Nathan who?

[SkunkedAgain]

...but I want to see him work out of a jam or two that he has pitched himself into. It will happen eventually. Can he keep his composure and get a needed K or pop out, double play, etc.

Well it happened last night. I took a deep breath when he gave up the run in the 9th, but he settled down and closed out the game to get the save. Nobody here is declaring him the savior, but more pointing out that the folks who said that we didn't have a closer were wrong. This guy can do it, still has much to prove, but is on the right course to be a capable closer for the Twins.

[PierBridge]

We don't have a real proven closer as of yet and we weren't wrong!

I don't call having a guy who has a 70 percent success rate as closer versus one of the 2 best closers in the game a good thing. Of course that's just from a basic math perspective. I hope he works out and with the added run support we should have it may not hurt too much!

As far as closers being over-rated. I can find an article that says water and food are overrated. It's not that hard to the answer you want in print in these days of the internet boo-finery we live in!

Then again I thought Pavano should have pitched ALL 10 innings last night anyway.. Darn that Gardy and the rest of the MLB managers..

[mrklean]

a run now and again is ok he got rid of the nerves and got the save wait till he blows one it will be like the delmon thread in here

[DTro]

Well the answer is somewhere in the middle. The ship is not sinking, and a good closer is important to win.

Don’t you think though that a good closer is an direct result of a good team? If you team in consistently walking out a pitcher with a 2 run lead into the ninth, that closer has a better chance at having good numbers?

Is a good record a result of a good closer, or vice versa?

A closer is nothing more than a really good relief pitcher. The stigma of a mentally superior person with a bit of edginess and intimidation is a product of the media. Find any guy that can constantly throw a 95mph fastball over the plate and you have a good “closer”.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Think that they have told Rauch..

"We were shirts and sleeves in this league son!'

and when the new teammates asked him where he used to play

"California Penal league" would not be a stretch by just looking at the guy.

[PierBridge]

Well the answer is somewhere in the middle. The ship is not sinking, and a good closer is important to win.

Don’t you think though that a good closer is an direct result of a good team? If you team in consistently walking out a pitcher with a 2 run lead into the ninth, that closer has a better chance at having good numbers?

Is a good record a result of a good closer, or vice versa?

A closer is nothing more than a really good relief pitcher. The stigma of a mentally superior person with a bit of edginess and intimidation is a product of the media. Find any guy that can constantly throw a 95mph fastball over the plate and you have a good “closer”.

That I can live with..

[PikeBayCommanche]

Rauch will be just fine this season. Has some good stuff.

[cbrooks]

Five for five saves so far. The Twins have always manage to find a solid closer.

[PierBridge]

Five for five saves so far. The Twins have always manage to find a solid closer.

Speaking of Five!... Hi Five! DOH!

[DonBo]

Ha Ha, look at Punto-he can't even reach high enough for the high-five. Rauch and the Twins are off to an awesome start.

Heard Rauch gave the game ball to Nathan after the game. Said "You're still the closer." Pretty classy...

[DTro]

That's an awesome picture!

[PierBridge]

That's an awesome picture!

And SO far you you're right about closers be over rated! But I ain't given up just yet..

[Mudcutter]

as far as closers being relavant in the game--- why is the AL dominant in head-to-head agst the NL in the last 10-12 years??? I'd say this,, Rivera,Paplebon,Nathan,Jenks,K-Rod(until last year), Soria, on and on-- the AL has had the dominate closers for years,, not #s, Hoffman gets cand$$$ saves etc,,, but just pressure packed success guys,,,, and see the All-Star Game also for further proof.

AL TEAMS need a closer worth the salt to come into a dicey situation in the BRONX or Beantown and shush the crowd with an out or better a K. IN my mind,, the HAmmer of GOD #42 of the Yanks deserves alot of respect for the success of the Yanks past Titles. Game goes to the 9th with Yanks leading = game over.-- see NL for many failures.

[JBMasterAngler]

Honestly if I never seen nathan in a twins uniform again, I'll be a happy man! We have some good players we'll need to resign in the next couple years, nathan is just taking up payroll and a roster spot. He's damaged goods, and don't think he'll have anything to offer after his rehab. As good as rauch is doing now, I don't think he's the long term answer, but he'll do for this year.

[B420]

Even if he doesn't do as good as Nathan at least I don't have watch the twitching and lip flubbering in between every pitch!

[SledNeck]

would have been better if we didnt have to pay nathan for this year

[blue_healer_guy]

alot of people here are short changing what Nathan has done for us over the years. If you want to be hard on somebody, lets start a anti PUNTO thread!

[JBMasterAngler]

Sure nathan did alot for us over the years...but all I can seem to remember is all the losses to the yankees that were about 90% his fault.

[pegleg]

would have been better if we didnt have to pay nathan for this year

I believe the Twins are getting about $6 million from insurance to help offset Nathan's salary this year (he makes $11 or $12 million this year). I read that some where after Nathan had the surgery.

[pikestabber]

Man, I knew Rauch was a big ol' boy, but this picture is ridiculous! Punto, granted, but he dwarfs Morneau and company, too! Look at Hudson and Hardy...they look scared to high five him! ("You go first..." "No, you go!")

[greebs]

punto missed that high five by about the same distance his swings miss the ball when he's trying to bat.

[SledNeck]

If I was Gardy, Harris would play everyday

[mr_jman]

LOL - I love that picture! Rauch doesn't need to HIGH five anybody! I think Harris should get a little more playing time and hopefully throughout the year he gets his chances. Punto had a nice day today and made some nice plays of Defense and racked up some hits.

[mnwild]

alot of people here are short changing what Nathan has done for us over the years. If you want to be hard on somebody, lets start a anti PUNTO thread!

Nathan gave everything he had when he stepped on the mound in the 9th inning and it will be missed, he was a TRUE CLOSER. If you want to be hard on someone be hard on Gardy, in my mind if they dont get to the ALCS or farther this year the Pohlads better show him the door. His track record in the playoff's are pathetic. And yes Punto is another subject, thank the Twins for him having a job, bring Valencia up and get rid of him.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Originally Posted By: mjgrose

alot of people here are short changing what Nathan has done for us over the years. If you want to be hard on somebody, lets start a anti PUNTO thread!

Nathan gave everything he had when he stepped on the mound in the 9th inning and it will be missed, he was a TRUE CLOSER. If you want to be hard on someone be hard on Gardy, in my mind if they dont get to the ALCS or farther this year the Pohlads better show him the door. His track record in the playoff's are pathetic. And yes Punto is another subject, thank the Twins for him having a job, bring Valencia up and get rid of him.

Fire Gardy? Not. Considering some of the hard luck he has had with drawing the Yanks in the first round.

On the other hand how about Rauch? Nice save again.