Baseball Pitching Rotation
What is the 'pitching rotation' in baseball?
A pitching rotation in baseball usually happens at the higher levels. This is because they start playing almost every day, and when you play every day, a pitcher needs rest. So a rotation involves the starting pitcher, the one who's going to start the game, because he's the one that's counted on to go the furthest in the game or throw the most amount of pitches; therefore, he's going to need rest. So a usual starting rotation, in professional baseball, would be five. You have five starters. So you would throw every fifth day, so you have four days to recondition, train, and rest for your next start.
What is the 'bullpen' in baseball?
The bullpen in baseball is an area that's literally away from the dugout, and that's why they actually call it a bullpen area. It's the training ground or the practice ground for the pitcher before they go into a game. So it's like a wading pool, if you will, before going into the main pool, where you do your work on a mound and get prepared to go into the main game. The bullpen just simulates the same mound that's out there in the game itself and it's the area where you can prepare to go into the game.
What is a 'relief pitcher' or 'reliever' in baseball?
A relief pitcher in baseball is anybody other than the starter. A relief pitcher may then have other defined roles like a closer or a setup man or a long man. But by definition, you're a relief pitcher if you're the one that comes in to relieve the starting pitcher.
What is a 'closer' in baseball?
A closer in baseball is a pitcher that's designated to come in toward the very end of the game to literally close the game out. This means the team is ahead, and they have the confidence that this is the pitcher that's going to keep a lead. Usually it's a very close lead so there's a lot of pressure, and he's the one that they feel like can maybe throw one inning. A closer usually throws a very short amount of time, and because he can throw a short amount of time, he's able to throw in many games. He doesn't have to wait five days.
What is a 'set-up man' in baseball?
A set-up man in baseball is a pitcher who's also a relief pitcher. Maybe they don't feel like he's the strongest relief pitcher, like the closer to finish the game, but he's good enough to come in prior to the closer and bridge the gap to the closer for maybe the seventh innings or the eighth innings to maybe the last innings, the ninth innings, when the closer comes. He's the bridge to the closer - you might say he's the second closer on the team.
