[Giants]

I don't think McGee is in the elite category of closers, but I can't recall a time that the Giants have had a truly top notch, Hall of Fame level closer.  However, McGee is really good.  His fastball is flat but that is a feature not a bug in his approach.  One of the announcers recently discussed it during the broadcast and said it is hard to hit at the top of the strike zone because it stays up.  That is where McGee is pitching when he is on.  But it is very susceptible to being hit hard if it drops down into the hitting zone.  We can wish we had someone better, but Kapler is right that he is the best we've got right now.  

So, Teejers, I agree with you that I would prefer it if we had a lock down closer like Mariano Rivera, a "sure thing" playoff starter like MadBum, and the money to throw around to pick up any hitters we want or need as short term rentals (hello f-ing Dodgers).  What this team does have is an incredible team/next-man-up attitude, a surprisingly steady pitching staff despite constant changes and injuries, a playoff-intensity hitting approach up and down the lineup, and a belief that they can win every game despite all the pundits refusing to believe in them.  I'm having a great time watching the team this year, one of the best of my over 50 years as a fan.  Let's worry about the playoffs when the arrive.  I'm enjoying hearing Tony sing at the end of wins and flying the same I Heart SF flag in front of my house.

Cheers,
Pete F.

Robb Nen wasn’t quite HOF caliber but he was damn good……..

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In my opinion, ERA is not a good stat to use to determine the effectiveness of a reliever.  

For example, if they come into a game with a couple guys on, give up two runs but close out the inning, they post a 0.00 ERA but do not do their job. A better stat is % of base runners inherited who score.  

Also, because they don’t pitch a lot of innings, one bad outing can skew their stats unfavorably.  For example, pitcher X gives up 5 runs in a third of an inning followed by perfect performances over the next ten games totaling 8 innings.  His ERA is 5.40 but his record is 0-1 with 10 saves.  

Conversely, pitcher Y gives up three runs in three games (1 inning pitched in each game), costing his team three losses.  Otherwise, he is fine over the next eight games, pitching 8 innings beautifully.  His ERA is 2.45 but his record is 0-3 with eight saves.  

I’ll take pitcher X every time……

In this day and age, closers (almost by definition) do not have inherited runners to worry about.  If it's a save situation, they start the ninth.  So ERAs for closers is not a bad indicator, even though we all "get" the blowup outing can kill an ERA.  To me, good closers are dominant - meaning hitters know what's coming and still can't do much about it.  Just don't see McGee in that category.

I agree that McGee isn’t in that category.  I don’t think anyone here thinks he is.  Under Kapler, Giants are using a different strategy, using McGee and Rogers in tandem.

[Giants]

I don't think McGee is in the elite category of closers, but I can't recall a time that the Giants have had a truly top notch, Hall of Fame level closer.  However, McGee is really good.  His fastball is flat but that is a feature not a bug in his approach.  One of the announcers recently discussed it during the broadcast and said it is hard to hit at the top of the strike zone because it stays up.  That is where McGee is pitching when he is on.  But it is very susceptible to being hit hard if it drops down into the hitting zone.  We can wish we had someone better, but Kapler is right that he is the best we've got right now.  

So, Teejers, I agree with you that I would prefer it if we had a lock down closer like Mariano Rivera, a "sure thing" playoff starter like MadBum, and the money to throw around to pick up any hitters we want or need as short term rentals (hello f-ing Dodgers).  What this team does have is an incredible team/next-man-up attitude, a surprisingly steady pitching staff despite constant changes and injuries, a playoff-intensity hitting approach up and down the lineup, and a belief that they can win every game despite all the pundits refusing to believe in them.  I'm having a great time watching the team this year, one of the best of my over 50 years as a fan.  Let's worry about the playoffs when the arrive.  I'm enjoying hearing Tony sing at the end of wins and flying the same I Heart SF flag in front of my house.

Cheers,
Pete F.

Robb Nen wasn’t quite HOF caliber but he was damn good……..

---

In my opinion, ERA is not a good stat to use to determine the effectiveness of a reliever.  

For example, if they come into a game with a couple guys on, give up two runs but close out the inning, they post a 0.00 ERA but do not do their job. A better stat is % of base runners inherited who score.  

Also, because they don’t pitch a lot of innings, one bad outing can skew their stats unfavorably.  For example, pitcher X gives up 5 runs in a third of an inning followed by perfect performances over the next ten games totaling 8 innings.  His ERA is 5.40 but his record is 0-1 with 10 saves.  

Conversely, pitcher Y gives up three runs in three games (1 inning pitched in each game), costing his team three losses.  Otherwise, he is fine over the next eight games, pitching 8 innings beautifully.  His ERA is 2.45 but his record is 0-3 with eight saves.  

I’ll take pitcher X every time……

In this day and age, closers (almost by definition) do not have inherited runners to worry about.  If it's a save situation, they start the ninth.  So ERAs for closers is not a bad indicator, even though we all "get" the blowup outing can kill an ERA.  To me, good closers are dominant - meaning hitters know what's coming and still can't do much about it.  Just don't see McGee in that category.

I agree that McGee isn’t in that category.  I don’t think anyone here thinks he is.  Under Kapler, Giants are using a different strategy, using McGee and Rogers in tandem.