Quote:
Originally Posted by david aka the TYZ
Completely agree and have made this argument to multiple people. The money a closer makes in the free agent market is equivalent to a 2nd or 3rd starter. Besides the money is already spent, lets use him to the best of his abilities. We will never be an effective starter. Once players time his pitches he becomes ineffective. Facing a guy 3 times a game allows that to happen.
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Anybody can be a closer. Haven't you ever watched Moneyball? There was a study done by the guy who predicted all the electoral votes and percentages in the election this year and he found this with relievers-on average, their eras rise 1 whole point when converted to a starter. So he concluded that if said reliever had an era below 3.50, he should move to a starter, and if it is above this mark, they should be a reliever. There is so much more value in him becoming a starter-he will learn to use his other pitches, learn to hit the corners, to speed up and speed down his fastball. Hoover is cheap and fits the role of closer much better. If Chapman ever wants to learn how to be a pitcher, he would be a starter. If he wanted to be a thrower, he should be the closer.