[Runa]

Hi, I am a baseball fan from Roma (Italy) and I'd like to ask you why excellent closers (such as Mariano Rivera) can't make it as starters?

Maybe is a silly question but it's hard from Italy to know all the aspects of this game.

It's my first post and I want to send you a big salute to all baseball fans!

[crz4mets2]

Many closers can't make it as starters because they don't have the stanima to do it. Many closers could only last 1 - 2 innings. Starters have to last 5-6 innings. The only closer who was great at both when he went to starter was John Smoltz of the Braves. But John Smoltz was Starter, then Closer, then Starter again.

[Runa]

Thank you Baseball fanatic,

What is difficult to me to understand is why an appropriate training can't make any pitcher able to last at least 5 innings.

The minimum level of stamina in professional sports should be the same.

Don't you think so?

[Meetman]

see they can be givin some stamina by well training and stuff but its just that their arm cant handle throwing 90 to 110 pitches 1 -2 times a week and also u are very proper when u type u shoulld loosen up its okay if u dont use punctuation

[Whosyourpapi]

To answe your question , they aren't capable of being starters because of their lack of energy or stamina .
The only one who made the big jump was Jon Smoltz .