Closers that Make it Interesting

[Bob Saccomano]

I watched the end of the Baltimore-Mariners game with bated breath, largely because Eddie Guardado was on the mound. He blew that Patriots Day save against Boston, and today, loaded the bases with one out on an 8-6 lead. In the 1.0 IP he had today, he gave up 2 hits and one walk. His ERA, after escaping that inning scoreless, is now 9.39.

A couple of the others that seemingly always give up at least a hit: Cordero on the Rangers and Isringhausen for the Cards.

[yankeebot]

I am so f-ing glad this is not our problem.

[Spiker101]

Does anyone remember a closer for the Orioles in the '70s named Don Stanhouse, who earned the nickname "Two-pack" because whenever he took the mound in the ninth, Earl Weaver went down into the runway between the dugout and the clubhouse and proceeded to chain-smoke about a thousand cigarettes.

[Mattpat11]

John Wetteland. He was an adventure.

[Jete&Tino42]

Jason Isringhausen can be kinda shaky. It usually seems like an adventure with him. Just today the Cards had a 2-1 lead and he walked the bases loaded, but Nick Johnson grounded out on the first pitch.

[38Special]

Bob Wickman.


ask indians fans

[Bob Saccomano]

Jason Isringhausen can be kinda shaky. It usually seems like an adventure with him. Just today the Cards had a 2-1 lead and he walked the bases loaded, but Nick Johnson grounded out on the first pitch.

I was watching. Considering the number of saves and leads that Izzy has blown this year, I thought he'd set himself up to do it again.

[Bob Saccomano]

Does anyone remember a closer for the Orioles in the '70s named Don Stanhouse, who earned the nickname "Two-pack" because whenever he took the mound in the ninth, Earl Weaver went down into the runway between the dugout and the clubhouse and proceeded to chain-smoke about a thousand cigarettes.

Before my time...but sounds hilarious.

[Jaeho]

Mitch Williams. No one is even close to the Wild Thing. There was no such thing as a one, two, three inning with him.

[Bob Saccomano]

Though he's not a closer, Tyler Walker (12.79 ERA entering) is making the D-Rays Red Sox game unnervingly uninteresting. He gave up a leadoff hit to Youkilis, then walked Mark Loretta so that now he has to face Ortiz. No outs, Rays lead 6-5. Seems like they're gift-wrapping this one for the Sox.

[PirateChief]

Walked ortiz on four pitches.

Seems like Walker...walks a lot.

[BroadwayBomber55]

Walked ortiz on four pitches.

Seems like Walker...walks a lot.

I followed Tyler Walker in his career as a SF Giant. He has control issues.

[Bob Saccomano]

I followed Tyler Walker in his career as a SF Giant. He has control issues.

To say the least. People might complain about Torre, but this is honest to God the worst job of managing I've seen this year.

[nyctalopia]

To say the least. People might complain about Torre, but this is honest to God the worst job of managing I've seen this year.

I would agree with that. Miceli was up and warming by the time Loretta made it to first base. Somehow, Walker stayed in there to walk Ortiz, strike out Manny, and walk in Harris as the tying run. Was Maddon in the bathroom when all this was unfolding?

[Bob Saccomano]

I would agree with that. Miceli was up and warming by the time Loretta made it to first base. Somehow, Walker stayed in there to walk Ortiz, strike out Manny, and walk in Harris as the tying run. Was Maddon in the bathroom when all this was unfolding?

According to the GameDay, there was a coaching visit to the mound. After which, Walker stayed in. I can't imagine what that exchange was like.

[Bob Saccomano]

Direct from Izzy himself:

"I made it interesting," Isringhausen said, "but at least there's a zero on the board."

I wonder if he enjoys torturing St. Louis fans like that.

[Rice14]

Mitch Williams. No one is even close to the Wild Thing. There was no such thing as a one, two, three inning with him.

Without question, he was the first one that came to mind.

Uggie Urbina as a Red Sox would be another.

[goin for 27]

Looper.

'nuff said, he was a total adventure out there.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Francisco Cordero has not been an adventure this year... He's been just terrible. I've watched him try to close out a few games this year and each time he gets hit hard. It's just ugly with him this year.

[Nick]

I would agree with that. Miceli was up and warming by the time Loretta made it to first base. Somehow, Walker stayed in there to walk Ortiz, strike out Manny, and walk in Harris as the tying run. Was Maddon in the bathroom when all this was unfolding?

Miceli is terrible, though. Probably would have gotten the same outcome.

I wish I could completely suck at my job and make $500,000+

[Bob Saccomano]

Looper.

'nuff said, he was a total adventure out there.

He's been lights out for St. Louis, though, which is surprising given his struggles in spring training. I forget which ESPN analyst said it, but it was called, "the worst signing of the off-season." Another ESPN analyst said that David Eckstein was the worst signing of the off-season last year. Li'l Eck hit .294/.363/.395 with 8 HR and more walks than K's. A couple of those homers came in big spots, giving the Cardinals the lead or winning the game. Most memorable was a walk-off grand slam against the Braves.

[Bob Saccomano]

Francisco Cordero has not been an adventure this year... He's been just terrible. I've watched him try to close out a few games this year and each time he gets hit hard. It's just ugly with him this year.

I think the Rangers finally grasped this concept. Otsuka racked up a save tonight. In my roommate's fantasy league, a fellow player offered Cordero for Lance Berkman, straight up at the start of the year because my roommate needed closers. My roommate refused, and that looks like a better and better decision by the day .

[Bob Saccomano]

I wish I could completely suck at my job and make $500,000+

Don't we all . Miceli does suck, but I think he has a better chance of holding on to a 1-run lead than a guy with a 12.79 ERA.

[nyyanksfan20]

Armando anyone? He would always at least walk a few batters before he shut the door unless of course it was a big game.

[Bob Saccomano]

Armando anyone? He would always at least walk a few batters before he shut the door unless of course it was a big game.

Come to think of it, I did see a game recently where he had 2 on no out before he started getting it done.

I shouldn't bring this up, but I thought Chris Ray, in that appearance against us, made it real interesting. Too bad a pitch that was a foot off the plate got called a strike. But I hope this doesn't bring up a ton of crap about A-Rod K'ing there...Ray used a pretty good sequence of pitches on him.

[Bob Saccomano]

I have to say, the Tampa Bay bullpen sure makes it tense. They had a 5-2 lead going into the 9th. The top of the 9th began while the Yankee game was still in the top of the 8th. Here's the MLB.com GameDay play-by-play:

Top 9TH B:1 S:2 O:1
Jason Varitek grounds out to first baseman Travis Lee.
Top 9TH B:2 S:1 O:1
Mike Lowell homers (2) on a fly ball to left field.
Top 9TH B:2 S:1 O:1
Wily Mo Pena homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.
Top 9TH B:0 S:0 O:1
Pitcher Change: Tyler Walker replaces Chad Orvella.
Top 9TH B:0 S:0 O:1
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Trot Nixon replaces Dustan Mohr.
Top 9TH B:4 S:2 O:1
Trot Nixon walks.
Top 9TH B:0 S:0 O:1
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Willie Harris replaces Trot Nixon.
Top 9TH B:0 S:0 O:1
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. T. Snow replaces Alex Gonzalez.
Top 9TH B:2 S:0 O:1
With J. T. Snow batting, Willie Harris steals (2) 2nd base, . Willie Harris advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher Toby Hall.
Top 9TH B:2 S:0 O:1
Pitcher Change: Shawn Camp replaces Tyler Walker.
Top 9TH B:3 S:2 O:1
J. T. Snow hit by pitch.
Top 9TH B:0 S:0 O:1
Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Alex Cora replaces J. T. Snow.
Top 9TH B:0 S:3 O:2
Kevin Youkilis called out on strikes.
Top 9TH B:2 S:2 O:2
With Mark Loretta batting, Alex Cora steals (1) 2nd base.
Top 9TH B:2 S:2 O:3
Mark Loretta grounds out, shortstop Tomas Perez to first baseman Travis Lee.

I was flipping between this game and the Yankees game. They both finished about the same time. Seeing Mo go 1-2-3, 12 pitches, was quite gratifying, I have to say .

[AustinTXHorn]

Even when Cordero is on, he gives you a heart attack.

[ryanthe13th]

K-Rod is not as lights out as people percieve him to be. I wouldn't say he 'makes it interesting' all the time, but he does quite a bit. I remember when LAA played BAL last year and they were up by like 6 runs. K-Rod gave up like 3 runs and turned it into a save situation.

[BobbyMurcerFan]

I'm going to have to give a nod to Steve Howe, may he R.I.P..

[Bob Saccomano]

K-Rod is not as lights out as people percieve him to be. I wouldn't say he 'makes it interesting' all the time, but he does quite a bit. I remember when LAA played BAL last year and they were up by like 6 runs. K-Rod gave up like 3 runs and turned it into a save situation.

I am gonna have to remember that game in July where he completely blew the save and walked in a run to cut the lead to 1, walked in another run to tie it, then gave up a double to Matsui to give the Yankees the win, 8-6.

[Bob Saccomano]

And our good friend Guardado had a runner on third trying to convert a 4-3 lead to a save. Thankfully he got it, giving the Yanks a tiny bit of padding going into Fenway.

[DontHateOnNumber2]

Cordero is such a shaky closer that his role has been given to his buddy Otsuka. IMO Ugueth Urbina always seemed to give up a hit or two when he a 3 run (or less) lead. Oh, Byung-Hyun Kim always seemed to inject drama into games as well. Check out his 2001 World Series appearances.

[26 and counting]

Guardado just blew another save, allowing a 2-out game tying home run to Pablo Ozuna of the White Sox.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Lidge just put two on before closing it out.

[Mark19]

Billy Wagner has been rusty lately,

but the one guy who will always be an adventure in closing is Armando Benitez

I don't care what the numbers say, any team has a chance to beat him if they can get in his head

[SI Baseballman]

The important thing is that the Mets won 2 out of 3 of Wagner's blown saves.

[Bob Saccomano]

Lidge just put two on before closing it out.

Saw that..I was hoping Pujols would be in his head still, but it was a flyout to deep, deep, deep center.

[Bob Saccomano]

Guardado just blew another save, allowing a 2-out game tying home run to Pablo Ozuna of the White Sox.

Something tells me that Guardado is not drafted very high in fantasy baseball .

EDIT: And that makes it 3 blown saves in 7 chances.

[Smithers]

Bob Wickman.


ask indians fans

he was the first guy i thought of.

and i think it was billy koch who used to always walk the lead off man.

[Vin]

I hate to say this but when Mariano Rivera goes to the mound my mother's blood pressure always goes up

He can make it interesting at times..okay, make that sometimes.

[Workhorse]

The original heartattack closer, Don "Full Pack" Stanhouse.

[Bob Saccomano]

The original heartattack closer, Don "Full Pack" Stanhouse.

Haha, he was mentioned earlier. Before my time, but sounds hilariously entertaining.

[Bob Saccomano]

I'm going to officially add Billy Wagner. He has 3 blown saves and gave up the long ball tonight to give the Braves the lead.

Sure the Mets won it, but he's not as lights out as he used to be. I think he'll improve, but right now, you never know if he's gonna give up the long ball.

[Kluivert4Ever]

Bob Wickman.


ask indians fans

Agreed.

[Bob Saccomano]

I haven't been following the Dodgers that closely, but apparently Denys Baez has blown 4 saves in 12 chances. Maybe Tampa's BP wouldn't have been that much better without him...

[stupidpunchline]

Closers WHO Make it Interesting. Don't forget your subject/verb agreement.

Remember Juan Acevedo ::shudder::

[Bob Saccomano]

Closers WHO Make it Interesting. Don't forget your subject/verb agreement.

Remember Juan Acevedo ::shudder::

Oops! Sorry about that. I'm usually better with grammar.