Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan
Why the hell isn't the job Zumaya's?
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Bullpen roles have become so codified and rigidly defined since the definition and subsequent popularization of the Save rule that the "closer" is now almost exclusively saved for 9th innings rather than any critical situation in the latter part of the game (or the occasional blowout if he hasn't had much work lately). There are a lot of key situations in games in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings that have a large part in shaping the outcome of a game - these are known as "high-leverage" situations. And while logic and common baseball strategy prior to the the popularization of the Save rule would dictate you use your bullpen ace in these situations, that's not managing by "the book" in current baseball strategy.
In order to both placate player and fan expectations and more effectively manage relief situations, it appears that some managers are placing their most effective relievers in "setup" roles that allow the manager to use them in critical 6th, 7th and 8th inning "high-leverage" situations before handing the game over in the 9th to the "closer". Leyland seems to be doing this with Zumaya and Bobby Cox appears to be doing this with Soriano and Gonzalez.
Checking Fangraphs, it appears that Jones on average is used in more high-leverage situations, but not by much. Not surprisingly, Zumaya's greater effectiveness has resulted in him posting a higher Win Probability Added than Jones.