A
relief pitcher or
reliever is a
baseball or
softball pitcher who enters
the game after the
starting pitcher
is removed due to
injury,
ineffectiveness,
fatigue,
ejection,
or because of a certain situation.
Relief
pitchers are further divided informally into
closers,
set-up relief
pitcher,
middle relief
pitchers,
left-handed
specialist relief pitcher,
long relief
pitcher, and
mop-up relief
pitchers.
History
The importance of relief pitchers has increased significantly since
the 1960s. This change in mindsets can be seen by watching any
major game, as well as by monitoring the salaries of such pitchers.
In decades past, the relief pitcher was merely an ex-starter who
came into a game upon the injury, ineffectiveness, or fatigue of
the starting pitcher. The
bullpen was for
old starters who had lost the ability to throw effectively. Many of
these pitchers would be able to flourish in this diminished role.
Those such as
Dennis Eckersley, as
with many others, actually prolonged their diminishing careers and
often sparked them to new life. The added rest to their arms as
well as the lessened exposure of their abilities became an
advantage many would learn to capitalize on. Facing some batters
only once a season, the opposition would have greater difficulty in
preparation for the game.
Recently, the relief pitcher's position has become more of a
career, rather than a degradation position. Many of today's top
prospects are those of relief pitchers. Furthermore, the game today
often calls for those in the
bullpen to step
up and become occasional starters. Their limited exposure, as was
stated before, often can give these chance starters an edge. This
ability to fill starts effectively often leads to less down time of
the main starters, as well as longer, healthier careers. For
example, the lengthy careers of such pitchers as
Randy Johnson and
Curt Schilling are a couple examples of
pitchers whose careers were extended by the assistance of relief
pitchers. Furthermore, many pitchers who started as relief pitchers
have gone on to prosper and remain starters, like
Pedro MartÃnez.
Another reason for the advancement of the skill in the relief
positions is due to the game's ever expanding need for a
psychological edge. A batter who can't hit well off the movement of
a left-hander's curveball will often be pitched to by a left-hander
in a late inning situation. In late innings such as the 7th, 8th,
and 9th, many managers are known for changing pitchers often as the
situation dictates, notably
Tony La
Russa.
As of
October 2008, there are five pitchers currently in the Baseball Hall of
Fame
chiefly for their accomplishments as relief
pitchers: Goose Gossage, Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie
Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Dennis Eckersley (though Eckersley and
Wilhelm had significant careers as starting pitchers).
See also
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