Closers? Topic

squarepeg
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I've seen multiple mentions by users in Simleague and Hardball dynasty by owners who condemn the closer position. I understand the general justification for no closer is that teams don't get enough use out of closers because they are limited in their appearances. I just wonder what doing things like the 'use closer only when winning' or adjusting personal player settings might counteract the closer role. Is it better to use to good setup A's rather than a closer that is only slightly better than the SUa position. I'm sure the Closer's durability also plays a role. Are most HBD owners in agreement that the closer position is relatively useless?
1/30/2012 6:31 PM
boogerlips
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For me the biggest difference is that one comes in in the 7th or later and one comes in in the 8th or later (usually). I definitly don't 'use closers only when winning' as that lowers their leverage value. I like to see them in the game when its tied or down by one.
A smaller difference is the different effectiveness of relievers. If my bullpen basically has two tiers of pitchers, good and great, I'll probably just assign them Long and Setup. If I have three tiers of pitchers, good and great and really great, or bad and good and great, I'll set them up as Long and Setup and Closer. The reason being that Sparky will pull a Setup guy in favor of a closer if the situation gets tight. He won't pull a Setup guy in favor of different Setup guy.
I also disagree about usage problems. In SLB I've used SPs like '95 Maddux as closer and used up his innings just fine. Its mostly about what inning they are available and what their pitch count is.
1/30/2012 7:03 PM
nauds3000
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Dave Roberts

This is a really good example of why you don't put a guy who can throw 150+ innings a year as your closer

1/30/2012 7:24 PM
boogerlips
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What was his pitch count? 60? or 25?
1/30/2012 8:03 PM
travisg
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Posted by nauds3000 on 1/30/2012 7:24:00 PM (view original):
Dave Roberts

This is a really good example of why you don't put a guy who can throw 150+ innings a year as your closer

This is the single most annoying thing other owners can do. Why would you leave 100+ high-quality innings on the table?
1/31/2012 7:52 AM
caesari
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I always make my "closer" types SuAs as well, as I'd rather 155 innings of great pitching than 75.
1/31/2012 8:41 AM
shobob
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I generally agree that the closer designation is a waste, but I have one anyway.  I have D'Angelo Lopez set to come in in the 8th inning, and I use him in non save situations.  As you can see, he gets 80-100 IP per season, meaning I'm leaving about 50-70 IP on the table per season.  But, I want him to make the HoF someday, and setup guys don't make it.  The save statistic and fireman of the year awards will help that happen.  It's kind of silly, but I have a strong bullpen besides Lopez, so I can afford it.
1/31/2012 9:10 AM
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MikeT23
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He's Canadian.
1/31/2012 9:24 AM
silentpadna
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Posted by tecwrg on 1/31/2012 9:17:00 AM (view original):
Posted by shobob on 1/31/2012 9:10:00 AM (view original):
I generally agree that the closer designation is a waste, but I have one anyway.  I have D'Angelo Lopez set to come in in the 8th inning, and I use him in non save situations.  As you can see, he gets 80-100 IP per season, meaning I'm leaving about 50-70 IP on the table per season.  But, I want him to make the HoF someday, and setup guys don't make it.  The save statistic and fireman of the year awards will help that happen.  It's kind of silly, but I have a strong bullpen besides Lopez, so I can afford it.

Dumbest post ever.

You're intentionally underutilizing an extremely valuable player in order to let him accumulate meaningless (in the big picture) statistics and awards with the goal of having him be elected to a flawed Hall of Fame.

I don't get it.

Strangely enough that happens in real life too.  The closer is the only position in MLB where a position is utilized almost entirely based on a meaningless stat.

(Note:  I do realize that there is now a "role mentality" that exists in MLB that didn't used to, so it's not all that cut and dried....but it should be).

Here's a guy whose HOF career I'm jeopardizing:  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Tyreace James

1/31/2012 10:06 AM
shobob
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Calm down, guys it's just a game.  Notice his world series rings?  When the playoffs start, I use him as a setup guy.
1/31/2012 10:06 AM
shobob
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"dumbest post ever" is a bit extreme, by the way.  That one still has to go to my brother.
1/31/2012 10:07 AM
shobob
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And, as I said, I have a strong bullpen besides Lopez.   Matthew Langerhans and Richard Cho can eat some valuable innings.
1/31/2012 10:09 AM
shobob
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In Yaz world, where he plays, the Hall of Fame is not flawed.  It works quite well there, since people care enough to vote.
1/31/2012 10:13 AM
MikeT23
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Uh, the guy going "calm down" quickly rips off 4 posts without a response explaining what he does and how great his world is because they vote for the HOF.

Who's excited?
1/31/2012 10:17 AM
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