It’s only spring but Santa Claus flew over Wrigley Field on Thursday and dropped the Cubs the ultimate gift: a potential ninth-inning reliever, the most valuable property in today’s game, more important than a 20-game winner or a consistent No. 4 hitter.
Parachuting to the mound was, of all people, the eccentric Turk Wendell. No stranger he, Wendell has been bouncing around the Cubs organization for five years, a player of seemingly middling ability known mostly for his odd manner. He brushed his teeth between innings, bunny-hopped over the foul lines and, on the days he pitched, supplied his teammates with licorice.
“He’s a little off-center,” observed Cubs coach Billy Williams. “The ideal personality for a closer.”
Whatever, the Cubs were trying to protect a one-run eighth-inning lead when he came to the rescue. The Giants had the tying run in scoring position with one out. A crunch situation. No problem. Wendell took the ball from manager Jim Riggleman and retired the last five Giants, three of them on strikes.
It was a performance usually achieved only by the major leagues’ best relievers and the opinion here is that if Wendell can do it once he can do it again. And again.
As could be expected, it also prompted speculation Wendell could be worthy of supplanting Doug Jones as the club’s closer.
It’s too early to suggest Jones–with his 240 career saves–needs a replacement. Riggleman appears to share this view and when discussing his bullpen Friday, began the dialogue with, “I’m staying away from the word `closer,’ but Turk has the ideal makeup to pitch in any role. He just loves to pitch.”
Riggleman was merely warming up. He threw several more posies at his bullpen, which has been good, and concluded with more nice words about Wendell.
“I don’t know if Turk feels any better if he gets them out in the sixth inning or in the ninth inning,” Riggleman said.
Here’s news for Riggleman. Three outs in a sixth-inning, hold-’em situation provides considerable satisfaction. But three outs in the ninth is euphoria. Only 12 to 15 pitches is required for the closer to be a hero.
Wendell, in his ninth professional season, conceded Thursday was his best day in baseball. Asked if he would like to be a regular closer, he replied, “Sure, who wouldn’t?”
Previously, Wendell had been used as an emergency starter and in long relief. He also has been a specialist at swabbing up lost causes, an assignment usually filled by a spear carrier. He appeared in 43 game last season, finishing with a 4-4 record and a 5.83 earned-run average.
Wendell since has become one of the most improved pitchers in the league. Nobody can predict how long it will last. But he has a 1.73 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings. The opposition is hitting .159 against him.
It is still early, only three weeks into the season, for profound observations. But looking ahead it would seem he has the physical and mental potential to develop into a multimillion-dollar closer.
“You have to remember closers are different from the other pitchers,” said Williams. “The starters have to think more. Relievers have to have a cold-water mentality. Nothing can bother them. They don’t even care who’s hitting. Everybody’s the same.”
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The prevailing belief is the star relievers have a frigid interior, but this isn’t necessarily so.
Rod Beck, the Giants’ bullpen star who has saved 109 games in the last three seasons, agrees Wendell appears to have the makings but is withholding judgment.
“The test is going to come when he blows a save,” he said. “Or two or three in a row. What happens then? Will be able to come back? It’s easy when a guy is going good. It’s agony when you’re struggling.
“Your team goes out there and battles for eight innings and you come in and give it up. You have wasted the whole ballgame; you have let down 25 guys. And there is nothing you can do about it. Except you can try to do better tomorrow.”
Beck had 33 saves last season but insists it was a bad year because he blew five straight save opportunities.
“The first couple were bad enough,” he explained. “But when it gets to four and five it becomes a mental problem. You question yourself. `What am I doing wrong? You’re doing this wrong. No, it isn’t that. It’s something else.’ You get hysterical. And the only way out is to keep pitching.”
Obviously, the closer’s repertoire, as Wendell is certain to discover, must include a short memory.