The answer to the Giants Closer Curse: Full Circle

by Hac Man on Nov 11, 2006 2:07 AM PST

Or should I say, Circle Changeup:

Foulke bids Red Sox farewell, will try free agency

Ok, so this isn't really a curse, but since Robb Nen, the Giants have gone through:

Todd "My slider isn't sliding" Worrell

Matt "Witness Protection" Herges

Tyler "I throw hard enough to injure myself" Walker

Armando "Blownitez/Mando/Hands of Fate/Team Killer/Fat Bastard" Benitez

AJ "Dead Horse Beater" Pierzynski. Yes, I know he's not a closer.

and the current favorites:

Brian Wilson: See Tyler Walker. Then again, he's already had TJ surgery.
Mike Stanton: See Todd Worrell, from the getting old all of a sudden perspective.
Vinnie Chulk: See Todd Worrell, from the slider as out pitch perspective.
Tim Lincecum: You want to waste a prospective starter as a closer? What are you, a Red Sox fan?

What about bringing back Foulke, even though he didn't really pitch here? We should be able to get him without overpaying like we did for the last closer who Shall Not Be Named. (Oh wait, I did that above).

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Re: Full Circle

I wouldn't mind... for the right price. He hasn't been effective since '04. If he's looking for huge money, which he most likely is, forget it. I've had enough of oft injured closers with declining velocity. And Foulke doesn't have Benitez's (Benitez'z?) fastball.

I'd rather just try one of the kids. Give it to Wilson or Correia. Correia's got a nice change and slider to work off of the fastball. Hey, that changeup fooled Nomar enough to injure him. It's gotta be good. Whether he's got the nerves to handle it remains to be seen. The last thing I want to see are Hergesesque puppy dog eyes on the mound. I want Nen's cold emotionless serial killer stare. Oh, and an effective closer.

Looks like I picked the wrong year to stop sniffing glue.

by Punch Rockgroin on Nov 11, 2006 4:20 AM PST reply actions

Here's what I'm thinking...

If Correia doesn't find his way into the 5th starter role (which I wouldn't mind him doing with Hennessey moving to a short relief role or being traded for whatever he's worth) then stick him at closer. He's got some weird stuff. If he does become #5, then put Brian Wilson there.

I blame F.P. Santangelo, while F.P. somehow blames Kuiper.

by WalrusMan on Nov 11, 2006 10:52 PM PST up reply actions

The answer to the Giants Closer Curse: Full Circle

Meh.

I don't think this is the year to care about a closer. Brian Wilson probaby won't pan out, but it's worth giving him a shot in an "off" year (which is to say, '07 has little chance for success), hope for the best, have Stanton (or equivalent) and Correia as back up options, and then try to get a real closer next year when hopefully the market is better, we've jettisoned Benitez's contract, Wilson has failed, and the team is (presumably? hopefully?) good enough for a closr to matter.

Coming to you by proxy

by howtheyscored on Nov 11, 2006 8:05 AM PST reply actions

Re: The answer

Nen was, truthfully, the giants last real closer. That steely scowl and "effectively-wild" pitching style were marks of a true 9th inning warrior. I used to love being able to predict his pitch pattern:
Fast-ball down the middle at 98
Fast-ball outside corner at 96 - strike 2
Fast-ball under the chin at 97 - ball 1 and batter in the dust
Slider on the outside corner at 93 - later.

"I don't have any regrets about anything I did at any time. I may regret some pitches...but as for pitching, I'd have done things the same way now." -Rob Nen '0

by Hayes on Nov 11, 2006 8:29 PM PST reply actions