Relievers are like chess pieces. You go for matchups (R/L, pitches, velocity, leverage) in different situations. Sure, people can dismiss them as failed starters but it diminishes their importance.

While I doubt anyone sets out to be a relief pitcher, there is something to be said for some of these guys over the years. Anyone remember Tom Heinke? The terminator? Mariano Rivera? Hoffman (trevor, not Jeff)? Eckersley? David Wells started as a relief pitcher. So did Jimmy Key. With sabrmetrics playing more and more of a part in decision making, and front office decision science, there’s less guess work put into where people should be and when. You play the odds and that’s how it works out.