There’s something particularly deflating about a game that the bullpen loses.
The average baseball loss isn’t that deflating. There are 162 of these god forsaken contests each year, and even a great team will lose 50 or 60 every season. You simply learn to not let your emotional state following a loss eclipse a shrug and a meh. At worst, it’s an excuse to have another drink.
That goes out the window with bullpen loses, which are deflating for the obvious reason: You’re winning, and you’re still winning, and then, all of a sudden, when it matters most, you’re not winning.