Sting of the Hill: Constant Critique Takes Glamour Away From Closing Games

Last night, The Marlins completed an amazing comeback by taking an 8-7 lead over the Astros after trailing 7-2 at Land Shark Stadium.

With closer Leo Nunez coming in in the ninth, everyone thought this was going to be it for the Astros, but Nunez blew the save by giving up a game tying hit.

Fortunately for him, no one will remember since the Marlins scored another run to win the game 9-8.

When you take a deeper look at Nunez' blown save, you realize why being a closer is the toughest job in baseball.

If a closer saves the game, no one mentions it, yet when he blows one, he becomes the next day's headline.

The only closer who has avoided his share of criticism, is Yankees legend Mariano Rivera. But Rivera has earned it by leading a team to multiple championships, and pitching so effectively at 40, that we can see him in the league for 10 more years.

Other than Mariano, fans harshly critique closers for not being perfect most of the time.

Need some examples?

Armando Benitez had a great year as a closer for the Mets in 2000. Yet, after he blew a winnable Game 1 of the World Series, the Flushing faithful never forgave him.

He would be booed every time he stepped on the mound, and it clearly affected his pitching performance to the point he expected to fail, and he did. After that event, Mets fans would never be happy with Benitez until he was traded; and that occurred after the 2003 season.

How about Mitch Williams?

Phillies fans nicknamed him the "Wild Thing" for good reason. Why? Because he caused his team and city to worry when he was out there because of his inability to consistently save games.

He was good, but Phillies fans had enough after he gave up a game-winning home run to Joe Carter. Their fans got on him for several days on WIP (radio), and he received death threats to the point the Phillies traded him to the Astros after the 1992 season was over.

Is it fair for closers to be ripped for failures? No, it's not, but that's the mentality of baseball fans.

They want closers to get the job done in the ninth inning without any tension,. They want to see the game finished with a victory after a long, nine innings. A blown save is hard for fans to forget immediately. It takes time.

So with this job description, it makes one wonder why baseball players like the closer role so much. We all know the money is good, but honestly, who needs the headaches?