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2009 Twins season in review - the closer
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Note: This is the third installment of the comprehensive 2009 Minnesota Twins season in review. Previous entries focused on the team's starting and relief pitching performances.
On Wednesday, September 2, the Minnesota Twins were one out away from closing out a two-run lead and sweeping the Chicago White Sox in a pivotal three-game series. More importantly, the Twins had an opportunity to close the AL Central gap to three games behind division-leading Detroit. The White Sox had previously waved the white flag on a disappointing 2009 campaign, trading Jim Thome away to the Los Angeles Dodgers two days prior, and had been listless against Minnesota rookie starter Brian Duensing all day long.
Joe Nathan was on the hill trying to pick up the save with a 2-0 lead and two outs. Gordon Beckham homered to cut the lead in half. No big deal, thought Twins' fans. However, the next batter, Paul Konerko, also homered to tie the game, and then the wheels came off for Nathan. By the time the inning was over, the closer had surrendered four runs and the Twins lost the series finale. Many thought that game represented the final nail in the team's coffin for the 2009 season.
Many fans still remember that game vividly. Such is the life of a closer in the Major Leagues.
What fans likely do not remember is that Nathan stepped up after that rough outing and picked up 12 saves down the stretch for the Twins, compiling an ERA of 1.19 in 15.1 innings after the Chicago meltdown. The Twins would not have gained game #163 without Nathan. Also, his tightrope-walking effort in the tiebreaker game was vintage Joe Nathan - making a big pitch to get out of trouble.
Going into the 2009 season, the Twins viewed Nathan as one of the game's elite closers. Although his numbers slipped somewhat from previous campaigns, there is absolutely no reason to believe otherwise now that the season has concluded. Post-season struggles against the New York Yankees aside, the Twins are in an enviable position with Nathan closing out games.
In 2009, Nathan appeared in 70 games for the Twins. He was 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 68.2 innings pitched, and notched a team-record 47 saves in 52 opportunities. In those 68.2 innings, Nathan walked 22 batters and struck out 89. He allowed seven HRs during the season.
To put the numbers in perspective, Nathan's saves total were a career high. On the flip side, the seven homers allowed by Nathan were the most given up since his arrival in Minnesota in 2004. He also blew five saves in 2009, slightly below his career-high of six not converted in 2008. Although still excellent, his 2.10 ERA in 2009 was Nathan's highest since the 2.70 mark compiled in 2005. On a positive side, his strikeouts per nine innings average was 11.67 in 2009, his best since 2005, and opponents hit a mere .178 against Nathan.
Nathan's 47 saves ranked only behind Los Angeles's Brian Fuentes for the Major Leagues' best mark, but Nathan's ERA was nearly two runs better. Nathan's seven homers allowed were identical to New York's Mariano Rivera, and his five blown saves were better than fellow closers Brad Lidge, Francisco Rodriguez, Fuentes, and Jonathan Broxton. Why, then, are many Twins' observers suggesting the team explore trade options for the closer?
The trade market for closers is not exactly hopping this off-season. Some teams view closers as inter-changeable -- until they need a game closed out in crunchtime. The Philadelphia Phillies would love to have a more reliable closing option than the struggling Lidge. However, remember that Lidge was perfect in save opportunities in 2008 and they wouldn't have won the World Series without his efforts. Still, what would the Phillies be able to send the Twins' way in return for a 35-year-old closer?
Another point of consideration is whether the Twins have an internal option who is ready to step up to take over the role. There are few in-house candidates ready to step in immediately. The reverse psychology there is that Nathan had one save prior to his trade to Minnesota in 2004 and struggled mightily in spring training before performing magnificently once given the role. One just never knows how a pitcher will react to a situation unless he is put out there to perform.
Still, the Twins should be satisfied with Nathan's efforts in 2009. He was among the league's elite closers once again, and buckled-in after a particularly tough outing in early September to give the Twins valuable and reliable closing services down the stretch. There is no way the Twins make the playoffs without Nathan, period. Along with Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares, and Jon Rauch, Nathan give the Twins a solid back of the bullpen make-up heading into 2010.
The "trade Nathan" chorus needs to stop. Now.
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