[StraWMyerS]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Don't remember where I read it, probably on ESPN somewhere a while ago, but:

Prior to the existence of closers, teams won roughly 89% of all games where they had a one, two, or three run lead entering the 9th inning.

Since the advent of closers, teams have also won roughly 89% of all games where they had a one, two, or three run lead entering the 9th inning.

By my reading, that data tells me that specialized closers aren't any better at protecting 9th inning leads than the guys who did the job prior to the existence of closers.

They took our jobs!!