Mark Lowe suffered through 101 losses with the Seattle Mariners, then began his offseason by watching the Tampa Bay Rays reach the World Series.Here are some of the others who may be up for the job...
"All I could think was, 'That could be us,'" Lowe said.
Then he saw Phillies closer Brad Lidge get the final out of the Series and said to himself, "I hope to God that one day, that's going to be me."
It just might be in 2009.
The Seattle Mariners don't have a closer, having traded J.J. Putz* to the New York Mets early this month, and Lowe badly wants to win that job.
Brandon Morrow saved 10 games this year when Putz was hurt, but that's before he was converted into a starter who went into the offseason considered to be an important part of the 2009 rotation. Moving him back to the bullpen may solve one problem, but it could create another by weakening the rotation. Morrow has told the Mariners he prefers to start, but will pitch wherever the team needs him.Trust me. He's got that crazy side. Lowe got to pick the movies to watch on the bus during a road trip in 2005.
Miguel Batista, who has lost his place in the Mariners' rotation, has plenty of closing experience with 38 career saves. But he's coming off an injury-filled season when he went 4-14 with a 6.26 ERA and, at age 38 when next season begins, some wonder if the years have caught up with him.
Aaron Heilman, acquired from the Mets in the Putz trade, saved three games last year but went 3-8 and 5.21, his worst numbers since he became a big-league regular.
Then there's Lowe.
...
"I feel I am ready, physically and mentally," he said. "A closer has to be a little bit crazy and I've got that crazy side of me. I like to have a good time, but when it comes time to get the job done at the end of the game, I'm ready to flip that switch on and get going."
He selected Joy Ride and You Got Served. He never picked movies again.
*-For those who are just joining us, JJ Putz was in the Timber Rattler starting rotation during the 2000 season.
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