Melancon’s slow start evolves into record-breaking season
Hard to believe now but there was a time in April when a certain segment of fans and media were calling for the Pirates to change closers.
That was back on April 21 when Mark Melancon blew a save against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. It marked the second in eight days he had allowed three runs in one inning, raising his ERA to 7.53 through his first seven appearances of the season.
Manager Clint Hurdle firmly backed Melancon, though, and shrugged off the fact that the velocity on his devastating cut fastball was rarely even touching 90 mph.
Sticking with Melancon might have been the best decision Hurdle has made during a season in which the Pirates figure to reach the postseason for a third consecutive year.
Melancon set the single-season franchise record for saves when he notched his 47th on Saturday night against the Dodgers at Los Angeles, surpassing the mark set by Mike Williams in 2002.
Going into Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies at Denver, Melancon had converted 48 of 50 save opportunities while compiling a 1.91 ERA in 72 games.
However, Melancon is not gloating about the record or turning the early-season boos into raucous cheers when he enters games at PNC Park with AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blaring over the sound system.
Unlike many closers who have either big personalities or certain quirks, the soft-spoken Melancon is just a normal guy who doesn’t count his saves or seek attention.
“It’s really a team thing,” Melancon said of the record. “You can’t have as many saves as I do without pitching for a team that wins a lot of games and has a lot of leads to protect.”
There is logic to that argument but there is no arguing with the statistics Melancon has compiled during his three seasons with the Pirates since begin acquired Dec. 26, 2012, from Boston in a six-player trade that sent closer Joel Hanrahan to the Red Sox.
Melancon had converted 97 of 108 saves with a 1.74 ERA in 216 games — 72 in each of the three seasons — and 212 2/3 innings. That is the best ERA in Pirates’ history among pitchers with a minimum of 200 innings.
“I think if Mark played in a bigger market or threw harder, then everybody would know who he is,” Hurdle said. “It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves but we know exactly what we have in him and we’re very happy to have him closing games for us.”