Phillies Closer Options, and Metallica?

The Philadelphia Phillies have a number of questions heading into Spring Training 2016, including who will fill the closer role at the back end of the  bullpen.

When new GM Matt Klentak traded away Ken Giles to the Houston Astros for a major package that included former #1 overall MLB Draft prospect pitcher Mark Appel, they traded their ‘Established Closer’ (trademark pending.)

Having a proven closer to lock down the end of a game is usually considered a luxury that a rebuilding team doesn’t need, because saves are expensive and there is little need in having money tied up in a closer. Giles was inexpensive, but that also helped place him at the very peak of his trade value. Having him spend another season in Philadelphia racking up Saves, getting a year older, and getting even more expensive, contract-wise would only have depleted that value.

However, with the trade, the team now lacks that lockdown, sure thing closer. There isn’t a proven commodity among the group assembled by Klentak and company to this point. But there are several options available for manager Pete Mackanin to sort through.

Some of these options have experience, having already spent a season or two closing out games. Others are interesting simply because of a skill set that appears to give them the ability to end games on a winning note. Let’s take a look at each of these options through a unique lens.

I’m a big Metallica fan. I love ’em. Ever since someone played “Enter Sandman” for me in summer camp, I’ve been drawn to everything about them – the sound, the way the songs just go on and on, everything about the band.

Of course, I also accept that some of their material isn’t up to Sandman levels. We could argue the merits of songs like “Where The Wild Things Are” and whether or not they belong in the catalog, but they are there nonetheless.

So, what I will do is look at the Phillies’ options for closer duties, and rank them according to a Metallica album – worst current option to best. Why? Well, it’s the middle of winter – do you have something better to do for the next few minutes? Plus, with each slide you get a song, so you can listen to some music if you like. Let’s call it a bonus.

To assist in this process, I’ll be using the current depth chart found on the team’s homepage, as well as several players who have been signed to minor league contracts.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: SAINT ANGER

Dalier Hinojosa – “St. Anger” (2003)

Hinojosa was just….there, in 2015. Yeah, he threw 23 innings of 0.78 ERA ball, but did you even remember he was on the team? Probably not. In fact, you’d probably like to forget that the team even used him, as it’s another subtle reminder of how bad things actually were for the Phillies last year.

That’s exactly what makes him comparable to “St. Anger“. I actually had to look that album up, because I knew that I was forgetting one of the band’s albums. Much like Hinojosa, it happened, we were there to witness it, then we just made it go away, so as to not remind us of the dark times.

And yet….

What if there was a bit more creative effort put into that album? What if there were some solos? Or the snare was turned on? Could it have been better?

If Hinojosa was actually deployed in whatever high leverage situations were available, would he have been better? We’ll likely never know. He’s just not cut out to be a closer. The stuff is average at best, and in a job that requires at least one plus pitch, Hinojosa just doesn’t have what it takes. Like this album in the Metallica catalogue.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: RELOAD

Ernesto Frieri – “Load” (1996)

Remember when “Load” came out? Everyone was excited on its arrival. “Hey! A new Metallica album! It’s gotta be awesome!”

Forget about them cutting their hair, that doesn’t matter to music. After their black album, most people just assumed that the next would be great because they had put out great music before.

Then you got deeper into listening to it. It just never felt right. Again, another album with some decent stuff, but just doesn’t feel like what it was billed to be.

That’s the feeling I get when I think of Frieri. Yes, he saved 37 games for the Angels in 2013. Sure, he had a K/9 near 13 that year, and was a really good setup man for San Diego prior to that.

But look at his xFIP’s. Never do they go below 3.30. He was pretty lucky to be racking up those numbers, but once his luck changed…poof. Closer job lost. He just never felt like a good enough closer. Sure he might produce a few good moments, but other than that, just another fungible reliever. Next.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

Edward Mujica/Michael Mariot/Chris Leroux – “…And Justice for All” (1988)

“One” is a classic. “Blackened“, “Dyer’s Eve” are both solid pieces of music. Name me another song off of the album. I’ll wait.

This group reminds me of this album because they could end up being solid pieces of a bullpen committee. Each has a strength that the Phillies team as currently constructed could use to its benefit.

However, taken as a whole, these pitchers are just not going to measure up to the other options. Don’t get me wrong, “Justice” is a good album. Go to a concert and if they play something from here, you’re going to enjoy it. These guys could be good relievers. Closer material? I just don’t see it.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: METALLICA BLACK ALBUM

Luis Garcia – “Metallica” (the black album) (1991)

The black album is overrated. There, I said it. Other than “Enter Sandman” (see intro of this piece for the video), this album is good, but not the great metal musical masterpiece that many think.

The reason people say it’s great is because it’s the one most people heard on the radio, and turned them on to Metallica in the first place. They heard Sandman over and over and thought, wow. What a great album! However, other than that, or “Sad But True“, there really isn’t a great song on there. Yes, most are good, but great? I beg to differ.

Luis Garcia is overrated. There, I said that too. Not overrated as a baseball player, but as a closer option. Yes, he can throw a baseball really, really hard, and his slider is rather good at creating swings and misses. But Garcia is not going to be a great option to close. Why?

Walk rate: 6.61, 8.36, 5.00. Those are Garcia’s BB/9 each year that he’s been in Philadelphia. Some think he’s great, others are not as enamored. I fall right in the middle. I just don’t think he’s a good option to close because of this volatility. You simply can’t have a guy in the ninth inning who might walk in a run.

As tantalizing as it might seem to give him a shot at that closer role, Garcia should continue as currently used – a good setup guy, who occasionally gets sent out and put into the ninth inning role based on specific circumstances.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: DEATH MAGNETIC

Elvis Araujo – “Death Magnetic” (2008)

Remember when the Phillies raised eyebrows and gave this player a major league contract, even though he had never pitched about Double A in his minor league career? Based on the reports, there was cautious optimism that he’d be a valuable asset to the bullpen.

That’s like Metallica’s eighth studio album. Many people were hoping, based on what the band was saying to the press, that it would be another classic. This was especially true after the twin disappointments of “Load” and “ReLoad“.

Boy, were they right – both the album and Araujo were really good.

Looking closely at Araujo’s season, he was actually just as good as his numbers (118 ERA+, 2.71 DRA) reveal. Is he the best option to close? Probably not. If you were to choose this album and use it for the right purpose (working out, running, etc.), you’ll get exactly what you need out of it.

In comparison, it’s nice to know that if Mackanin were to call on Araujo in a high leverage spot, chances are he and the team won’t be disappointed.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: KILL EM ALL

Andrew Bailey – “Kill ‘Em All” (1983)

Now, we get down to business. Metallica’s first album is considered to be a masterpiece of thrash metal by some experts and fans. Those who are more knowledgeable about this stuff than me consider it one of the best of its genre. If your parents listened, it’s likely that they would say it’s all over the place. Assuming, of course, that they aren’t thrash metal fans. It’s just a lot of loud noise.

Bailey’s career has been a little of the same. His early numbers suggested that greatness was ahead, and he certainly provided several great seasons, just as Metallica did in the 1980’s. Squint and you see a guy with the stuff to be a reliable closer. But the injuries he’s suffered have forced him to bounce around, with irregular results.

Just as Metallica has adjusted in their career, so to does Bailey need to adjust if he wants to get back to the earning power that comes with Save opportunities. He started out as a flamethrower relying on two pitches before last year, when he began to incorporate more into his arsenal.

Can he make a late career comeback, much as Metallica has in recent years? Getting back to his roots, as the band did, could be just what he needs to become a dominant closer again.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Jeanmar Gomez – “Ride the Lightning” (1984)

Gomez, a pitcher who we highlighted here at TBOH during the summer, was a revelation for the Phillies last year. Signed to a minor league deal, he opened the season with the team and became their most reliable reliever outside of Giles. He performed exactly as the team needed, whenever they needed it.

“Ride the Lightning” is just like that within the Metallica catalogue. It does a great job of being what it is – a metal album. The songs are all well-composed, and there really is a consistency to the album that fits nicely.

Still, it’s a better bridge than a standalone. It segues nicely from the thrash of the first album to the all-time classic that would follow. As one critic put it, and I’m paraphrasing, it was Metallica stretching itself to see if another great album was still in there, while still remaining true to its roots.

Gomez is the same thing. While he could probably get the job done as a closer, it’s best to let him act as he is – a guy who can fill a lot of other bullpen roles. Let someone else get the numbers and accolades. He’ll continue to do the dirty work of bridging that gap to the person eventually named the closer by Mackanin in late March.

Next: Phillies Pen Lacks Metal: MASTER OF PUPPETS

David Hernandez – “Master of Puppets” (1986)

Metallica’s third effort is by far their best. Each song hits exactly on the right note every time. Sure, there are some warts (“Disposable Heroes” is too long), but if you were to recommend a Metallica album to someone, this would have to be the one.

Much like that, if you had to name the pitcher from the currently available selections who fans would want to see trotting out in the ninth inning to start the season, Hernandez is probably the best option to close right away.

Prior to his going under the knife for elbow surgery, he had an above average fastball complemented by a slider that produced outs with regularity. He spent all last season getting himself back into pitching shape. Now that he is further removed from the surgery, the hope is that he’ll regain those lost ticks on his fastball and resume being a strong relief option.

Will he remain the closer all year? That depends on his health, and the competence and speed of development of some of the talented kids in the minors. But right now, he’s probably the best option that the team has to close.

There you have it. That’s how I feel the bullpen sets up at this moment. Will Hernandez actually close? Is there a hotshot rookie who seizes the job unexpectedly in Spring Training? Are these Metallica albums ranked as you think they should?

Next: Phils Sign Galvis