Aside from learning that the Boston Celtics' bench unit can outplay Kobe Bryant and the Lakers' starting unit, we learned last night that Daniel Bard isn't quite ready for a definitive closer's role. He was a little shaky in the ninth earlier in this series, and last night he slipped up for a blown save and a loss. Bard loaded the bases on two walks and a base hit, and a bloop single to right field just over the glove of Dustin Pedroia won the game for Cleveland, 8-7. The blown save came after Adrian Beltre's 2-run bomb in the top half of the inning gave Boston the lead, 7-6.
Well, for those calling Bard's name as Papelbon's eventual replacement (myself included), we learned that he is going to need a little more time to polish his game up before stepping into that ultra-responsible closer's role. Papelbon has been on a leave of bereavement due to a death in the family, and Daniel Bard stepped in as the interim closer for this four-game set with Cleveland. Last night, he caused a heartbreaker, and the Sox missed out on a chance to gain ground on Tampa Bay and New York.
We'll see how well Bard is able to shake this one off. He's had a good reputation for being able to quickly forget about tough outings and bounce back from them stronger. Hopefully that will be the case here, because he's as crucial a piece as anyone in that bullpen, completing the bridge to Jonathan Papelbon.
Huh? What skill does he need to polish? Clutchiness? And how would you recommend he rectify this deficiency? Maybe he could watch a Die Hard marathon and take tips on how Bruce Willis is able to pull it off every time.
ReplyDeleteClutch is a crutch used by lazy writers who don't understand the concept of small sample sizes.
It amazes me that people like you can actually sit here and say that pitching in the 9th is no different than pitching in the 7th. There is such thing as being clutch, despite this sample size crap that constantly gets thrown out. Bard's sample size is just fine in the 7th and 8th innings. He's stellar. In the ninth it's a different story. Nerves. Adrenaline. Pressure. It's pure ignorance if you think being a closer is no different than being a setup man.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's amazing to me that people like you haven't overdosed on your parents colorful cleaning fluids yet.
ReplyDeleteThat was a nice narrative you framed there, though. Buzzwords! In reality, the pants-wetting pressure of the 9th inning is greatly exaggerated. Sample size is the right answer and if you want to counter with cherry-picking outings, allow me to direct your attention to Mariano Rivera during Game 7 of the 2001 World Series (I expect to get a h/t for that in your Mariano Rivera vs. Jimmy Buffet cage fight).
Anyway, back to Bard. In your expert opinion, what skill does he need to "polish" to gain the Excalibur of clutchiness? Because I'm actually kind of happy with his current role. Everyone knows that a team's best reliever should not be pigeonholed to a 9th inning specialist, you pitch your relief ace when necessary. Bard's our best pitcher (although, he's no messiah http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=7115&position=P) he pitches us out of jams, and Papelbon gets to come in during the 9th after Bard's done the heavy lifting.
Right. You can cherry pick a Rivera blown save when he's saved a million over his career. But Bard's attempted like 2. The polishing that needs to be done is experience. Who's the Yankees best reliever? Who is the Mets best reliever? Who is the Twins best reliever? Your best reliever is your closer. So don't tell me Bard is our best reliever but is more useful in the 8th than the ninth. False. Bard is our best closer but isn't experienced enough as a 9th inning guy yet to be our closer. What doesn't make sense to me is that you truly just think real life is like a video game. That everything is probability, and a guy is as good as he is in any situation. The pressure of the 9th inning is exaggerated? Really? Well I know that there's 1 guy in the world who knows how much pressure was felt in the ninth inning last night, and that's Daniel Bard. There's no way you can tell me you know he's not feeling more pressure when he's the closer. Two walks to load the bases. Sounds like nerves to me from a young pitcher with a load of talent, but isn't ready YET.
ReplyDeleteBut if you don't believe in clutch, fine. But understand that if you don't believe in clutch, you don't believe in pressure... right? Because I would define the "clutch" factor as the ability to perform in high pressure situations. Or at least that's what the "lazy writers" say. So by saying clutch doesn't exist, you're saying that pressure is a non factor in professional sports. And if you believe that, so be it. Playing a preseason game with no one in the stands is the same as the ninth inning of game 7 with 35,000 cheering. Right.
Your second paragraph did a great job contradicting your first paragraph. How is it possible that I believe clutch is greatly exaggerated while also believing that it is non-existent? Maybe I'm just a walking paradox! You've also stumbled across a catch 22. Bard's not ready to close because he does not have enough experience, but the only way for him to gain experience is to close? I feel like I'm about to spontaneously combust.
ReplyDeleteAnd it may "sound like nerves" to you, but I'd be more likely to attribute it to Bard's control problems demonstrated by his high BB/9 rate. Although, I guess maybe if you have surround sound than you heard something that I didn't.
I can read though! And this guy is smarter than both of us (http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/closer-should-be-a-dirty-word.html.php)
My paragraphs don't contradict, because I was restating your view. I quote you, "Clutch is a crutch used by lazy writers who don't understand the concept of small sample sizes." And then you say that "pressure" in the ninth is exaggerated. But you do assure there is pressure. And then you claim there is no such thing as "clutch." But they are one of the same. You need to get your argument straight and stick to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd um... 3.3 BB/9? Just so you know, hot shot, Papelbon's is 4.5 BB/9. So maybe consider researching before you act like you're the shit? Your sarcasm truly does impress me, and I'm quite insulted by it. I might just have to say you win, because you used the term "spontaneously combust."
You flip from side to side. I clearly stated that him closing is the experience he needs to gain. Maybe if you read my post at the beginning of the series when Papelbon was ruled out, I noted that Bard will now get valuable experience and we will see if he's ready to be a closer yet. He isn't, so the Red Sox will need to try and work him into some 9th inning situations when they can to get that experience.
What gets me though is that you are the one who said there is no such thing as clutch and that it's all about sample size... And now you've gone on the record and said Bard needs more experience as a closer. Does that make sense? Why does he need more experience as a closer? I thought the 9th was no different than any other inning?
My points are pretty clear. Bard is our best reliever, he would not need more experience to pitch in the traditional closer role, the traditional closer role is a silly way to deploy your best relief pitcher, and clutch is an unrepeatable skill for most players and would be one of the last criteria I would use to evaluate a player. There's a difference between that last point and in asserting that clutch is non-existent. I believe that clutch plays happen, but there is LITTLE evidence that any players are capable of consistently repeating results in clutch situations outside of what their true talent level would indicate. Notice that I have never completely dismissed "clutch".
ReplyDeleteFinal points before I go masturbate to pictures of Anna Paquin:
1. No one tries in pre-season games.
2. Even for name-calling, "hot shot" is terrible
3. X-Factor: Parrot Head Nation