Mains: Are comebacks becoming harder?

From SABR member Rob Mains at Baseball Prospectus on April 2, 2020:

Three months ago, I wrote about late-inning comebacks.

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My conclusion was that comebacks are being squeezed because managers are deploying their relievers more rationally. The role of closer is not a full-time sinecure; it’s earned. The last innings of close games are going to the pitchers who are performing the best, not the guys annointed as closer and setup back in spring training. Better bullpen management yields better lead preservation and fewer comebacks.

But maybe that’s not it.

Read the full article here: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/58044/veteran-presence-are-comebacks-becoming-harder/



Originally published: April 2, 2020. Last Updated: April 2, 2020.