Earlier this week, we played some Oakland A’s trivia: Which relievers led the team in saves for each of the 51 seasons that it’s been an official statistic? The answer list included everything from Hall of Famers, to rental All-Stars, to brilliant one-year wonders, to setup men thrust into the role out of necessity.
But of course, a bullpen is more than just the pitcher in the closer role and the saves he earns. Having a lockdown setup crew can help the team hold more of their leads long enough to get the ball to the closer in the first place — oftentimes the most crucial inning of a game turns out to be the 7th or 8th, when a key rally is squashed or a tougher part of the lineup is dealt with.