Reliever's Role

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

We have had discussions about how to use Closers many times on this board. This World Series is nuts with the use of the relievers.



Andrew Miller has been so dominant and is throwing a lot of pitches. Aroldis Chapman just had a three inning Save.



After what Baltimore didn't do with Britton, I wonder if a change is coming. I wonder if Closers will get stretched out so they can go 30+ pitches with an off day coming up?



Very interesting use of the Bullpen by both managers.

[BucsFaninGA]

I am of the frame of mind, whatever it takes to pull out a win. We may indeed be seeing the emergence of the use of relievers in a different manner due to this year's playoffs and World Series. Bucs need to continue building up their pen in my opinion as it appears they are going to be going with a lot of fresh arms...And those kids are going to be experiencing some growing pains. Will be interesting to see what the front office does this off season regarding pitching...



Good topic Dognot3. Something to ponder as we inch closer to the offseason.



Beat'em Bucs

Bucs Fan in GA  

[IABucFan]

Personally, I'm not sure much will change. Remember, the playoffs are unlike the regular season. You have more off-days, many times, games truly are "must win," and even if there isn't an off-day coming up the next day, the offseason is right around the corner. When Bumgarner went crazy in the 2014 WS, nobody was suggesting that your ace should also come in and be your closer. The reality is that while Chapman can pitch 2+ innings on one occasion, I just don't see him doing that with any regularity. It's a good way to destroy a great arm.



I think this is the debate we often have on here over the course of the season. The season is a marathon, made up of 162 sprints. But, if you really treat each sprint as a sprint, you'll be out of gas by the end of the marathon.



What I do think we may see happen though, and I'd be all in favor of it, is to no longer designate that the closer has to pitch the 9th inning. If you've got 3-4-5 coming up in the 7th inning, clinging to a one run lead, I suspect we'll start seeing more managers use their "closer" in that inning, who theoretically at least, should be the team's best reliever.

[UtahPirate]

The ability of the Indians to use Miller like they have is Allen is there to still play the closer role and pitch the 9th. Because of Allen, they are able to plug Miller into what seems like the most critical inning(s) for them at the time.



For me the question becomes, will teams adjust the role of their set-up arm and pitch him in more high leverage situations that come earlier than the 8th inning? I've heard that question several times on this board when it came to Watson's role this past year and while we still had Melancon in the closer role. I'm not so sure this strategy will affect a team's "closer" but it could change the strategic use of the set-up man.

[Bobster21]

The idea should be to win but managers have become obsessed with saves for their closers over the years to the point where games are lost in the later innings with the best reliever sitting the game out because it's not a save situation. That's crazy. There was never a more spotlighted example than the Showalter/Britton snafu this year. I think that will make managers rethink the way they manage by formula regarding the closers.



To me, it was always a flawed concept. Sure, it's nice to lock down a game in the 9th but there are times when the game is already lost by that time because the best receiver was being held back exclusively for a save opportunity.

[dogknot17@yahoo.co]

Will more Andrew Millers exist going forward?



I know it is different in the post-season, but there are still off days in the regular season too. Will players be more geared up to go longer than 15 pitches?