The almighty save!

[Fan_In_NY]

Let's say Isringhausen is the best reliever. If the opponent has runners on the corner with one out in the top of the seventh inning, do you want Brad Thompson, Russ Springer, Josh Hancock or Ryan Franklin brought in, or the BEST, Isringhausen?

The only problem is the manager can't be sure a higher leverage situation isnt going to come up later in the game. If Izzy came into that situation and lets say gave up a sac fly and gives up a run, and then in the 9th the opposing team gets a runner on, that would be a much higher leverage situation, and you have already used your best pitcher, in a less high leverage situation. The closer is used because the managers know that the basic fan/manager understand the role of the traditional closer. they will never be faulted for bringing in a closer in a save situation when a closer blows it. It is seen as the closers job. When a manager brings in a closer in another situation and bad things happen he is secondguessed, and if he brought in another reliever in a "save" situation the fans will get upset if the other reliever is not successful, as will the stereotypical closer.

[jim]

Let's say Isringhausen is the best reliever. If the opponent has runners on the corner with one out in the top of the seventh inning, do you want Brad Thompson, Russ Springer, Josh Hancock or Ryan Franklin brought in, or the BEST, Isringhausen?

The only problem is the manager can't be sure a higher leverage situation isnt going to come up later in the game. If Izzy came into that situation and lets say gave up a sac fly and gives up a run, and then in the 9th the opposing team gets a runner on, that would be a much higher leverage situation, and you have already used your best pitcher, in a less high leverage situation. The closer is used because the managers know that the basic fan/manager understand the role of the traditional closer. they will never be faulted for bringing in a closer in a save situation when a closer blows it. It is seen as the closers job. When a manager brings in a closer in another situation and bad things happen he is secondguessed, and if he brought in another reliever in a "save" situation the fans will get upset if the other reliever is not successful, as will the stereotypical closer.

That's very true, you don't know if a tougher situation is around the corner. But certainly there are cases in the 8th inning where you pretty much know the game is on the line.

Of course 30 years ago they solved that by just bringing in the guy in the 7th and letting him finish the game.