Whats your opinion on bringing in your closer in a tie ball game? It seems to me a lot of closers just dont have that extra "Umphhh" when its tied. Case in point, Kimbrell strikes out all three batters he faces two nights ago in a save situation. Last night, in extra innings at home, Fredi bring in Kimbrel in the 10th and he gives up a lead off home run, Braves lose. Today he strikes out two and saves the game. Zero hits. I know that in extra innings he would never get a save at home, but i just think the tie ball game has a weird effect on closers. thoughts?

Usually the closer is the best reliever. Most extra-inning games are settled in the first couple of extra innings so if you can keep the other team from scoring in one of those innings, you greatly enhance your team's chances of scoring and the odds are better for that than trying to save your closer for a Save situation.

Having said that, I agree that closer's often don't perform as well in non-save situations. We've seen it with both Wilson and Casilla.

Many reasons to bring in your closer in say the 9th with tie game or 1 run down,,

1. hoping you score in bottom of 9th if tied ,

2. if closer has not worked in couple days they have to stay on there game thus you may see closer in 9th if your down a run.

3. this goes with number 2, say the pen has not worked very much , you bring in your closer to hold at tie or 1 run down ,,just to hold,, you may have a full or mostly full pen if you tie it , or if lucky you win it in 9th..

4. generally you do not see closer under those situations if he has worked 2 or 3 days in a row, or because he has worked couple days the coach will flat out give him the day off and not use him under any circumstance except last game year and need a win in which case even starters will be used.

5. All bull pen guys especially the set up guy and closer have to work regularly or they will lose there edge so to speak,, middle relief guys have a tendency to come in when ever as its the middle of the game and there mind set is hold for a couple innings only thus they can get pen time whenever with no effect or much effect on there arms.

hope this may clear up some thoughts you have,, np free to ask there are many good baseball guys and girls on this board to help..tks

Brian Wilson is the same way...bring him in when NOT a closing situation and he gives up runs.

They seem to need pressure situations to do well.

I have always thought the idea of a closer is silly if he is truly your best reliever bring him in when he is the most needed. Most the time that would be in the 9th inning up a run or two, but sometimes to get to extras or whatever makes sense.

Bring him in.

He can't save a game if another reliever gives up the lead.

-chef

"Whats your opinion on bringing in your closer in a tie ball game? It seems to me a lot of closers just dont have that extra "Umphhh" when its tied. Case in point, Kimbrell strikes out all three batters he faces two nights ago in a save situation. Last night, in extra innings at home, Fredi bring in Kimbrel in the 10th and he gives up a lead off home run, Braves lose. Today he strikes out two and saves the game. Zero hits. I know that in extra innings he would never get a save at home, but i just think the tie ball game has a weird effect on closers. thoughts?"

Tie game is fine IMO. The time when closers usually screw up is when you put them in the game with a big lead.