Often times, the difference between a playoff team and a .500 team is how many games each wins and loses in the middle innings.

When the skipper lurches out of the dugout to relieve his starter, it's those six to nine outs to close out games that are the hardest to consistently secure. Playoff teams have guys who can bridge the gap from starter to closer, while average teams often find ways to let other squads back in the game.

Winning the last third of the baseball game is more important than any other singular performance trend across the 162—game season.

The evolution of the save statistic has placed a lot of emphasis and importance on the last three outs of the game. But as any Cubs fan from last year will tell you, Carlos Marmol and his three—to—five outs in the seventh and eighth innings was the glue that held that team together, winning them the NL Central.

Ditto with Philadelphia and Ryan Madson, or Boston and Hideki Okajima.

The problem is, from year to year, it's very hard to predict middle relief success. In fact, it's maybe the most wildly maddening roster dynamic for any general manager to deal with.

Just ask Florida or the Yankees this year: their middle men have had disastrous results of late, and, in turn, their arms on the whole have become overused. Upsetting the balance in the middle innings is something that, more times than not, will derail any team hoping to play into October.

With that, let us take a look at ten middle—men who have successfully embraced their late—inning roles and done so with dominant results:

1. Andrew Bailey, Oakland: 2009 Stat Line: 0.71 ERA, 0.39 WHIP, 15K/12IP, 2 Wins

Bailey was not expected to make the A's roster out of Spring Training. However, after an excellent showing in the Arizona Fall League and the returned health of his right arm, Bailey forced his way into the bullpen.

What a blessing that has been for Bob Geren and the Athletics. While Oakland's starters haven't quite fulfilled their end of the bargain in pitching deep into games, Bailey has been lights out in the later innings. He's a hard thrower whose slider/cutter touches 91-92 mph with good lateral break. He throws consistent strikes as well, which is essential to any relief success.

2. Jim Johnson, Baltimore: 2009 Stat Line: 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 7.00 K/9, 4 Holds

While his statistics don't quite portray a picture of dominance, trust me here. This guy is going to be nasty all year for Dave Trembley and the Birds.

JJ has filthy movement on his fastball, using it anywhere and everywhere with distinct movement down in the zone. He gets excellent run, sink, and tail on his fastball and really can be unhittable when he commands the strike zone and mixes in his breaking stuff. If George Sherrill were to go down or become ineffective, it would not shock me in the least to see Johnson effectively hold down the closer role.

3. David Aardsma, Seattle: 2009 Stat Line: 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 4 Holds, 3 Saves

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