Is There Really A “Closer’s Mentality”?

• Fred9964

  +4

  I definitely think there is a "Closer's Mentality."  Only certain people can be effective in high pressure situations, regardless of what they do when the game isn't on the line.  Only certain people can come in at the end of the ballgame and protect a small lead. 

  Posted 5/5/2008 [reply] [flag]

• ethanator1088

  +3

  Then you also have Smoltz who is just the man no matter what inning it is. :-)

  Posted 5/5/2008 [reply] [flag]

• DaveKingman

  +4

  If you can pitch, you can pitch. Or at least you should be able to.  Maybe "closer's mentality" is just a positive way to say: I get lazy when I pitch when it doesn't mater."

  Posted 5/5/2008 [reply] [flag]

• MBrannon

  +3

  Another thing to consider is possible selection bias - that is, many innings pitched in non-save situations might have been at the end of the pitcher's career, or coming back from injury, or other non-optimal time periods.

  Posted 5/5/2008 [reply] [flag]

  • DaveKingman

    +4

    Good point MBrannon.

     It would also be interesting to see how lesser closers fared.

    Posted 5/5/2008 [reply] [flag]

• fantasybaseball

  +1

  I believe all pitchers can pitch whenever they are needed but with MLB games there is the added pressures.  So, a closers mentality does exist.  All ball players go through the same pressures with respect to family, fans, contracts, and confidance as other pitchers.  What sets a closer apart from all other pitchers (this goes for normal workers in the real world too) is their ability to put everything behind them and just throw a ball during the most pressure packed part of the game, the 9th inning.  These closer have to be able to put everything that is going on in their lives and throw 10-20 perfectly executed pitches.

  Posted 5/18/2008 [reply] [flag]

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Links (2)

In the News (5/5)
Published 5/6/2008 by Jared at Right Field Bleachers
... - Melvin said this offseason that he believed Gagne struggled in Boston last season because he was not being used as a closer. This Dugout Central analysis seems to conclude that there is no such thing as a "closer mentality" that allows closers to pitch better in save situations than in non-save situations. Hat tip to ...

Closers in Non-Save Situations
Published 5/6/2008 by Bjoern at Mojo Blog
... that? It turns out that over his career Billy Wagner is EXACTLY the same pitcher regardless of what the game situation is when he enters. […] Maybe the reason Billy Wagner is a great closer is simply that he’s very good at hurling a baseball at frightening speeds toward home plate You have to love this stuff. Caimano goes on and presents the numbers of some other big name closers, too, so check out the whole article. Link: Is There Really A “Closer’s Mentality”?