You can never truly appreciate the advantage of having a good closer until you have a bad one. Rooting for the team that has gainfully employed Joe "I got nothing" Borowski the last season and a half, I am all too familiar with the latter.
A great closer, however, can be the most exciting aspect of a good baseball team.
The buzz starts throughout the crowd as the home team is retired in the bottom of the eighth inning with a one-run lead. The familiar music, whether it be "Hells Bells" or "Enter Sandman" begins to play and perhaps the most confident man on the roster emerges from the bullpen like a hitman—all business.
Great closers all have the swagger. It's not so much arrogance, but a justified confidence knowing the opponent has about seven minutes before they taste defeat. Eight to 12 pitches later, the final batter walks dejectedly off the field as the crowd is on their feet cheering, the catcher is jogging happily to the mound to greet the closer, who is pumping his fist.
There are several good closers in the league right now, but here are the top seven you never want to see warming up in the pen if you are trailing their team late in the game.
7. Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels:
Can you believe he is a year younger than Jonathan Papelbon and Bobby Jenks? He'll most likely nail down his 200th career save early next season. K-Rod has rode his herky-jerky delivery to three straight 40-plus save seasons and leads the league with 21 this year.
He sometimes runs into control issues, walking more batters than the other elite closers. Barring injury, he should one day be considered one of the all-time greats.
6. Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox:
Claimed off waivers from the Angels in December, 2004, the portly Jenks has established himself as a ninth-inning force for Ozzie Guillen's crew. His ERA has dropped from 4.01 in 2006, to 2.77 last year, to 1.69 so far this season.
Jenks is looking to top the 40-save plateau for the third consecutive season and at times is unhittable. He tied a major league record by retiring 41 consecutive batters last August.
5. Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins:
Nathan may be the most underrated closer on the list. Imagine if he had converted 91 percent of his saves (174 for 192) in his career while pitching in New York or Boston.
He has posted a sub-2.00 ERA the past two seasons and has fanned 22 batters while walking just five so far this year.
4. Billy Wagner, New York Mets:
In addition to having the ideal closer disposition, Wagner has the stats that will land him in Cooperstown. At 36, he is off to one of his best starts ever, converting 9-of-11 save opportunities with a ridiculous 0.43 ERA and 23 strikeouts to just four walks.
He is also a guy you would never want to exchange haymakers with. For a closer, intimidation is the best attribute one can posses.
3. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox:
How good is Papelbon? I could not care less about the Red Sox, but when I heard he had blown his second straight save earlier this season, my jaw dropped to the floor.
He assumed the closer role in Boston in 2006 and responded with 35 saves and a stupid 0.92 ERA. Since his ERA has "ballooned" to 1.71 for his career.
The back-to-back chances he blew against Detroit and Minnesota earlier in the year are the only blown saves he has in 16 opportunities. Papelbon, like Wagner, intimidates his opponent with a suffocating fastball and intense demeanor.
He is also money in the postseason.
2. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals:
How often do the Royals get a player on any "best" lists? Well, it isn't charity for the 24-year-old.
Soria became the closer midway through last season and converted 17-of-21 chances. Apparently dissatisfied with that performance, he has nailed down all 11 of his save opportunities this year while posting an 0.84 ERA.
The last two seasons Soria has walked just 24 batters while fanning 99. The sky appears to be the limit for this diamond in the rough that is Kansas City.
1. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees:
I know it's boring and predictable and I desperately wanted to put anybody else in the top spot, but I couldn't pull the trigger.
Many questioned whether the Yankees should replace the legend with young Joba Chamberlain last season when Rivera's ERA topped 3.00. Based on what he has done the first two months of the '08 season, it appears Rivera took exception to the criticism.
He's converted all 12 save opportunities, walked his first batter Tuesday night after 20 innings to begin the season without one, and has an absurd 0.41 ERA.
Because he plays for the Yankees, he has logged 110 postseason innings. Rivera has struck out 89 hitters against 16 walks with an 0.82 ERA while saving 31 postseason games.
There is none better historically, and there is none better so far this season.
comments (2) write a comment »
write a new comment
4 months ago
How could you leave J.J. Putz off this list?
Joakim Soria is way too high for what he's proven so far, and Putz has clearly proven to be one of the top-three closers in baseball. Take a look at his numbers the last couple years. (He allowed just 37 hits and 13 walks in 71.2 innings last year with 82 strikeouts and 40 saves.)
You worded your intro "here are the top seven you never want to see warming up in the pen if you are trailing their team late in the game," and I guarantee you Soria is preferable to at least 10 other closers in the game right now.
No way should Putz be any lower than No. 5 on this list, after Nathan, but I'd argue No. 3, after Papelbon. I'd also rather have my team facing Jenks than B.J. Ryan, but I won't argue that one as harshly.
4 months ago
Putz has surrendered seven earned runs in just 14 innings this year. Also, his WHIP of 1.86 is far higher than the guys on the list.
Ryan was actually my toughest exclusion, but he has had some health issues.
As far as Soria being too high, I would actually wait until he blows a save before I'd make that statement.
Thanks for reading and the feedback,
Jon
write a new comment