RP vs CP

[John_Elway]

I am trying to decide which reliever should be my closer for each league. Is the best attribute to look for in a closing pitcher, Clutch? I was looking for a high Clutch number and low Stamina. Any thoughts on what makes a great closer?

Thanks!

[FluffyTonka]

Re: RP vs CP

Strikeouts and stuff are important imo for a closer.

I don't want a contact pitcher to close out my games.

[blackhawksfan4ever19]

Re: RP vs CP

On a semi related question, if you don't put any pitcher in the long relief spot for all the teams, will the CPU use them better if there was one in that role?

[GoDucks1224]

Re: RP vs CP

The biggest thing I look for in a closer is K/9, HR/9, and clutch. I want strikeouts, I want them to not give up homeruns, and I want them to be able to shut the door if they come in with runners on or get out of jams if they have low BB/9. Stuff matters too, obviously. If the guy has high K/9 but throws a low 90's sinker, low 80's curveball, and a changeup... That's not good enough for me. I want mid to upper 90's fastball, and preferably a slider with a lot of break.

[NYJin2011tm]

Re: RP vs CP

I’m weird with the closer. They must be RHP lol. There’s more RH batters so I prefer that.

[Cycloniac]

Re: RP vs CP

The biggest thing I look for in a closer is K/9, HR/9, and clutch. I want strikeouts, I want them to not give up homeruns, and I want them to be able to shut the door if they come in with runners on or get out of jams if they have low BB/9. Stuff matters too, obviously. If the guy has high K/9 but throws a low 90's sinker, low 80's curveball, and a changeup... That's not good enough for me. I want mid to upper 90's fastball, and preferably a slider with a lot of break.

Isn't stuff more about k/9 than the pitches themselves though?

[mattynokes]

Re: RP vs CP

Choose the guy with all 99 attributes. It's that simple!

Alright, so if that's not an option, my hierarchy is:
Clutch > K/9 > H/9 > Stuff (Break) > HR/9 > BB/9 (Control)

BB/9 (Control): I do not care about walks. If they guys get batters out, the walks won't matter.

HR/9: I'm still a believer that this matters for games that you play. In my last Franchise, I had a guy with a 30 HR/9 and another with an 80 HR/9. Even though the 30 HR/9 guy had the pitches, K/9, and H/9 to shut opponents down, he was certainly susceptible to the long ball. The 80 HR/9 guy had solid pitches (not great), lower K/9, and a good H/9. Giving up homers with him was a rarity.

Stuff (Break): Sure, it'd be great if the pitcher had good control and velocity ratings for his pitches, but I'm primarily concerned with the break. I'll role the dice that his H/9 and K/9 are good enough to offset when the pitch misses the mark to get the extra deception on his pitches.

H/9: This is very important. I don't want to get blooped to death and blow the game, even though I've made pretty good pitches.

K/9: It's no surprise, but give my strikeouts! If my Closer can rack up K's, then he can probably get past any deficiencies in H/9 or his lack of Stuff.

Clutch: I just cannot put a low Clutch pitcher in the Closer (or probably even Setup) role. Low Clutch pitchers seem to get "sad and depressed" when they give up an ordinary single. I don't need that to spiral out of control and lose the game on a two-out rally.

[GoDucks1224]

Re: RP vs CP

Isn't stuff more about k/9 than the pitches themselves though?

Yes. But I have a completely unfounded belief purely based on my anecdotal observations that hard throwers get more K's. So I stick by that. It's just my personal preference.

[FluffyTonka]

Re: RP vs CP

Yes. But I have a completely unfounded belief purely based on my anecdotal observations that hard throwers get more K's. So I stick by that. It's just my personal preference.

I always thought, stuff is Velo + break, yeah?

But i'm right with you, i want my closer to throw hard and breathe fire lol

[GAMEBREAKER85]

Re: RP vs CP

I think the important thing is - are you simulating or playing?

Two different worlds in my opinion.

Velocity, control, pitch types if you’re playing

Ratings matter more if you’re simulating. Clutch!!!

[FluffyTonka]

Re: RP vs CP

Yeah V. true ... I'm playing every game, which is why velo and stuff matters.

[GAMEBREAKER85]

Re: RP vs CP

One thing you have to just "get" is that this is a video game & there is programming. The more pitches a guy has in his arsenal the better off you're going to be. We've had those at bats where they are going to foul off a couple pitch types non-stop but if you throw the pitch the hitter hasn't seen or you haven't used all inning you are more likely to get the swing and miss.

I played a full 162 game season with the Padres on MLB23 - I was way more successful with Robert Suarez as my closer than I was Hader b/c he had more pitches IMO. I actually traded Hader at the deadline (needed roster depth, he was going to be a free agent and wasn't dominant, and I try to run it realistic - I wanted to cut salary the next season so I wanted to get something for him). Both threw gas but Hader, a lefty, as mentioned in previous posts would get tagged quite a bit for me by righties.