Times sure have changed the role of the relief pitcher in baseball. Two of the best were the Oakland A's own Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley, both in the Hall of Fame. Yet they were used so differently. I'm not sure, but I think the role of the 'closer' in baseball was started by manager Tony La Russa, a specialized position that essentially told an opponent that if they weren't ahead by the last inning or two, then game over! That's the role that Eckersley perfected. So having a great closer is a big deal (Mariano Rivera, anyone?).
Still, I don't have the idea that the relief pitchers of today are so aptly named anymore. Not like before, when relief pitchers like Fingers often had to put out 'fires,' as in coming in with runners-on-base and trouble already begun. And nowadays when they do, well, it's not a stat that's really kept anymore. Not like the number of 'saves' the closer tallies up. Just yesterday, a Giants relief pitcher (Sergio Romo) was brought into a bases-loaded, no outs situation in the eighth inning with the Giants clinging to a 3-1 lead. He struck out the first hitter, then induced a double play. Hooray! No runs scored. Then the closer came in for the ninth inning and got the 'save.' Wait a minute... who put out the fire again?
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