MLB: Ranking the Top 10 Closers in Baseball Right Now
By zacklosel
# 7 – J.J Putz – Arizona Diamondbacks.
Age: 36
2012 Stats: 2.82 ERA / 65 K’s / 32 Saves / 1.03 WHIP / 54.1 IP.
Career Stats: 3.04 ERA / 547 K’s / 183 Saves / 1.13 WHIP / 518.2 IP.
Career K/9: 9.49.
Career K/BB: 3.40.
Sep. 28, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher J.J. Putz (40) pitches during the game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
One of the most underrated closers in the game, Putz has been one of the most effective there is when given the opportunity to close.
Spending the first half of his career in Seattle, it took him and the team the latter part of his tenure with the Mariners to realize what they had in Putz, saving seventy six games between the 2006 and 2007 seasons. But after a disappointing 2008 campaign, the team set him free to roam with the Mets and then White Sox, where he spent two seasons of relative obscurity, acting as a long reliever/setup man.
He’s only recorded ninety seven saves over last five seasons — but to be fair, two of those five seasons were spent on two different teams and he rarely got an opportunity to close while in New York and Chicago.
As one of the best closers in the game, he should continue to be dominant in the National League West, a much easier task than, say, its counterpart in the American League.