injured. On the DL? Expect the setup man to make consecutive appearances in the coming games in the ninth. He'll get some saves anyways, but usually no more than five or six a season. Holds, is the key stat for the setup pitcher. Davis has many. 33 last year. The setup man can also be the short man or righty specialist. He might also close if the manager has a lefty closer (The setup man is usually a righty) and there are no lefties in sight in the lineup. Say the closer failed his last time out, and is looking at a righty-stacked lineup for the ninth. The setup man might have to get the last six outs. He might end up with more appearances and/or innings pitched then the closer, and often ends up second in games finished and saves. My favourite off all time, by the way, was Blue Jay Duane Ward. He'd come in and setup Henke for the ninth so many times in the late 80s and early 90s before he found himself in the closer role in 1993. Mariano Rivera was sort of in the same boat as Ward to John Wettland in 1996. After which, The Sandman was The Man in the Bronx! Will it be Davis sometime?
Closer
Long Reliever
He's also called, the long man. The long reliever usually comes into the game for a few reasons. The starter has been knocked out, or his arm is tiring early. An injury. An ejection. Usually, it's very early in the game. Before the fifth inning. Or the game has gone into extras, say the twelve or thirteenth inning, you've used up everyone else. Or, you want to save the bullpen for the next game for some reason. In that case, the long reliever comes in. These pitchers are actually good enough to be a starter. In fact, their pitch selection and stamina might be only a little behind or ahead of the fifth starter. The point is, you need someone to go, a long way. So you bring him the long man. He would not be used in the closer or setup spot, unless they (and several other pitchers) were spent from their previous outings. These are the relievers that usually get the most wins, since they'll might very well earn some spot stars. Should a starter be in a slump, get traded, or is demoted, the long man might be inserted into the rotation for a few weeks. And likewise, the fifth starter becomes the long reliever. In the American League, there is no problem with them going four or five innings the odd time. But in the National League, they usually only pitch three innings at the most, for they are pinch hit for. They may, however, bat the odd time. Again, this would probably only be if there were few / no relief pitchers left. Rarely, if ever, does he ever finish the game. If the long man is used enough, he might end up with more innings pitched then the closer or setup man, despite less appearances. Generally, the long reliever is right-handed. If he's a lefty, then the middle reliever is right-handed. Mark Eichhorn spent a great deal of his career as a long reliever. He also had stints as the righty specialist and setup man in his career. More on those, later.
Middle Reliever
Also called, middle man. He generally enters the game around the middle of the game. Hence, the name. Or, he can be used in or seventh inning. Again, if it's a National League game, odds are he exits for a pinch hitter. The manager, seeing that the pitcher's spot in due up in two innings (One of those games where no one is getting on base) would bring him in in that instance. Again, like the long reliever, he has a pretty good pitch selection. But it would not be as good as the fifth starter or long man. His stamina would also be less then that of a long man or fifth starter. If needs be, this could also be the pitcher who pitches the seventh or eighth inning, assuming the setup man is unavailable. And if the closer and setup man are unavailable, he might finish the game. However, it's very rare. Middle man, like long man, are often low in the games finished department. This pitcher would bat no more than two or three times in a season. Normally, he is out of the game by the eighth inning. He also can be used in extra innings, along with the long man, if the game is looking like a marathon. Here, he would bat for himself. He can be a left-hander, assuming the long man is a right-hander. He would get some holds, but not anywhere near as many as the setup man, or closer. Fewer, too, then the right/lefty specialist and short man.
Rightly Specialist
As the name indicates, he's tough on righties. And he's right-handed, by the way. No exceptions. But lefties own the right-handed specialist. He's could also be the short man on the team, and it's not to uncommon that he does both. He might only face one batter. The next batter is a lefty, so regardless of the result, he exits after facing one batter. There's a fun acroynim for that, ROOG, which stands for Righty One Out Guy. He might get the call if the long, middle, and setup man are faltering, especially if the game is one the line. The starter, too, might get pulled in favour of the righty specialist if it's an important time in the game, and it's the other team's best right-handed hitter. This can happen even if the starter is a righty. He would under certain circumstances go more than one inning. Lets say the next five batters are right-handed. So the righty would probably face at least two of them. The righty specialist generally has few pitches to work with, and low stamina. It would be an odd sight to see him go two innings. He can finish the game, if it's a dangerous hitter up in the ninth, with the manager lacking confidence in his closer, or he's unavailable. But the righty specialist generally does not collect saves or finish games. But he, along with the lefty specialist, if they are good, get a lot of holds.
Lefty Specialist
In so many cases, the lefty is brought in to face the other team's star lefty hitter. If Ted Williams was playing today, this guy would be brought in every game his team faced Williams' team. He can work an inning, but it's usually only to face three straight lefties. Perhaps, if there is one righty around three lefties, he's kept in, pitching carefully to the right-handed batter. But like the righty specialist, his pitch selection and stamina are so low, that two innings are the most he'd pitch. That's assuming there are five or six lefties in the opposing lineup. When that happens, the opposing manager usually brings in a right-handed hitter in, ending the lefty on the mound's night. He can also be, the short man, since it's so often a one-batter appearance. Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup can do this for the Jays.
Short Reliever (Or Short Man)
As mentioned, it's often that he's one of the two above. One and done. And that means one batter. Or it can be one inning, but that's pushing the envelope. His stuff and stamina are simply lacking to let him go too far. Simply put, short man does not have enough of either, obviously, to be the setup man or the closer. He throws 30 pitches? His arm is ready to come off! But still, in a tight game in the sixth or seventh inning, look for him to make an appearance. He doesn't get many wins, and probably gets zero saves. He gets plenty of holds if he does his job, however!
Setup Man
Mr. Eight. The team has the lead, and he comes in to "set it up" for the closer. That doesn't mean he doesn't come in in the seventh, too. That would be if there's trouble. Say the starter is working on a low-hit game, and/or shutout into the seventh or eighth. But then, some trouble emerges. In comes the setup man. Maybe I should have just used two words, Wade Davis! He's one of the finest. Now, Mr. Setup usually has some more to offer then the closer in terms of pitches or stamina. But not that much. He is also commonly the reliever with the best K/9 outside of the closer. The setup man is sometimes also used as a closer. Say it's the nightcap of the doubleheader. The closer pitches the opener, and it's another save situation in the second game. If the closer is spent (and the setup guy's isn't), look for the setup man to come in to mop up. The setup man will also become the closer if the finisher becomes injured. On the DL? Expect the setup man to make consecutive appearances in the coming games in the ninth. He'll get some saves anyways, but usually no more than five or six a season. Holds, is the key stat for the setup pitcher. Davis has many. 33 last year. The setup man can also be the short man or righty specialist. He might also close if the manager has a lefty closer (The setup man is usually a righty) and there are no lefties in sight in the lineup. Say the closer failed his last time out, and is looking at a righty-stacked lineup for the ninth. The setup man might have to get the last six outs. He might end up with more appearances and/or innings pitched then the closer, and often ends up second in games finished and saves. My favourite off all time, by the way, was Blue Jay Duane Ward. He'd come in and setup Henke for the ninth so many times in the late 80s and early 90s before he found himself in the closer role in 1993. Mariano Rivera was sort of in the same boat as Ward to John Wettland in 1996. After which, The Sandman was The Man in the Bronx! Will it be Davis sometime?
The savour. Well, the pitcher who gets all the saves. Usually, he's right-handed. But not always. John Franco comes to mind as a lefty closer. However, think Rivera, think Eckersley, think Gossage. Dennis Eckerlsey sort of changed the appearance mode for closers. Before him, many closer would just come in and pitch to the end of the game, because they were good enough to be a starter or long reliever. But today, the closer commonly has only pitch. His other pitch is used infrequently. And that one pitch is almost always a fastball. Thrown at some incredible high velocity. His control is usually tops on the staff. But the closer's stamina is commonly the lowest of any pitcher on the team. As is, of course, his pitch count. Only when there are no other options does the manager let him go more than one inning. And that's the ninth or the bottom frame in extras following the lead taken. If he's used for two innings in a game, you run the risk of his unavailability the next game. Two stats that are a guarantee, saves and games finished! And, unless he loses his job, the second most of both those stats on the team is way behind. How often the closer is used is dependent on his stuff, his arm strength, and the team he's on. It used to be that the closer would also have a high win total, the most of any non-starter, but now it's considerably less. The days of Dick Radatz, Ken Tekulve and Mike Marshall-like relievers are long gone.
References
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Halberstam, David. Summer of 49. New York: William Morrow / Avon Books, 1989.
Kalb, Elliott. Who's Better, Who's Best in Baseball: Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top 75 Players of All Time. McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall of Fame. Lanham: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Whiteford, Mike, and Taylor Jones. How to Talk Baseball. Revised Edition. Galahad Books, 1987.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/>.
References
Halberstam, David. October 1964. New York: Villard, 1994. Print.
Halberstam, David. Summer of 49. New York: William Morrow / Avon Books, 1989.
Kalb, Elliott. Who's Better, Who's Best in Baseball: Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top 75 Players of All Time. McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall of Fame. Lanham: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Whiteford, Mike, and Taylor Jones. How to Talk Baseball. Revised Edition. Galahad Books, 1987.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/>.
No comments:
Post a Comment