Changing a MR to a Closer

[waltwa]

I assumed that the way to pick a closer was to look at their Endurance rating and if its a 2 or lower that kind of was my determination. However I have done this and a MR's star ratings could go from 3 stars down to 1 star. So i am somewhat confused on how the game decides who should be a Closer as opposed to a MR.

Now if i had to pick a Closer I would pick him on 3 criteria. Low endurance ratings, High K's and high groundball average. I might not find all 3 in a closer but 2 or even 1 of these factors might prompt me to change a MR to a Closer.
But I am wondering if these are really criteria for changing from MR to Cl or vice versa.

Question is what is the criteria for a Closer?

[SittingDuck]

I wonder what makes closers in OOTP special? Do they have some special attributes that make them preferable to MRs?

[johnnybourbon]

Not sure on "what makes a closer" but I've found that changing 4-5 star closers into MR makes my bullpen very unstoppable. I now have 2 ex-closers on my roster that I converted to MR and they're both kicking butt. These guys were basically collecting dust in AAA as closers, so, on a whim, converted them to MR and brought them up for 2 MR dudes with ERAs over 4 with good ratings. My gamble worked well and I'm much more interested in drafting 5star Closers in the draft in the future b/c a 5-star closer generally has much higher ratings than a 5 star MR (not considering endurance rating).
On another note, I find also that the AI often will put their best MR pitcher in as the closer if their main dude gets injured. Not sure how this applies.

[conception]

Closers are just on average much better pitchers. That is why when switched to MR they have much better ratings. Closers have much better ability than even starters, and sometimes you can even convert the ones that have greater endurance.

Nothing "makes" a closer except for the fact that they were put in that role because they were the best pitcher in their bullpen.

[spark240]

I prefer to use the high-K relievers to get out of jams with men on base--especially in tie games--rather than wasting them in the ninth with a lead and nobody on.

[Left-handed Badger]

Originally Posted by spark240

I prefer to use the high-K relievers to get out of jams with men on base--especially in tie games--rather than wasting them in the ninth with a lead and nobody on.

Yeah, I'll use my closer in that type role, too. When not simming the my closer role tends to be more than 1 IP a lot of times. Sometimes 2 IP (though more often I will sling'em in during the 8th with one or 2 outs when the setup guy flames out before it gets too late.

Though, I tend to like high GB frequency above all else. I tend to be freak when it comes to liking GB pitchers (hey, Quisenberry is my favorite pitcher of all time)

Also I am more apt to go with a bullpen by committee. My preference is kind of Nasty Boys setup or the Henke/Ward setup the Blue Jays used to have.

[Erik W.]

Originally Posted by johnnybourbon

Not sure on "what makes a closer" but I've found that changing 4-5 star closers into MR makes my bullpen very unstoppable. I now have 2 ex-closers on my roster that I converted to MR and they're both kicking butt. These guys were basically collecting dust in AAA as closers, so, on a whim, converted them to MR and brought them up for 2 MR dudes with ERAs over 4 with good ratings. My gamble worked well and I'm much more interested in drafting 5star Closers in the draft in the future b/c a 5-star closer generally has much higher ratings than a 5 star MR (not considering endurance rating).
On another note, I find also that the AI often will put their best MR pitcher in as the closer if their main dude gets injured. Not sure how this applies.

Do you play with the morale system off? Whenever I have a MR who wants to be a closer without even having been set as one before, they get all mad and start sucking. So I can't imagine what would happen if I took a good closer and switched them.

Well, I can imagine, actually, and it would be ugly.

[waltwa]

it seems like there is no real formula for selecting a closer other than to take a good releiver and put him in the all important role of closer.

[johnnybourbon]

Originally Posted by Erik W.

Do you play with the morale system off? Whenever I have a MR who wants to be a closer without even having been set as one before, they get all mad and start sucking. So I can't imagine what would happen if I took a good closer and switched them.

Well, I can imagine, actually, and it would be ugly.

you know, ive never noticed that. I play with morale on. I'll check up on that and post back if I remember to

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by johnnybourbon

you know, ive never noticed that. I play with morale on. I'll check up on that and post back if I remember to

I've had MRs who want to be the closer and get grumpy when they aren't. "Want to be the closer, eh? How do you reconcile that with the fact that you aren't good?"

[johnnybourbon]

Originally Posted by Bobble

I've had MRs who want to be the closer and get grumpy when they aren't. "Want to be the closer, eh? How do you reconcile that with the fact that you aren't good?"

I'm actually gonna look into the CL --> MR change and see if it hits their morale

[SittingDuck]

Originally Posted by Bobble

"Want to be the closer, eh? How do you reconcile that with the fact that you aren't good?"

Apparently not a lot of guys know how to reconcile that, because tons of them keep bitching about it.

[Long_Long_Name]

I'd be all for eliminating the MR/CL distinction in OOTP (and, for that matter, SP too, but that's another issue. To me, making that distinction is like making a distinction between 1st starter and just regular starter. To me, it just doubles the amount of work I have to do when looking at relievers. There are many things wrong with the pitching model, and that happens to be one of them, in my opinion.