A good closer is a manager’s security blanket. If the guy shuts the door in the 9th, the manager looks smart. If the guy doesn’t shut the door, the manager shrugs, explains he was going by The Book and nobody really has a problem.
The Reds turned Aroldis Chapman into a closer. Dusty Baker hugged Chappy like Chappy was a newborn. He resisted any and all efforts to start him. In 2012, Walt Jocketty traded forJonathan Broxton at the trade deadline. The idea was, he’d be the Reds setup guy the rest of that year.