AL Central Closers Love the Tigers

by Ian Casselberry on Feb 19, 2009 8:30 PM EST in Detroit Tigers News

John Lowe had some sobering information in today's Detroit Free Press. In case you didn't see it, he wrote about the success closers in the AL Central have had against the Tigers. How successful have they been?

Joe Nathan of the Twins has converted all 26 of his save chances against the Tigers.

Bobby Jenks of the White Sox has converted 20 of 21 save chances against the Tigers.

Joakim Soria of the Royals has converted four of five chances against the Tigers.

That's a 96% save percentage, people. How do you like them apples?

Maybe Lowe's provided something of a public service here. If you see Nathan, Jenks, or Soria take the mound versus Detroit in the ninth inning, you can probably turn the TV off at home or get a head start on traffic leaving the ballpark. Or maybe this knowledge just makes victory that much sweeter if it were ever to occur against these pitchers.

We saw some evidence of this last season - against the Twins, at least. When the Tigers managed to win, they got Minnesota's starter out of the game in the sixth or seventh inning with the game close or tied. Then Detroit could feast on soft middle relief before the game could be turned over to Nathan in the ninth. They might have to take the same approach this year.

Now, if only the Tigers' bullpen could have a similar influence on games against AL Central opponents...

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Comments

What is the point exactly?

So, 3 of the best closers in baseball are good at closing games. Not exactly splitting the atom on this one.

I suppose it’s unfortunate that they all happen to be in in the AL Central but I think this says far more about the pitchers than it does about The Tigers.

Nathan also has 30 saves agains the Royals, 21 saves against the Indians and 17 saves agains the White Sox. The guy is 200 for 241 in career save situations. Joe Nathan is simply good at baseball and for $11M this is what you would hope a guy would do. Jenks and Soria are similarly awesome against other ALC teams.

So yeah, the moral of the story is don’t go into the 9th inning training a team with an awesome closer. This lesson applies to all teams, not just Detroit.

by MacRae on Feb 19, 2009 9:33 PM EST reply actions