Can anyone close the deal?
A great closer can take baseball teams a long way in the postseason. Just look at Mariano Rivera. He saved 23 straight playoff games before that Luis Gonzalez blooper in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, and the Yankees were nearly unbeatable during that stretch.
But we've also seen closers have huge seasons only to fall flat in October, often because of burnout or an inability to get it done on the big stage. Or both, as was the case with Mitch Williams in '93, which I still haven't gotten over.
In the past few days, we've seen John Smoltz blow a save and get tagged for five runs. Keith Foulke blew saves on consecutive nights (though the Sox still won). And even Rivera blew one.
All three are on teams that appear to be cruising into the postseason. All three are having outstanding seasons. But I wonder if this is a red flag for World Series contenders. Was this week just a series of slip-ups bound to happen at some point in the season? Or is it a clue that we'll see these guys struggle in the postseason?
Could be worse: they could be turning games over to LaTroy Hawkins in the 9th. Poor Cubs.
Comments (1)
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Well, add Octavio Dotel to the closers-who-can't close club. Big blown save today for the A's against Texas.
Posted on September 23, 2004 5:44 PM