Power Pros Forum

What pitchers would you guys describe as being a choke artist or a strong finisher?

*This is part of my survey I guess you could say on individual abilities for players to help me out in the roster-updating process.

Choke Artist - any closer who blows a lot of saves. For example the Red Sox guys early on, and whoever the Tigers have had as their closer...

STR Finisher - any closer known as a very reliable pitcher. Mariano Rivera and Joe Nathan are definitely on that list.

Oh, I knew the ability.

I was just asking for examples.

I would definitely give Axford Choke Artist.

I think it is an ability only reserved for starting pitchers.

wut

This year, I'd give Andrew Bailey choke artist, that guy from Oakland strong finisher, Rivera strong finisher, Nathan strong finisher, I'm indifferent about Jim Johnson since he struggled earlier this year, Jason grilli strong finisher, Jason motte strong finishe, Sergio romo strong finisher, indifferent about pabelbon, choke artist for the cubs guy, ugh I forget his name, he's in the dodgers system now, Casey Jansenn strong finisher, Jose valverde should get choke artist, Brian Wilson should get strong finisher,
John axford I'm indifferent about, and that's about i can think of.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any closers in PP that have Choke Artist. I agree with PP27, I think it's an ability reserved for starters.

And, actually, I don't think any in-game closers have Strong Finisher either.

Well it'd only make sense, wouldn't it?

What would?

Also, there's a difference between a bad pitcher and a "Choke Artist". John Axford is just not a very good pitcher, neither is Jose Valverde (anymore, at least).

well it says "not good in the late innings", can't that work for both starters and relievers?

To give closers those abilities, strong finisher, choke artist...

Yeah, but the thinking is that these guys do worse in "late innings" than in "early innings" which would only make sense for starters since you only ever see relievers in the "late innings". So if some reliever is a "Choke Artist", you would have already compensated for that by making all of his abilities worse because his statistics would reflect that.

Not really. Relievers can be good pitchers and have quality stuff to handle regular outings, but they can't handle the pressure of closing out the game.

Choke Artist lowers a player's abilities though. So if you do a closer's abilities based on his real life pitching in save situations, you've already factored in his inability to pitch in save situations. Adding in Choke Artist would lower those abilities further, making him worse than he actually is.

It just doesn't make sense to give every good closer Strong Finisher and every bad closer Choke Artist. That's all I'm trying to say. You'd have to see a disparity in performance between late-game situations and non-late game situations.