The closer isn’t always the “best” reliever. It’s the guy who can pitch under the 9th inning pressure. Period. Just because a guy can get outs in the 7th and 8th doesn’t mean he can get outs in the 9th. Look at Ryan Madson. Dude is unbelievable in the 8th and he stinks in the 9th. Doesn’t matter if it is the 7-8-9 hitters. He stinks. He comes in throwing ball one-ball two every time. Why? He obviously doesn’t like the pressure of the 9th inning and is more comfortable in the 8th.

You anti-save guys can harp on the fact that the 7th inning might be a tighter spot, and maybe it is. But as far as the pressure of starting the 9th inning, there’s a certain breed of pitchers who can consistently do it. And there are guys who have success for a year or two…even a month or two. Ryan Franklin is the perfect example. He can’t do it anymore. Why? Nobody knows. At least Nathan is just coming off an injury. Franklin’s mind is just screwed up.

The point is that starting the 9th inning with a 1-2-3 run lead is more stressful than pitching in the 7th inning every day of the week and twice on Sunday. If you don’t understand that then you don’t understand the human mind.

If you think hitting those 2 foul shots when your team is down a point with 2 seconds left is as stressful as hitting those same two foul shots in the first quarter, then you are nuts. If you think that throwing that 12th strike of a perfect game in bowling is just as stressful as that first strike, then you are nuts. Stopping shots in OT for a goalie are just a tad more stressful than stopping shots in the second period of a 6-0 blowout, don’t you think?

The save is still an important stat, whether you guys like it or not.