OnlyBucs

Wildwoodcoach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 1:23 am Happ is a hometown kid. How did we miss him?

Bobster wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 12:10 am Gotta do a fact check on the Elroy Face interview and follow up comments by Block and Wehner (and Blass).

Face was not the first "closer." He was never used in the way that closers are used. I think Face may have meant "relief specialist." But his 1960-61 teammate Clem Labine was used as a relief specialist earlier than Face. They also said Face was the first reliever who was not previously a failed starter. But Face made 28 starts early in his career. In fact, Face said it was Danny Murtaugh who made Face a full time reliever when he took over in August 1957. But after 1955, Face had only 3 starts. Under Bobby Bregan in 1957, Face had made only 1 start and 37 relief appearances and in 1956 he led MLB with 65 relief appearances with only 3 starts. Then with Blass in the booth, Block again said Face was the first closer and Blass said, "he defined the role." But Face was never reserved for late inning save duty. He pitched whenever there was a jam, usually multiple innings and if he was gone before the 9th, someone else got a save.

Ecbucs wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 1:43 am

Bobster wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 12:10 am Gotta do a fact check on the Elroy Face interview and follow up comments by Block and Wehner (and Blass).

Face was not the first "closer." He was never used in the way that closers are used. I think Face may have meant "relief specialist." But his 1960-61 teammate Clem Labine was used as a relief specialist earlier than Face. They also said Face was the first reliever who was not previously a failed starter. But Face made 28 starts early in his career. In fact, Face said it was Danny Murtaugh who made Face a full time reliever when he took over in August 1957. But after 1955, Face had only 3 starts. Under Bobby Bregan in 1957, Face had made only 1 start and 37 relief appearances and in 1956 he led MLB with 65 relief appearances with only 3 starts. Then with Blass in the booth, Block again said Face was the first closer and Blass said, "he defined the role." But Face was never reserved for late inning save duty. He pitched whenever there was a jam, usually multiple innings and if he was gone before the 9th, someone else got a save.

just got in and haven't read through entire thread yet but was he talking about first for the Pirates? Other relievers had been successful in the past such as Jim Konstanty who was a star for the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia in 1950. 16 wins, 22 saves no starts.

Wildwoodcoach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 2:59 pm That was a good move by Shelton putting Rivas in at First
and taking Joe out. That reversed call might not have gone
our way if Joe had been there

Wildwoodcoach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 2:59 pm That was a good move by Shelton putting Rivas in at First
and taking Joe out. That reversed call might not have gone
our way if Joe had been there

Surgnbuck wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 4:09 pm

Wildwoodcoach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 2:59 pm That was a good move by Shelton putting Rivas in at First
and taking Joe out. That reversed call might not have gone
our way if Joe had been there

I'm with you, but I was thinking more about the next play, when Williams threw the short hop that Rivas handled cleanly, better than average chance Joe doesn't handle that throw cleanly.