The circumstances of a baseball season wrench a bullpen into misalignment. Across 162 games, a team will often compete with its relief corps at less than full strength. Pitchers get injured. They require days off. Sometimes they get sick.
And yet, the circumstances of a baseball season do not force teams to do what the Dodgers did in the ninth inning on Saturday evening at Coors Field. Protecting a two-run lead and lacking the presence of closer Kenley Jansen, manager Dave Roberts attempted to run a closer by committee. His process backfired in a disastrous 3-2 defeat which cost his team a chance to claim first place in the National League West.