Closer Ratings

I am a long time cards and dice player as well as a CD-ROM player (present day) and I am not really new at the on-line game, but I still am not sure I understand the closer ratings. What happens when a non closer comes in during a save situation? I notice several teams in my 2013 leagues do not have a closer on their roster at all, or some guys use a C4 but don't have ANYONE ELSE with a C-rating. ..... Any thoughts on how important it is to have a true closer, or if not a true closer what about two or three guys who are C3 or in that range? What is the common wisdom? Thanks for any replies...

Common wisdom is to have a C5 or C6 closer on your team to close out games.

IMO, I think it is common wisdom to have the C5 or C6 because it is the easiest route to take. I believe that if a guy is a R1/C6 he is basically good for two innings(C6) or six outs in a closing situation before fatigue sets in. This really allows you to also use him as a set up and late inning pitcher as well as the closer. You can check off "eighth inning or later" and you really do not have to worry about fatigue in any save situation or relief situation that turns into a save situation that lasts two innings or less. This allows you to extend your bullpen a little, spending less as you move down the situational line of relievers. When you have a R1/C3, you really must only use him as the closer to avoid fatigue due to the lesser rating. He will have a very good chance of fatigue when pitching more than one inning, so you need better and or more relievers as you move down the line because the closer can not shoulder additional innings and fatigues quicker. This is part of the reason you see multiple C3 rated guys on some teams where they lack a pitcher with the big "C" rating. There is nothing wrong with using the C3, you just need more relief than if you were using the C6. An R2/C3 changes things a little, as it allows you to use the closer in other roles because of the R2. However, you may want to have another closer available either due to over use because of the R2 and the additional roles the closer may be filling, similar to the C3 situation except maybe for slightly different reasons. Like I said, I think it's all good, you just have to adjust to the situation created because of the differing roles that the closer's rating allows you to use him in. The bullpen by committee thing is good also. Take a guy like Sean Marshall in last years set. You could mix him someone like Storen or even a lesser one or two guys and just mix and match depending on match ups, moving Marshall between closer and LH specialist. Just have to make sure the bullpen can handle all of the differing situations you might see.

Thanks for your insight guys! I always believed a team should carry one C6 or C5 guy or two C4 guys but I am seeing teams with little or no closers. Maybe these teams do not realize we use the closer ratings for the 201X leagues because they are not used in other earlier leagues. ...... Should I inform these managers they are better off having a true closer on their rosters?

Thanks for your insight guys! I always believed a team should carry one C6 or C5 guy or two C4 guys but I am seeing teams with little or no closers. Maybe these teams do not realize we use the closer ratings for the 201X leagues because they are not used in other earlier leagues. ...... Should I inform these managers they are better off having a true closer on their rosters?

You are required to have a pitcher with a closer rating when you draft, but it's not a rule you must designate or keep a closer. I have a team with no closer (actually 2 of them have C0, but I don't use the closer setting). However, this is a 24-team $60M no DH league. In this situation (non-DH) I prefer to have better total RP in lieu of a closer. Now my bullpen has 9 saves and 10 blown saves. Sounds horrible, but misleading since most of them are early in the game not the 9th inning.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1126051

I am one of those managers who have forgone using a true closer. I like Scumby prefer to have a group of solid relievers instead. I just do not specify a closer and let Hal decide who will close games which seems to be working since Hal likes to have control a lot of the time anyways So far in my league through 33 games I have 18 wins and 12 of those have been saved with only 5 blown saves. Seems to work for me so far!

Thanks for your insight guys! I always believed a team should carry one C6 or C5 guy or two C4 guys but I am seeing teams with little or no closers. Maybe these teams do not realize we use the closer ratings for the 201X leagues because they are not used in other earlier leagues. ...... Should I inform these managers they are better off having a true closer on their rosters?

You are required to have a pitcher with a closer rating when you draft, but it's not a rule you must designate or keep a closer. I have a team with no closer (actually 2 of them have C0, but I don't use the closer setting). However, this is a 24-team $60M no DH league. In this situation (non-DH) I prefer to have better total RP in lieu of a closer. Now my bullpen has 9 saves and 10 blown saves. Sounds horrible, but misleading since most of them are early in the game not the 9th inning.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1126051

You are playing with fire not having a true closer in a 20xx (or 90s) league. You had many games where your reliever closing the game set the side down 1-2-3 in the 9th, but if he had given up a single hit or walk (since he was C0), he would have gone to F0. Check out game 9 bottom of 9th where this happened. Now if your reliever enters the game early enough (7th inning?) the closer rule doesn't seem to kick in, such as in game 27.

You are in danger of ending up with a reliever at F0 in the 9th inning or in extra innings if you are the visiting team.

Thanks for your insight guys! I always believed a team should carry one C6 or C5 guy or two C4 guys but I am seeing teams with little or no closers. Maybe these teams do not realize we use the closer ratings for the 201X leagues because they are not used in other earlier leagues. ...... Should I inform these managers they are better off having a true closer on their rosters?

You are required to have a pitcher with a closer rating when you draft, but it's not a rule you must designate or keep a closer. I have a team with no closer (actually 2 of them have C0, but I don't use the closer setting). However, this is a 24-team $60M no DH league. In this situation (non-DH) I prefer to have better total RP in lieu of a closer. Now my bullpen has 9 saves and 10 blown saves. Sounds horrible, but misleading since most of them are early in the game not the 9th inning.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/1126051

You are playing with fire not having a true closer in a 20xx (or 90s) league. You had many games where your reliever closing the game set the side down 1-2-3 in the 9th, but if he had given up a single hit or walk (since he was C0), he would have gone to F0. Check out game 9 bottom of 9th where this happened. Now if your reliever enters the game early enough (7th inning?) the closer rule doesn't seem to kick in, such as in game 27.

You are in danger of ending up with a reliever at F0 in the 9th inning or in extra innings if you are the visiting team.

Thanks for the comment and doing research. really appreciate it.. Now I'm confused. I thought by not designating a closer the RP fatigue rating would be used. Now Jerome Williams has no closer rating and I thought his fatigue was due to appearing in a 3rd straight game. Am I wrong?

I think that Coyote is dead on about a closer or a reliever being fatigued in a save situation if they do not have a higher closer rating, and men reach base. But a relief pitcher will also be tired if pitching on three days rest. The bottom line is; it pays to have a closer. ..... I don't think some guys understand this, I was wondering if I should inform someone who is in a league with me, but I think I already did and they ignored me, so oh well.

Well you guys were right. I learned something new. So I went and picked up a good closer.