reading closer cards

I have Lee Smith in the 80s and his card shows that he is a C2/N. with the N meaning he can't be used in the closer (or techinically he is instantly fatigued) role. If Lee Smith can't be used as Closer, then?????

what am i missing?

A rating of C2/N would not make sense. However, his actual rating is R2/N, which simply means he is not used as a closer.

Here's the rule:

Closer Rule

Each reliever is given a second rating next to his Relief Endurance rating which we will refer to as his "Closer Endurance". For example, a pitcher who is rated "relief (2/3) has a Relief Endurance of 2 and a Closer Endurance of 3. The Closer Endurance rating is a measure of how many outs a pitcher can maintain his effectiveness in "Closer situations". The rating ranges between 0 and 6, or "N" which means he is not used as a closer.

Thanks, I get the rule, just have no idea how LEE SMITH shouldn't be used as a closer.

That's like saying you don't want the ball in Michael Jordans' hands with the game on the line

Wow, you're right. He averaged over 30 saves in his five SOM 80s seasons. That makes zero sense, and it must be a mistake.

However, I do have a question since I never played the 80s set: Do they use the closer rule? (The 60s and 70s don't.) If not, then it doesn't matter. If it does, the SOM has some serious explaining to do!

https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... le02.shtml

I'm going to answer my own question from my previous post...

It looks like all relievers have the /N rating, so certainly the 80s set isn't using the closer rules.

thank you