Scott Ullger Needs To Go!!

[DTro]

Closers are without a doubt the most key position in the play-offs.

horsehockey

I just find it funny that closers get paid more (and seem to be respected more) than the middle reliever or setup guys and they pitch far less innings. The whole concept of a closer is just ridiculous.

Baseball has some goofy logic.

Why not have 1 pitcher per rotation? That sure seems to make more sense. These guys can come back to the dugout/clubhouse and analyze the very smallest detail of the last “at bat” and make adjustments for the next time around.

I don’t have an issue with a different pitcher per rotation, but seriously the three outs in the 9th are no different than the three outs in the 8th or the 7th. Everyone cam make it out to be this huge string of 3 batters and the pressure is on, blah blah blah. 3 batters, 3 outs

[bassislife]

DTRO

You are 100% right!

Let me ask some of you other experts this question...

Do you really think the Yankees need Rivera the "Closer" or " The Key" to win the "World Series" ?

[Juneau4]

It's basically the same mentallity that wins in Sept. are more important than wins in April.

[Getanet]

"seriously the three outs in the 9th are no different than the three outs in the 8th or the 7th"

Theoretically they aren't, but some people can handle the pressure and others can't. Same for a QB, the really good ones usually come through in the 2-minute drill. The average and decent ones typically don't.

[genegodawa]

So now we're comparing football and baseball?

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I like that 9 pitchers per game idea, but what happens if a team bats around, gonna use a 10th pitcher to restart the order?

[bassislife]

Maybe we could get some use out of our 3rd base coach in the 10th, might as well do something!

[AWH]

but seriously the three outs in the 9th are no different than the three outs in the 8th or the 7th. Everyone cam make it out to be this huge string of 3 batters and the pressure is on, blah blah blah. 3 batters, 3 outs

Then why are there so many pitchers that can't do it? Take the LaTroy Hawkins example. If you were a Twins fan when he was around, you can remember his success in the bullpen. Why was he quite possibly the best set up guy in the majors in his prime, yet had a hard time getting outs when asked to close? It wasn't because he was past his prime. After his struggles as a closer he was moved back to his set up role and he was once again dominant. If 3 outs is 3 outs, why the difference? This isn't a rare example. It's quite common for pitchers to thrive in one situation and struggle in the other.

Aaron

[AWH]

Do you really think the Yankees need Rivera the "Closer" or " The Key" to win the "World Series" ?

We're really asking this about the most dominant closer in the game? If they're in a position to win the WS (let's hope they aren't!), then absolutely they need him. Take Rivera out of that bullpen and they aren't the same team. They have a very strong bullpen because they have the pieces to get through the 7th, 8th and 9th innings if the starter can only go 6 or fewer innings. Take any of those pieces away and they are a different team. And Rivera is obviously the biggest piece out of any of them.

Aaron

[UdeLakeTom]

A few years back, the Yanks had a real good set up man. The Twins got him in a trade and tried to make a closer out of him...As I recall, his nickname was "RD". And it did not stand for really dependable.

[Gary Crichton]

Good one ULT. Seriously though I believe Mr Ullger will be the next Atlanta coach after next year. IMO

[bassislife]

Originally Posted By: bassislife

Do you really think the Yankees need Rivera the "Closer" or " The Key" to win the "World Series" ?

We're really asking this about the most dominant closer in the game? If they're in a position to win the WS (let's hope they aren't!), then absolutely they need him. Take Rivera out of that bullpen and they aren't the same team.

Aaron

Of Course they would not be the same team! I hate the Yankees, But with there Offence, Starting pitching and strong Bullpen... Rivera could fall, break his wrist tomorrow and it would have little affect on them winning or losing the WS.

[AWH]

I guess we'll agree to disagree on that one. The only way Rivera would be a non factor is if the games aren't close. Without Rivera that strong bullpen becomes very average at best. A team with an average bullpen is going to have to get very lucky in order to win a title.

Aaron

[mr_jman]

Theoretically if the Twins had kept Matty Guerrier in the game for the 9th and the exact same result happened all of Twins nation would have clammered for Nathan and this post would have been all about firing Gardy for not bringing him in even though Gardy should win manager of the year!

The bottom line is, a pitcher who gets payed about $12 million a year to close games for the Twins threw a bad pitch to a Yankees player who gets paid about $27.5 million a year to hit homeruns!

I hate A-Rod more than the next guy but you have to give a little credit because he got a pitch to hit and didn't miss it. He just as easily could have missed it, fouled it off, popped it up, etc.

Maybe we should complain about the 17 runners left on base or the umpire missing a fair ball..... No game is won or lost on one pitch!

[SledNeck]

We're really asking this about the most dominant closer in the game? If they're in a position to win the WS (let's hope they aren't!), then absolutely they need him. Take Rivera out of that bullpen and they aren't the same team. They have a very strong bullpen because they have the pieces to get through the 7th, 8th and 9th innings if the starter can only go 6 or fewer innings. Take any of those pieces away and they are a different team. And Rivera is obviously the biggest piece out of any of them.

Aaron

Dont forget the intimidation factor. Batters know that the game is over when Rivera comes in. They know that his cutter is gonna have a crazy last second break. They know that Rivera cant be rattled.

[bassislife]

The bottom line is, a pitcher who gets payed about $12 million a year to close games for the Twins threw a bad pitch to a Yankees player who gets paid about $27.5 million a year to hit homeruns!

Only one bad pitch?? What team have you been watching the past 5 weeks?

[fishyguy]

Let me ask you Nathan bashers this. If you polled all the GM's and managers of the MLB teams, how many do you think would agree to dump Nathan from a team that can contend? My guess would be zero to a few at most. Do you disagree or are you saying you know better than the GM's and managers of the teams?

[greebs]

I think most gm's would ask what you would get in return for him in a trade. sure nobody is going to just release him but if the right package could be made in a trade, a gm would have to at least consider it if it could help the team out.

[AWH]

I think the better question to the GMs would be - would you rather have Joe Nathan as your closer or someone that's already on your staff? Not hard to predict that the vast majority would choose Nathan.

Aaron

[PierBridge]

Let me ask you Nathan bashers this. If you polled all the GM's and managers of the MLB teams, how many do you think would agree to dump Nathan from a team that can contend? My guess would be zero to a few at most. Do you disagree or are you saying you know better than the GM's and managers of the teams?

It's already been detrermined that us FM's "particulary me" know more about running a Pro Sports franchise than all the GM's combined....LOL!

I can't believe we are even debating the importance of the closer especially in post season and why the good ones get the big bucks!

[SledNeck]

I think the better question to the GMs would be - would you rather have Joe Nathan as your closer or someone that's already on your staff? Not hard to predict that the vast majority would choose Nathan.

Aaron

ask all the teams with like payrolls of the Twins and future salary considerations and see what they would say

[AWH]

You could argue it that way too, SledNeck. But then we really have two different issues here. I think most that are posting on here that want Nathan gone wouldn't want him if it only cost them $1 million a year, at least that's how they make it sound.

Aaron

[SledNeck]

You could argue it that way too, SledNeck. But then we really have two different issues here. I think most that are posting on here that want Nathan gone wouldn't want him if it only cost them $1 million a year, at least that's how they make it sound.

Aaron

I dont feel that way. Im looking at it from a money saving+ diminished skills standpoint

[AWH]

And I can understand that view point completely. Is he worth $11 million for what else they could do with that money? Let's just say if he was a free agent right now, I would not be in favor of signing him for that much money. But given that he's already under contract I am not in favor of getting rid of him unless they can get a lot in return. Despite what it might have looked like at the end of the year, I believe the guy still has a lot left in the tank.

Aaron