# Where Have All the Closers Gone?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/where-have-all-the-closers-gone
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/where-have-all-the-closers-gone.md
Podcast: [Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball](https://stenobird.com/podcast/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652)
Published: 2026-04-30T20:25:17+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball/episodes/where-have-all-the-closers-gone
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879/e/69f3b0a1f6208ffb23536828/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/rates-barrels-a-show-about-baseball-692652/episodes/where-have-all-the-closers-gone
Duration seconds: 3063

## Resource

Eno and DVR welcome former major leaguer Adam Ottavino to the show to discuss closers and why more relievers are racking up saves this season than in years past. The guys also dive into bullpen management and the ever-perplexing question of why closers tend to struggle in non-save situations. Later, Eno and DVR share their desert island favorite starting pitchers and reveal the biggest OOPSY droppers – with the correct chart this time. Rundown: 1:04 Where Have All the Closers Gone? 5:12 How Should Baseball Value & Reward Relievers? 8:48 New Bullpen Management 11:00 Is Better Balance Possible? 14:32 Why Do Closers Struggle in Non-Save Situations? 19:40 The Desert Island: Favorite Pitcher 26:33 Will Tigers Stick with Kenley Jansen? 29:40 Is the New Zone Causing K% and BB% Fluctuations? 32:48 Seattle’s Starters’ Early Strikeout Rate Slide? 39:08 The Biggest OOPSY Fallers  44:52 A Case for Lawrence Butler Despite Projections Drop Eno’s Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7241759 Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social Follow Adam on Instagram: @adamottavino e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Adam Ottavino Editor: Jason Potere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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