This weekend is generally known as a “down” time in sports as the NFL Playoffs take a week off before the Super Bowl. The NHL all-star game promises to be entertaining with its new format, and there’s also the Pro Bowl. Does anyone actually watch the Pro Bowl? I mean, I’ve seen more effort in my high school gym class than in that meaningless joke of a game. Since many of you will be glued to your televisions next Sunday to watch America’s most popular sporting event, I guess I should probably make this post pretty damn good. So, before I get too off topic, here we go.
As we draw closer and closer to the start of spring training and subsequently, the Albert Pujols contract deadline, I’ll take the opportunity to write about my favorite players in baseball: Closers. From the regular season all the way through to the playoffs, closers are a vital part of their team’s success (or failure). They don’t enter the game until the late innings, and they certainly don’t appear in all 162+ games of a season, but closers are perhaps more important individually than any other player on the field or in the dugout.
Think about it. Sure, the rest of the guys contribute throughout the game to put the team in a position to win, but the performance of the closer directly correlates with the end result. The ability/inability of a closer to come in and do his job is, at the end of the day, the difference between a win and a loss. This, of course, is only true in save situations, and I suppose a walk-off hit would make a batter directly responsible for the outcome. Nonetheless, the importance and value of closers should not be underestimated.
So, what does it take to be a closer? Well, for one, you have to be crazy. Yes, you have to be a little strange upstairs in the head. Some closers show it (Brian Wilson), others not so much (Mariano Rivera). In general, for whatever reason, closers aren’t “just another one of the guys.” Can we really blame them? After all, they do sit in the bullpen isolated from the action for most or all of every game.
More importantly, to be a closer, you must be confident, focused, mentally tough, and obviously, reliable. It is so crucial for a closer to have that swagger because if you can intimidate opposing hitters, you have an advantage without even throwing a pitch. Closers must always stay focused on the task at hand. As simple as it sounds, getting three outs quickly and efficiently is a tough task. Not to mention, with the spotlight on them, closers must fight off the pressure and remain calm, cool, and collected. The reliability part goes without saying. Every team hopes for a guy that can come in and shut the door in the ninth to consistently rack up saves.
Let’s take a look at some of the game’s best closers right now.
10. Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
From 2006 to 2009, Papelbon was one of the most dominant closers in the game. As someone who has witnessed several of his entrances, he comes into games with a shut-down mentality. However, the 30-year-old Papelbon struggled mightily with his confidence and command in 2010, finishing with a league-high eight blown saves in 45 opportunities and a 3.90 ERA. He rarely throws anything other than a fastball, and with Bobby Jenks and Daniel Bard fully capable of taking over, Papelbon may be on a short leash with the Red Sox.
9. Francisco Cordero (Cincinnati)
Cordero and Papelbon are interchangeable here, but since the Reds made the playoffs and Francisco posted 40 saves, I’ll give him the edge. In 72.2 innings, he too had a high ERA (3.84) and many blown saves (8). His 1.6 K/BB ratio was worst among all closers in 2010, but it’s hard to exclude someone with 40 saves from this list. Unless he improves with his control, Cordero has no chance of moving up on this list. Don’t forget, the Reds have a young flamethrower who figures to make some noise in the near future.
8. Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
This goes without saying, but when Nathan is healthy, he is a top-five closer in MLB. He missed all of last season with an injured elbow that required Tommy John surgery, which is why I have him so low on this list. Since he came to the Twins in 2004, Nathan has had three 40-save seasons and posted a sub-1.00 WHIP five times and a sub-2.00 ERA four times. He avoids walks and doesn’t usually get himself into trouble, so let’s hope he recovers nicely with a huge bounce-back year.
7. Billy Wagner (Atlanta)
Yes, the old man’s still got it. At 39 years of age, Wagner posted a league-low 1.43 ERA and complied 37 saves. He did blow seven saves, but for the most part, he dominated opposing hitters. Wagner held opponents to a .159 batting average, and he K/BB ratio was very impressive at 4.7. Can he pick up where he left off?
6. Carlos Marmol (Chicago)
In 2010, Marmol posted 38 saves in 43 opportunities to go along with a 2.55 ERA. His .147 batting average against was lowest among all closers, and his 16 K’s per nine innings was tops among closers. He has one of the best sliders in baseball, but at times, he struggles with control. When he’s not wild, Marmol has the ability to be a top-five closer in this league.
5. Mariano Rivera (New York)
Many Yankees fans will hate me for putting one of the games best closers of all time at number five, but that’s where he belongs at this point is his career. Rivera, who is now 41 and close to retirement, was not his usual self in 2010. He did have a 1.80 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, but collected just 33 saves in 38 opportunities. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but they are significantly worse than his numbers in 2009. The infamous cutter isn’t producing as many strikeouts as it used to, but Rivera is still a very respectable closer. Ok, he’s a hell of a lot better than respectable, but he’s still No. 5.
4. Neftali Feliz (Texas)
What a surprise this kid is. The 22-year-old came out of nowhere to win the 2010 AL Rookie of the Year Award, and for good reason. He finished with 40 saves in 43 opportunities, a 2.73 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a .176 batting average against. Not to mention, he collected 71 strikeouts in 69 innings. His success carried over into the playoffs, and he was seemingly unfazed by pressure. With the addition of Adrian Beltre, Feliz may get even more save opportunities than last year. I look for this guy to be a spectacular closer for a long time.
3. Joakim Soria (Kansas City)
Now we get into the top three. This guy was one of the few positives for the Royals in 2010. In 46 opportunities, Soria blew just three saves. He finished with the second most saves in the offensively powerful American League. His minuscule 1.78 ERA was among the best in baseball, and his 1.05 WHIP wasn’t too bad either. He has one of the best names in baseball too, which doesn’t hurt. In just four years, Soria has two 40-save seasons. He is still young, and things will only get better from here.
2. Heath Bell (San Diego)
The big man from the Padres lands at number two. His size and power is enough to strike fear in the heart of his opponents. With 47 saves (2nd in NL) in 50 opportunities, Bell posted the best save percentage in the majors (94%). He also posted an impressive 6-1 record with a 1.93 ERA. He has now been an all-star in two consecutive seasons, and he was rewarded with a $7.5 million contract this offseason. The loss of Adrian Gonzalez will hurt, but Bell has certainly established himself as an elite closer.
1. Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
No surprises here. Is there anyone who hitters fear more in the late innings than Brian Wilson? This guy is insane. He led MLB with 48 saves, and in 74.2 innings, he struck out 93 batters. His ERA and WHIP were equally good (1.81 & 1.18), and we all know what he did in the playoffs. In 11.2 post-season innings, he collected six saves and allowed zero runs. Wilson quickly became a part of almost every post-season headline, leading the Giants on their World Series quest. In fact, he finished 7th in Cy Young voting and 13th in MVP voting. He is without a doubt the best of the best, and you’re in for a treat every time you watch this guy pitch.
As you look back on this list, notice one thing. All but two of these elite closers play for teams that were legitimate contenders in 2010. Coincidence? I think not. If your team has one of these guys, chances are that you’re feeling pretty good about your chances. It should be interesting to see if this theory holds true in 2011.