Relief Pitchers Are Baseball’s Unsung Heroes
When it comes to pitchers, you’ve got guys who want to start and guys who want to close. Nobody wants to be in the middle. All the glory and the big money contracts go for the guys who start or finish the games. For the guys in between, the best they can do is serve as a bridge.
The middle reliever is the offensive lineman of baseball. He makes everybody else look good, but rarely, if ever, receives any credit. He preserves the win for the starter and provides the save chance for the closer.
Sure, they keep track of holds now, but that’s not exactly the first thing you look for when browsing the back of someone’s baseball card. And yes, every once in awhile the middle guys keep their team in the game and earn a win, but they don’t really get the credit.
The Seattle Mariners’ 3-1 season-opening win over the Oakland Athletics is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Starter Felix Hernandez pitched a great game, but was taken out with the score tied. Middle reliever Tom Wilhelmsen pitched two perfect innings to get the win, but all anyone wanted to talk about was how it was too bad the Mariners lineup couldn’t score runs earlier to get King Felix his first “W” of the season. It’s almost like Wilhelmsen stole Hernandez’s win.
Relievers are a volatile bunch. The top guys fluctuate year-to-year, which is why for so long middle relievers were mercenaries always working on one-year deals. Last offseason, that trend was broken when several middle relief guys gut three-year deals. That could mean it won’t be too long before middle relievers are properly valued.
I just wanted to take a moment to shine some light on a handful of baseball’s best middle men.
Eric O’Flaherty, Atlanta Braves
I wanted to start out this list with O’Flaherty for two reasons: 1) He had the best ERA of any pitcher to throw 60 innings or more last year (0.98), and 2) He’s out-shined by his teammates. Craig Kimbrel was the most dominant closer in baseball, and won the National League Rookie of the Year while leading the league with 46 saves. Setup man Jonny Venters was every bit as good as Kimbrell, posting a 1.84 ERA over a league-high 85 appearances.
As a left-hander, O’Flaherty likely has a long career ahead of him, especially now that he’s got that impressive 2011 season on his resume. The 27-year-old played with the Seattle over the first three years of his career, but struggled pitching for his home state team, posting a 5.91 ERA. The past three seasons in Atlanta, O’Flaherty has a 2.02 ERA.
Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants
The setup man and beard brother of closer Brian Wilson, Romo had the highest strikeout-to-walk rate (14.0) and WHIP (0.71) of any pitcher to throw more than 30 innings. He gained some notoriety during the Giants’ 2010 World Series run, and has a 2.33 career ERA over four seasons, including a 1.50 mark last year.
Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals
One of the most overused relievers in the game, Clippard led all of baseball with 38 holds in 2011. He has pitched 179.1 innings over the past two seasons, a major league high for relievers. Nats closer Drew Storen will start he year on the disabled list, but Clippard is going to stay in the eight-inning role.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
Other relievers may be more efficient, but Jansen was the most overpowering pitcher in the game last season. He struck out a league-leading 16.1 hitters per nine innings pitched. He also had a 2.85 ERA over 53.2 innings. The Dodgers are going with Javy Guerra as their closer, but Jansen is waiting in the wings.
David Robertson, New York Yankees
It’s tough to be considered underrated or overlooked when you play for the Yankees, but I had to give a tip of the cap to Robertson here. He was so good, he made the All-Star team, finished 11th in Cy Young voting and even got an MVP vote. He finished the season with a 1.08 ERA and struck out 100 batters in 66.2 innings.
FEATURED PARTNERS
- 20 Photos Of Justin Bieber Getting Slimed
- April Fool's Prank Watch, 2012
- 5 Ways To Tell If You're A Time Lord
- Former NBA Star Antoine Walker -- Free and Clear in Bankruptcy Case
- Stephon Marbury Loses L.A. Home at Foreclosure Auction
- Dennis Rodman Makes It RAIN in Vegas -- Who's Broke NOW?!?! [VIDEO]
- Bro or Not Bro: Dad of the Year Makes Epic Facebook Comment About UC Davis Women’s Volleyball Team
- Finally, the Inevitable Mash-Up of ‘Levels’ and ‘Call Me Maybe’ You’ve Been Waiting For
- Charlize Theron Has a Sex Tape