A relief pitcher warms up in the bullpen as the game goes on

A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, ejection from the game or fatigue. In Baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief Pitchers warm-up before entering a game Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Softball is a team Sport popular especially in the United States. In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of In Baseball or Softball, a starting pitcher, often abbreviated as starter, is the Pitcher who pitches the first pitch to the first batter of Relievers are further divided informally into closers, middle relief pitchers, left-handed specialists, set-up pitchers and long relievers. In Baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer (abbreviated CL) is a Relief pitcher who specializes in closing out In Baseball, middle relief pitchers (or "middle relievers" are Relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th Innings or in situations In Baseball, a left-handed specialist is a Left-handed Relief pitcher who specializes in getting left-handed or poor right-handed switch batters In Baseball, a setup pitcher (or set-up pitcher, sometimes called the setup man) is a Relief pitcher who regularly pitches before the closer Long relievers are a type of Relief pitcher in Baseball. Long relievers traditionally enter early in a game (anywhere from the first inning to the fourth inning when

The importance of relief pitchers has increased significantly over the past decade. This change in mindsets can be seen by watching any major game, as well as by monitoring the salaries of such pitchers. In decades past, the relief pitcher was merely an ex-starter who came into a game upon the injury, ineffectiveness, or fatigue of the starting pitcher. The bullpen was for old starters who had lost the ability to throw effectively. In Baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief Pitchers warm-up before entering a game Many of these pitchers would be able to flourish in this diminished role. Those such as Dennis Eckersley, as with many others, actually prolonged their diminishing careers and often sparked them to new life. Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3 1954 nicknamed "Eck" is a former American Major League Baseball player The added rest to their arms as well as the lessened exposure of their abilities became an advantage many would learn to capitalize on. Facing some batters only once a season, the opposition would have greater difficulty in preparation for the game.

Recently, the relief pitcher's position has become more of a career, rather than a degradation position. Many of today's top prospects are those of relief pitchers. Furthermore, the game today often calls for those in the bullpen to step up and become occasional starters. In Baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief Pitchers warm-up before entering a game Their limited exposure, as was stated before, often can give these chance starters an edge. This ability to fill starts effectively often leads to less down time of the main starters, as well as longer, healthier careers. For example, the lengthy careers of such pitchers as Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are a couple examples of pitchers whose careers were extended by the assistance of relief pitchers. For other people named Randy Johnson see Randy Johnson (disambiguation Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963 in Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14 1966 in) is an American Major League Baseball Pitcher. Furthermore, many pitchers who started as relief pitchers have gone on to prosper and remain starters, like Pedro Martínez. Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25 1971 in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball Starting pitcher for the

Another reason for the advancement of the skill in the relief positions is due to the game's ever expanding need for a psychological edge. A batter who can't hit well off the movement of a left-hander's curveball will often be pitched to by a left-hander in a late inning situation. In late innings such as the 7th, 8th, and 9th, many managers are known for changing pitchers often as the situation dictates, notably Tony La Russa. Anthony "Tony" La Russa Jr (ləˈɹuːsə born October 4 1944, in Tampa, Florida) is a manager in Major League

Five relievers are currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame – Goose Gossage, Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, and Dennis Eckersley (although Eckersley was a starter before moving to the bullpen). Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage (born July 5 1951 in Colorado Springs Colorado) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball James Hoyt Wilhelm ( July 26, 1922 in Huntersville North Carolina - August 23, 2002 in Sarasota Florida) was an American Roland Glen Fingers (born August 25, 1946, in Steubenville Ohio) is a former Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Howard Bruce Sutter (ˈsuːtɚ born January 8 1953 in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is a former right-handed Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3 1954 nicknamed "Eck" is a former American Major League Baseball player In Baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief Pitchers warm-up before entering a game

See also

• Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award
• The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
• List of relief pitchers with most career saves

References

• Examining the Relief of Relieving, by Steve Treder; July 04, 2006 at hardballtimes. In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in, is a distinction given to the top Relief pitcher in each league at the end of The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News (TSN as TSN Fireman of the Year Award Career (as of August 25, 2008 com