Can a Major League Baseball team win a World Series without......

[stevenash]

A dominant, lights out, slam the door closer?

For reasons unknown, this thought popped into my head earlier when I was watching the early game.
(what makes Mo so unbelievable is looking at recent history, the shelf life for elite closers is not even four years)

Yankees won all those rings with Mo.
Last year Boston with Koji, Sox won the other two with Papps
Giants won with Wilson, (Romo was big help) Wilson was lights out for 2 years, now look at him.
Brad Lidge might be an exception in '07
Percival was lights out for the Angels.
Even Jenks with the White Sox

The only exceptions I can think of is the '01 Snakes with Kim, and the Marlins with maybe, with Looper

[freeVICK]

Need a pen that's for sure

[LT Profits]

It is POSSIBLE but very difficult.

[BigDofBA]

I think the bullpen as a whole is more important than 1 closer.

[jose21_us]

I believe Ugeth Urbina was the closer for the marlins. They traded Adrian Gonzalez for him...

[Big Bear]

I think the bullpen as a whole is more important than 1 closer.

this. The A's found that out the hard way last October but they added depth in the off season.

[thechaoz]

Bull pen is key

[daneblazer]

All the more reason why Nathan is going to either get it together or get demoted.

Of course the rest of the bullpen is important but it all starts with the closer. Shorten the game. Everyone else knows their role. You can't have the closer shit the bed more than once in the playoffs and come away a winner.

[laclippers504]

All the more reason why Nathan is going to either get it together or get demoted.

Of course the rest of the bullpen is important but it all starts with the closer. Shorten the game. Everyone else knows their role. You can't have the closer shit the bed more than once in the playoffs and come away a winner.

You could send Koji, street, or whoever else has been solid this season and they would probably stink on the Tigers.

[BennyBigNuts]

Overall bullpens trump just about everything when it comes to playoff atmospheres.
The Royals are a great play to win it all.
Best pen in MLB.
Nothing but fkn beasts in there.

[Monitor-Tan]

Do you mean just the world series the series, or playing through the regular season and winning it?

If so, I COULD BE WRONG, but Byung Hyun Kim from the Dbacks AS A CLOSER had pretty good record and stats, except for that back to back blown games on WS.

[stevenash]

Do you mean just the world series the series, or playing through the regular season and winning it?

If so, I COULD BE WRONG, but Byung Hyun Kim from the Dbacks AS A CLOSER had pretty good record and stats, except for that back to back blown games on WS.

Overall, and Kim wasn't really a good closer.
Coughed up those two taters like you said, had a 3 ERA that season, walked 44 in 98 batters, (bad) and gave up 10 homers (real bad)

[easyliving]

The Braves are due to eventually win 1

[daneblazer]

Kim was a horse in 2001-02. Even Looper had a few good years.

The Braves had one of the best pens ever a few years ago, then injuries struck and they were done

[stevenash]

Kim was a horse in 2001-02.

In the sense he worked 100 relief (almost)innings, yes.

[oneguy]

I think the bullpen as a whole is more important than 1 closer.

Totally agree 1000%

[pavyracer]

Dominant starting pitching makes dominant closer not necessary needed.

[OckertCR]

The Braves are due to eventually win 1

City is cursed.

[krk1030]

No. But that doesnt mean you need a big name going into the year. Dominant closers come and go out of nowhere from year to year.

[stealthyburrito]

wainwright in '06

I think he was a rookie/recent call up that year.

cards pen was blasted with injury and he stepped in and was dominant.

[stevenash]

^
and the rest is history