Anybody missing Valverde?
The naysayers got their licks in early in the baseball season. When the Arizona Diamondbacks traded All-Star closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in the offseason, fans and media alike were wondering who would take over the reins as the Bob Melvin’s closer. Would it be Tony Pena? Would it be newly acquired Chad Qualls? Or would it be Brandon Lyon? Lyon had experience as a fireman before, saving 9 games for the Red Sox in 2003, and 14 for Arizona in 2005. But people wondered, not only because he had a high ERA (6.44) in the time he closed for the Diamondbacks, but also because he had become such a reliable setup man for the 2007 division championship club. Lyon added fuel to the naysayers’ fire by blowing 2 of his first 3 save opportunities to start the season.
Now, the naysayers are few and far between. Lyon has been nearly automatic since his last blown save April 6th vs. the Rockies. Fifteen appearances, fifteen innings, zero runs. The Diamondbacks bullpen has shown signs of shakiness (9.69 ERA over last 5 games), but Lyon has been automatic. He’s 2nd, to San Francisco’s Brian Wilson in saves, with 11. (Side note: glad to see the former Beach Boy has resurrected his career as a late-inning specialist in the Bay Area. We were worried.) And his ERA has dipped to 2.00, among the leaders in the National League among closers, trailing only New York’s Billy Wagner (0.00), Brad Lidge (0.65) of Philadelphia and Dodgers’ closer Takashi Saito (1.65).
Meanwhile in Houston, Valverde hasn’t been awful. He has 10 saves and a 4.35 ERA, and maybe more interestingly a 4-1 record. Two of those wins came after Papa Grande blew save opportunities. And with all the hub-bub over Joba Chamberlain’s on-the-mound antics recently, we don’t need another demonstrative pitcher near Chase Field, although I do miss how Valverde would go to near-OCD level while tying his cleats before taking the mound.
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Posted by Vince Marotta
Vince has been part of the Phoenix Sports scene in a few different capacities. First as a fan, Vince has been yelling at his tv during Suns and ASU games since the late 1970's. Vince also saw the media side of things as a radio talk show host from 1996 to 2002, and then again in 2007.
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The real test Lyon comes when he can do what Jose did last September. You need to consider that it took Jose 2 weeks to get set in Houston….Since April 17th he has been perfect in save ops. and may be the best closr in the game the last month. Its easy to say the DBacks are not missing Jose now…..but wait until you need that perfect month. Without Jose in 2007….there was no NLCS…and about the fist pumping….ITS A NEW ERA!!!