Wanna be a closer? Good luck, because the game developers in MLB 08 The Show has stacked the deck against us this year.

Last years 07, it was as good as any RTTS position. You earned points, you applied points, you became a great closing pitcher. Having played with a starter as well, I got to experience the new player development process in 08. New was the point deduction for doing badly in situations, but also less points needed to use to add to attribute totals. (down to 40 from 100). Also goals added.



After a day of my starter, I decided to pick up a closer in RTTS. And within the first full month of my playing days in the minors, I realized very quickly something was wrong with my players development. I couldn't meet the goals completely, and thus, no points enough to even apply elsewhere. Figuring I was just starting out, and it will get easier as I continued getting better. But my Closer never got better. Using what points I did earn to try and meet the new goal system, I was only able to improve those goal attributes. All the while.. other attributes decreased. Goals never went to certian attributes, and I damn sure wasn't earning enough points to try and stabilize them.



Six full seasons of a closer passed by. Each season, I always started off in the minors.. and by the end of the season, my closer would find his way in the majors, usually in a relief role. Seeing my overall rating, it's no wonder why I was in the minors each season. And by sheer human playing skill alone, was I able to advance into the majors.



The reason was clear, and right infront of me at the end of each season. Player progression results, for each season, my closer only improved +1 to +3. By the 7th season, my pitches were raipidly decreasing.. but damn, atleast I had good arm strentgh and accuracy, and was a great feilder...



Now the reason for this guide, my experiment with another closing pitcher. Something had to change, and that change came with those goals. They had to go. Since the game developers decided closers didn't need to earn enough points..



Here's a breakdown of points earned for what action while in the position of a closing pitcher:

Average in game goals:

Get ahead of the count

Strikeout the Hitter

Don’t allow run to score

Induce groundball

Don’t walk the hitter


WHiP - average number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher per inning.

Strikeouts
1 Strikeout 10 pts

2 Strikeout 15 pts

3 Strikeout 25 pts

ERA
0.00 ERA 20pts

7.50 or more ERA -30 pts

Saves
1 Save 15 pts

1 Blown Save -30 pts

Wins
1 Win 25 pts

WHiP
.500 WHiP or less 20 pts

2.500 or more WHiP -30 pts

1.000 WHiP or less 10 pts

1.010 WHiP or more -15 pts

Putouts
1 Putout 5 pts

Holds
1 Hold 25 pts

Assists
1 Assist 5 pts

Homeruns Allowed
1 HR Allowed -20 pts

In Game Goals
Don’t allow run to score 15pt

Get ahead in the count 15pt

Don’t allow run to score (failed) -10pts

Strike out the hitter (failed) -2pt

Induce a groundball 15 pts

Don’t allow run to score 25 pts

Strikeout the Hitter 20 pts

Get ahead in the count 10 pts

Don’t walk the hitter 5 pts



By skimming over those, you'll notice, failing is harsh, real harsh for a closer. The main stat per game for a closer is the WHiP. I left a breif explination of WHiP above. While allowing one base runner aboard isn't a bad thing, neither is two. You could allow a couple on, and still do well by meeting in game goals, like getting a grounder for a double play, then also striking out a hitter. But without meeting in game goals (or just not getting in game goals to meet which can be the case sometimes) allowing two base hits can still be bad. And ofcourse allowing 3 base hits is a nail in the coffin for points, as by then you've most likely allowed a run, blown the save, etc.



Now on average, the total points earned for a closer per game is between 50 and 90 points. But more can be earned, by getting a couple SO's, meeting in game goals, getting career milestones like total saves amount, and saves in a row.



In my experience, with the inability to properly raise attributes for the pitcher, while trying to meet goals with as little points as a closer earns.. your average outting might look like 3 fly/ground outs, with a SO here and there. Making you earn less then 100 points per game. This just doesn't help.. because you are not always gonna have a good game. Even though you get the save, allowing a few hits and a run will net you 0 POINTS.And it seems your players save opppertunites are far and few at times, sometimes only getting in a game once per week!



So here's what I did. I stopped meeting the development goals. 3 times and you are benched for a long while, one to two months.. or even the year, or you are moved to the minors. But you can miss 2! Missing once and you'll get a note from management telling you to please meet goals. Missing them for a second time, and you'll be warned for missing goals.



Having done this, I found I had earned a nice amount of points (not great, but enough). Then simply apply some points, meeting your goals this time. After that, they are happy. And you just repeat the process. But doing this I found you won't be moving up from the minors any time fast. They just keep you around the minors.. and in my case, they left me in a reliever role, not closing games. Which was a bright spot, because I got to see a couple of innings per outing. More innings ment more points. And they played me more often.. for a month, I played in almost every game as a middle reliever or setup pitcher. I earned a total of 1500 points that month.



A season in the books, I saw real promise with this experiment. And for the first time, my closing pitcher career development saw a +25 improvment.



In closing, as you choose to be a closer. Don't be stuck thinking you are needing to be just a closer. While I believe not meeting goals isn't attended, it does help you develop into that closing role one day. Watch your WHiP, as this is the make or break stat per game.



Hopefully, the games developers realize now, that closers are fail this year. But atleast theres a way around it, even if it's not how it should be.



Good Luck.