what is the general view on closers? do most people use them? I just took over a rebuilding project and dont expect to win that many games but I have a guy who would be a good closer... is it smarter to use him as SuA so he gets more innings?

Some people are going to tell you yes and others will tell you no so in the long run you will still have to decide yourself. I am on the no side.

I like having an ace reliever as my closer, but I don't just limit him to 1-inning saves. I don't just have him come in during save situations, and I also allow him to come in well before the 9th inning to put fires out if necessary. Depends on your personnel and strategy though.

It depends on the player as well. If he's a guy that can only go 1 inning max, then using him like a conventional closer might be the right strategy.

Depends mostly on the STA/DUR of your RP... but if you've got a 30/85 kinda guy, you'll probably get more IP over the course of a season bringing him in for the 7th or 8th inning.

Quote: Originally Posted By iain on 1/28/2010Depends mostly on the STA/DUR of your RP... but if you've got a 30/85 kinda guy, you'll probably get more IP over the course of a season bringing him in for the 7th or 8th inning

My best closer is a 40/40 dur/stam with LH/RH of 97/87. Write him in for about 90% save percentage, 40+ saves per year.

That's the kind of guy I'd want as a 9th inning specialist.

1924 Babe Adams for HBD, if you will.

My pitcher in question looks like this:

37 stamina, 72 durability

84 control, 69/59 split, 2 pitches at 85 and 90

only 3 year pro should progress a little bit more.

Is it worth it for me as a rebuilding team and HOPING to win 75 games to use him as a closer even though he might miss opportunites? Or keep him as SuA?

What is a Closer? Put him as an SuA, have no listed CL, and edit your player settings so he is in the most leveraged situations.

funny.. my reg.season just started, I had him as SuA and he just made his first appearance in the 2nd game of the season and came in for a 4 out save :)

i shall leave him as SuA

With 69/59 splits, he might have some trouble, even with those good pitches and control. 59 vsr is pretty low.

Quote: Originally Posted By crickett13 on 1/28/2010Some people are going to tell you yes and others will tell you no so in the long run you will still have to decide yourself

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Quote: Originally posted by kahrtmen on 1/29/2010With 69/59 splits, he might have some trouble, even with those good pitches and control. 59 vsr is pretty low.

No, it's pretty average.

35 would be "pretty low".

59 can and does succeed at the major league level, just not as well as 99.

And I don't mean to be a dick to you, specifically, kahrtman, but I see this all the time and it should be said better. 59 is average, not great, not enough to stake the farm on, but good.

If you are in a rebuilding mode and he is 3-year pro I would have him down for another year.

I think 59 is average, but it is 'pretty low' for a closer. At least that's how I read it.