Comments on: Putz Signs with White Sox

By: joser

joser — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:06:45 +0000

Yeah, I mean Mariano Rivera lost the World Series in 2001 by giving up a hit to Gonzo, and that ruined him as a closer for the rest of…. uh, no. I don’t think we can conclude that there’s some mental aspect unique to successful closers (or its absence is what causes others to fail).

By: MikeS

MikeS — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:31:41 +0000

I think it’s more of a sample size problem. Especially for a closer where a few bad outings can really affect the perception of how good tehy are. These guys don’t throw a lot of innings – basically about a third as many as a starter. There are also injury problems since they may pitch on several consecutive days, but then not for a week.

By: CircleChange11

CircleChange11 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:37:59 +0000

“The reign of a top bullpen arm can be transient. One minute, a guy is on top of the world, entering the game to a heavy metal tune and a boisterous crowd reception worthy of a heavyweight champion.”

As soon as I read this paragraph, my mind jumped to the memory of my only visit to Miller Park, and Darrick Turnbow’s entrance to Metallica’s “Fuel”. 30K+ went absolutely “nuckin’ futs” and it was awesome!

Not so great, the years following that one …

I’m convinced the mental side of “closing” is drastically undervalued. IMO, it’s comparable to an undefeated boxer once they lose … they’re never the same.

I would guess that the difference in a closer’s success & failure has more to do with “mental things” than variances in their “stuff” (pitch quality, etc). Not to get all Bull Duramish or anything, but I keep going back to the idea of “If you think are invincible, then you are”, and think of Brad Lidge as a primary example.

Untouchable in 04, then he gives up the bomb to Pujols in the NLCS (after putting up something 17 straight socreless IP versus StL), then Podsednik in the WS. Falls down after that, stands back up in 08, and then falls back down a bit in 09. Is it actual “pitch stuff” or “mental stuff”? (or both)

By: AInquisition

AInquisition — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:18:03 +0000

Plus, due to the uniform change, he’s out of the blue, and into the black.

/Johnny Rotten’d

By: Joser

Joser — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:34:49 +0000

Well, Putz emerged from the International league so that may be where he’s destined to return. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, border-crossing bus to border-crossing bus.

But I really think you missed a chance to go with
Où êtes-vous allé, Eric Gagne?
(Une nation tournent leurs yeux solitaire à vous, woo woo woo)

(Yikes, my French has gotten bad)