Closing time. One last call for alcohol, so finish your whiskey or beer. Closing time. You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here. -Semisonic
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Last year, Omar Minayacal signed the best starter money could buy. This year, Omar Minayacal signed the best closer money could buy. Put ‘em together waddyagot? Another run at the title.
For all of Billy Wagner’s foibles, when he was healthy, he could throw. In 2006 he threw for forty saves. He threw for a 2.25 ERA. He threw for his 300th career save. He threw the Mets to their first division title in eighteen years. Last year, he wasn’t healthy. Last year he couldn’t throw. K-Rod’s healthy. K-Rod can throw. He’s got a job. He’s got prospects. He’s bona fide. What are you?
Francisco Rodriguez, who will not turn twenty-seven years old until January 7, has 208 career saves. That’s a lot saves. That’s alotta tea. That’s by far the highest save total in major-league history before a pitcher’s 27th birthday. Only the Marlin’s Gregg Olson has recorded more than 130 saves before age twenty-seven. Those three years K-Rod just got come at the prime of his career. Expect alotta more tea to come.
K-rod just set the single-season major-league record with 62 saves in 2008. His 194 saves since 2005 are the most by any pitcher over a four-season span since the save rule was instituted in 1969. Holy cow! The old mark was Trevor Hoffman’s 179 saves from 1998 through 2001. Trevor Hoffman is not walking through that door, fans. And if you expect him to walk through that door, he’s going to be gray and old.
There is one blemish. If you want to call it a blemish. You can. I’m not going to. But you can. K-Rod may have set a record for saves over a four-year span, but his 92% save percentage over that time, was only the third-highest since 2005. Mariano Rivera was better. So was Joe Nathan. Billy Wagner wasn’t. The man K-Rod will replace as the Mets’ closer, had the ninth-highest save percentage over the last four seasons. And that’s the point isn’t it? To get better. The Mets just got better.
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six Two and Even!
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