It seems when the starter struggles Wedge freezes. He wants his starters to pitch out of jams but when they don't we usually lose the game. We are 9-2 when the starter either reaches the sixth inning or finishes the sixth inning, I'm not sure which one.

But that is why a stopper is needed in addition to a long relief guy.

Long relievers are thought of as stop gap pitchers who "save the pen" from working too many innings in what has usually turned into a game in which the other team has surged ahead.

But a "stopper" could be someone who will go two innings in the middle of the game so we don't stay with the starter too long.

I don't think teams carry official "stoppers" as I call them. Teams carry long relief for when the game is already out of hand.

It would have been interesting if we had kept Howry and used him as a stopper in the way I have defined.

I guess though if the pitcher is pulled too early it could be bad for their confidence.