Lyon has clean slate in Houston

February 8, 6:21 PMHouston Astros ExaminerStephen Goff

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Right-hander Brandon Lyon has managed to record better success as a setup man in comparison to being a closer, but will the $15 million pitcher be the answer for the Astros in the ninth, or be more effective in the eighth-inning role in 2010? (AP Photo)

When Astros general manager Ed Wade signed free-agent right-hander Brandon Lyon to a three-year, $15 million contract this offseason, he received a substantial amount of criticism at the Winter Meetings from critics, Houston fans and fellow peers, who reportedly needed to have the dollar amount repeated a second time.
 
At the same time, Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will say that Wade stole Lyon from him, and that Houston made a great signing.

Regardless of perception, Lyon's tenure in Houston will ultimately be determined by his performance on the field.
 
With pitchers and catchers set to report to Kissimmee, Fla., on Feb. 20, one of manager Brad Mills' objectives this Spring revolves around determining whether Lyon or right-hander Matt Lindstrom makes the better option as the club's closer.

Compared to former All-Stars Billy Wagner, Brad Lidge and Jose Valverde holding down the job in the past, the Astros will enter the 2010 season with two potential options who still have question marks attached to their names.

Since breaking into the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001, the 30-year-old Lyon has gained experience as a starting pitcher, setup man and closer. Overall, he wasn't the greatest starter nor has been the best closer, yet he's been successful with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers in the setup role.

After spending two seasons posting a 4.29 and 6.53 ERA as a starter, Lyon permanently converted to a relief pitcher in 2003 with the Boston Red Sox. He converted nine of 12 save opportunities for Boston, but struggled with a high ERA (4.12).

Lyon began showing his overall strengths and weaknesses in both the Desert and Motor City.

In 2005, he spent part of the season filling in as the Diamondbacks' closer for the injured Valverde, compiling 14 saves in 15 opportunities. Still, Lyon struggled once again with a high ERA (6.44) while yielding a horrid .341 average to opposing hitters.

Over the next two seasons, he began finding his niche pitching in front of Valverde as Arizona's setup man. Lyon had a remarkable 2007 season, posting a 6-4 record with a career-best 2.68 ERA in 71 appearances (career high).

With the lethal duo of Lyon and Valverde in the late innings, the Diamondbacks won the 2007 NL West title. When Arizona decided to trade Valverde to Houston prior to the 2008 season, the organization felt comfortable sliding Lyon into the closer's role.

Although he posted 26 saves in 31 opportunities, Lyon had a way of making games somewhat interesting in the ninth, and ultimately lost his job to former Astro Chad Qualls following second-half struggles. 

He ended the 2008 season with a 4.70 ERA and surrendered a .301 opponent batting average. 

It was time for a change of scenery for Lyon, who inked a one-year deal with Detroit for the 2009 season.

The Jekyll and Hyde syndrome followed him to Detroit as the righty struggled with a 4.91 ERA in April, followed by a horrendous 8.10 ERA in May. He managed to get his act together for the remainder of the season, finishing 6-5 with an impressive 2.86 ERA in 65 appearances as manager Jim Leyland's setup man for closer Fernando Rodney.

Now, Lyon brings his repertoire of pitches to Houston with the willingness to pitch in any form of capacity for Mills and the Astros. 

What will it be -- setup man or closer?

Everyone will get a fresh start with the Astros in 2010 under the direction of a new manager in Mills.

It doesn't matter how Lyon performed in the past with Toronto, Boston, Arizona and Detroit. Who cares if he's been a better setup man than closer, or that he possesses a Jekyll and Hyde complex. None of that matters anymore -- he's got a clean slate in Houston.

It's easy to predict that Lyon will depart Spring Training as the Astros' closer based on the dollar amount of his contract. Still, Mills will have the final say in making the right decisions in regard to the best interest of the team.  

Whether that's giving the ball to Lyon in the eighth or ninth inning, it's still to be determined.