Closer to the Heart

Matt Bruce

Billy Wagner and Ugueth Urbina are out for the season. Bob Wickman's change of address resulted in a promotion for Curtis Leskanic and a loss of prestige for Steve Karsay. Ryan Kohlmeier had barely made his major-league debut before his installation as closer in Baltimore. What's happening in major league bullpens this season, and how does it compare to the recent past?

Ever since Dennis Eckersley's breakthrough season in 1988, by-the-book managers have defined the role of "closer" to be someone who racks up saves by pitching the final inning of a close game. Given baseball's fear of change and affinity for the "proven" veteran, one might expect some stability among the ranks of closers.

Instead, half of MLB's 2000 save leaders had never reached double digits in saves prior to 1999. The chart that follows lists every team's save leader as of August 20, ranked by the number of previous seasons in which that reliever had reached double-digits in saves.

National League				American League
Team	Closer	Years		Team	Closer	Years
Chicago	Aguilera	9		Tampa Bay	Hernandez	8
Philadelphia	Brantley	6		Texas	Wetteland	8
San Diego	Hoffman	6		Detroit	Jones	5
San Francisco	Nen	6		Baltimore	Timlin	4
Los Angeles	Shaw	3		Anaheim	Percival	4
New York	Benitez	2		New York	Rivera	3
Cincinnati	Graves	2		Kansas City	Bottalico	3
Milwaukee	Wickman	2		Boston	Lowe	1
Atlanta	Rocker	1		Toronto	Koch	1
Florida	Alfonseca	1		Chicago	Foulke	0
Pittsburgh	Williams	1		Cleveland	Karsay	0
St. Louis	Veres	1		Minnesota	Wells	0
Montreal	Kline	0		Oakland	Isringhausen	0
Houston	Dotel	0		Seattle	Sasaki	0
Arizona	Kim	0
Colorado	Jimenez	0

Timlin and Wickman have both changed teams (Timlin losing his "closer" tag in the process), though Kohlmeier and Curtis Leskanic probably don't have enough time to match their save totals with their old teams. Matt Mantei, who will probably overtake Byung-Hung Kim for the D-Backs' save lead, had 32 saves last year, his first full season as closer.

In Minnesota, Bob Wells shares a committee role with Eddie Guardado, who has never had 10 saves in a season, and Latroy Hawkins, who had been a starter prior to 2000. Add Hector Carrasco and Travis Miller (one save each) to get an unspectacular but effective bullpen. As of August 20, this quintet ranged from 52 to 60 appearances, six to nine holds, and ERA's between 3.44 and 4.21. Although Wells had blown six saves, Guardado and Hawkins were both a perfect 8-for-8.

Meanwhile, the dean of major-league closers (at least by seniority) should be very familiar to Twins fans. From 1990 to 1995, Aguilera put up 192 saves for Minnesota and 12 down the stretch for the 1995 Red Sox. In five of those six years he allowed fewer hits than innings pitched. His ERA by season: 2.76, 2.35, 2.84, 3.11, 3.63, 2.60.

In 1996, the Twins inexplicably moved him to the rotation. He retained his excellent control, recording 83 strikeouts against just 27 walks over 111.1 innings. Unfortunately, he gave up 20 home runs and posted a 5.42 ERA. Back in the bullpen, he saved 64 more games the next two seasons but saw his ERA hover around 4.

Last year, Minnesota parlayed Aguilera's hot start into a favorable deal with the Cubs. Since moving to the Friendly Confines, the 38-year-old has struggled. With his best days behind him, it's a reasonable assumption that neither the Cubs nor Twins will be a championship contender before his retirement.

John Wetteland has also shown signs of decline. From 1994 to '96, his ERA stayed between 2.83 and 2.93. For the 1993 Montreal Expos he was 9-3 with 43 saves and a 1.37 mark; in his first two years with the Rangers, he was a combined 10-3 with 73 saves and a 1.98 ERA. Since then, that ERA has shot up to 3.68 and 4.15, thanks in part to health problems. At 34, he still has some greatness left but perhaps not enough to justify the price tag of this free agent to be.

Like Wetteland, Robb Nen battled through injuries in spring training. Fortunately for Giant fans, he's been able to hold opponents to just 28 hits in 48 innings. One of the few relievers to show an even-odd pattern, Nen has seen his ERA see-saw since becoming closer in 1994: 2.95, 3.29, 1.95, 3.89, 1.52, 3.98, 1.68. Of the "proven closers," Nen is the only one with a chance at post-season greatness.

The rest of the veterans are a strange mix of great pitchers stuck on bad teams (Roberto Hernandez, Trevor Hoffman, Troy Percival) and journeymen whose reputations far exceed them (Jeff Brantley, Mike Timlin, Ricky Bottalico). Todd Jones, previously one of the worst closers in baseball, has been a stabilizing force in Detroit this year but remains league-average at best.

At the bottom of the list are some American League teams with playoff aspirations. Mariner fans know all about the 32-year-old rookie Sasaki. Keith Foulke, a year removed from yielding just 93 baserunners in 105 innings, became the White Sox closer with a remarkable early-season run but has been treading water since then.

Steve Karsay has been steady enough in Cleveland that his demotion seems unfair. The Indians gave up on outfielder Richie Sexson to get a "proven closer" in Wickman. By contrast, Oakland picked up Terrence Long by shipping "proven closer" Billy Taylor and future goat Kenny Rogers to the Mets last year. Taylor has washed out; Long, still just 24, is batting .285/.343/.464 with 13 home runs in center field this year.

The master of closer trading is still Jim Bowden of Cincinnati. After Brantley's fine 1996 season (44 saves, 2.41 ERA), he lost most of 1997 to injury. No problem: Enter Jeff Shaw, who matched Brantley's season almost pitch for pitch (42 saves, 2.38 ERA). With LaRussa desperate to replace Eckersley in St. Louis, the Reds were able to unload the damaged Brantley and even get a fine outfielder, Dmitri Young, in return.

Less than a year later, Bowden dispatched Shaw to Los Angeles for youngsters Dennis Reyes and Paul Konerko. After trading Konerko straight up for Mike Cameron, the Cincinnati was able to package Cameron and Brett Tomko together for Junior Griffey.

Getting an irreplaceable commodity for a replaceable one is always a good move. Then again, fans in Seattle might have a completely different perception of how easily closers are found. Bad ones are certainly common enough -- the likes of Rod Beck, Mike Fetters, Jose Mesa and even Heathcliff Slocumb might have made our list in past years. The trick is getting teams to realize that good middle relievers make much better closers than bad experienced closers. Next week, a look at some of the freshest bullpen blood.

about the author

Matt Bruce will be happy to reply to your e-mail, as soon as he's finished icing down his writing arm. Ask whether Jim Leyland is the new Strikethree.com editor at mb@strikethree.com.