2019 End of Season Awards

[Pat]

Wouldn't that depend heavily on who is at bat?

Yes.

And closers see a lot more PHs.

[Delandis]

Yes.



And closers see a lot more PHs.

I would expect all relievers see more pinch hitters.

[Z]

I would expect all relievers see more pinch hitters.

I think Pat is right on this point because, while the distribution of pinch hitters for pitchers is more or less the same across all relievers, pinch hitting for position players happens more in the ninth inning.

[mike]

The final three outs of a game are still the hardest and should be valued higher than outs in any other part of the game.

That's not true. There are instances in every single game where the highest leverage situation isn't the ninth inning. I can't tell if you're serious or trolling bc I'd expect you to know that

[Z]

That's not true. There are instances in every single game where the highest leverage situation isn't the ninth inning. I can't tell if you're serious or trolling bc I'd expect you to know that

On a totally unrelated note, I love that when you go to Seattle's team page in the HTML, the one player who qualified for the batting title is Rory Gray and his .227 batting average.

[Pat]

That's not true. There are instances in every single game where the highest leverage situation isn't the ninth inning. I can't tell if you're serious or trolling bc I'd expect you to know that

I forgot my #traditionalwisdom.

[Z]

I forgot my #traditionalwisdom.

Pat put on his robe and Dusty Baker hat.

[Pat]

Middle relievers and setup men are actually more likely to come into a close game with runners on base, which is the most challenging and important situation of all.

Of course. But there isn't a stat for that, right? It's not like Dave Bauer is coming in with runners on in the 7th of a one-run game every time. A lot of his games are 8-1 wins where he throws two innings.

[Carlos]

Pat put on his robe and Dusty Baker hat.

Wow. This is amazing.

I think I've had enough Internet for today.

[Z]

Of course. But there isn't a stat for that, right? It's not like Dave Bauer is coming in with runners on in the 7th of a one-run game every time. A lot of his games are 8-1 wins where he throws two innings.

OOTP doesn't really keep that type of statistic. I don't know what the overall trends are. But I wasn't saying that runners on in close games in the seventh are definitely more common. My point was just that it is not true that pitching in a save situation in the ninth is universally harder than pitching in the seventh.

[Z]

Wow. This is amazing.

I think I've had enough Internet for today.

I wasn't sure if anyone would get the reference but it popped into my head and I let it fly.

[Pat]

OOTP doesn't really keep that type of statistic. I don't know what the overall trends are. But I wasn't saying that runners on in close games in the seventh are definitely more common. My point was just that it is not true that pitching in a save situation in the ninth is universally harder than pitching in the seventh.

I agree.

In a perfect world, the "save" stat is determined by an arbitrator and can be given to any RP.

[PaulC]

The final three outs of a game are still the hardest and should be valued higher than outs in any other part of the game.

Agreed! There are higher leverage situations. But that means that is when the closer should be used, not necessarily the the middle relief guy is better.

The final three outs, even against the bottom of the order, take a special pitcher to get done. There's a reason there have only been a handful of truly dominant relievers for more than a handful of seasons.

[PaulC]

I don't see it that way.

Coming into a game in the seventh inning with two runners on base and no outs is way more important than entering with a four to one lead in the ninth inning.

Middle relievers and setup men are actually more likely to come into a close game with runners on base, which is the most challenging and important situation of all.

Which is why the closer should come in then, not be saved for a save stat!

[Z]

Which is why the closer should come in then, not be saved for a save stat!

Unfortunately it remains difficult to implement this strategy in OOTP.

I feel hopeful that its frequency in the 2016 MLB Postseason might lead OOTP to add it as an option sooner rather than later.