Closer Meltdown Overload

Jonathan Papelbon: 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Joe Nathan: 2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Huston Street: 2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Ryan Franklin: 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Total: 8 IP, 18 H, 11 R, 8 BB, 5 K

That’s the combined performance of the closers for the four teams who got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this year. The complete inability for teams to shut the door in the ninth inning was by far the overriding story of the division series match-ups. The Red Sox, Cardinals, and Rockies were all eliminated in games where their closers had a final meltdown on the mound, snatching defeat from the jaws victory.

Of note is that the two teams that entered the playoffs with the most questions surrounding their closers – the Phillies (Brad Lidge) and the Angels (Brian Fuentes) – were able to skate through the first round without any problems, as the supposedly reliable closers (non-Mariano Rivera division) were the ones who ended up having problems.

St. Louis perhaps should have seen this coming – Ryan Franklin isn’t anyone’s definition of a relief ace, and his first performance was about as fluky as it gets. Trusting him with the game on the line isn’t really wisdom, regardless of what his seasonal ERA was. He’s still Ryan Franklin, after all. The other three, however, have been among the best relievers in the game for years.

There was no reason for the Twins to be concerned about Joe Nathan. Papelbon’s command got worse this year, but he was still blowing hitters away. Street posted the best BB/K of his career, and looked to re-establish himself as an elite closer. All three were proven closers. And all three were significant reasons why their teams are sitting at home right now.

Everyone knows this by now, but relief pitchers are just remarkably unreliable. That point was driven home with emphasis in the first round. Don’t pay premiums for the mystical powers of a ninth inning reliever. The guys who have proven they “have it” can implode at the worst possible time, too.