Nathan downplays reunion with Giants
LOS ANGELES -- On Tuesday, when the San Francisco Giants visit the Metrodome, Twins closer Joe Nathan will see his old team for the first time since the November 2003 trade that brought him to Minnesota.
Is he nostalgic? No.
How about reflective? Not really.
Are there extra juices flowing? Nope.
"It's really just another series," Nathan said. "It'll be nice to see everyone again. I've been talking to the guys on the phone."
The acquisition that sent Nathan and two pitching prospects to the Twins for catcher A.J. Pierzynski proved to be one of the great coups of 2004 and another feather in the cap of Minnesota's renowned scouting department.
"We're very happy. He's very good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
While Pierzynski was released after last season, Nathan's career rocketed into another stratosphere. The right-hander went from a largely unheralded setup man in San Francisco to an All-Star in his first year as a closer.
"Things have changed, but I'm not doing anything different besides moving to an inning later in the game," the 30-year-old Nathan said, underplaying his rise. "I don't do much different than I did as a setup man there."
He has helped make the Twins' bullpen perhaps one of the most formidable in baseball. After he posted a 1.62 ERA and saved 44 games last season, Nathan became one of the most respected closers and earned a new two-year, $10-million contract extension.
Nathan has cemented his reputation this season with an American League-leading 18 saves and a 2.67 ERA in 28 games. In nearly one and a half seasons, he's blown just five of 67 save opportunities.
"I think he's fearless with what he does," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "He loves to be in there at the end of the game. That's what makes a good closer. Game on the line -- he loves that."
Maybe that's why Nathan has made working the ninth appear so effortless.
"That's a by-product of hard work and commitment," veteran pitcher and pregame throwing partner Terry Mulholland praised. "He's definitely a creature of habit. If I want to take a day off from playing catch ... I thought he was going to have an anxiety attack. He's very diligent about his preparation, which is a prerequisite for being consistent in the manner he's been consistent."
Ironically, the Giants could use Nathan's services as a closer right now. They've never had a consistent person for that role since All-Star Rob Nenn in 2002. Current closer Armando Benitez is on the 60-day disabled list with a torn hamstring.
"When you look back, there really was never a thought to put me in the closing-type role [with the Giants]," Nathan said. "Fortunately, I got to come over [here] and happened to fall into a spot that's worked out so great."
Although Nathan, a formerly oft-injured starting pitcher, had just one season as a strong setup man in 2003, Twins scouts thought his size, makeup and stuff would make him an ideal closer. When it appeared that Eddie Guardado would leave as a free agent, a deal was made.
Nathan earned the job in camp despite a lackluster Spring Training. His fastball, usually clocked in the mid 90s mph, was just in the mid 80s at first.
"We all went, 'Whoa,'" Gardenhire said. "But we also knew he was a notoriously slow starter. You just let him go. We had reports about him, his character and the way he threw the ball. We were just going to wait and see what we have."
By late summer, Nathan broke a club record after a run of 27 consecutive saves.
"Making the All-Star Game hasn't changed him one bit," Anderson said. "But I think it has given him confidence that he's one of the best around."
More than likely, Nathan will spend his time before the Giants games doing what he usually does. He's regularly at a clubhouse table, locked into a battle in the card game of cribbage with pitchers Matt Guerrier and Kyle Lohse or third baseman Michael Cuddyer.
And if he's called on for the ninth against San Francisco, he'll be locked into another kind of battle. But that's all it would be -- nothing more and nothing less.
"I don't need any more adrenaline than I usually have," Nathan said. "Hopefully, it's just another team and we can take care of business. As far as who we're playing, that's not the big picture right now. It'll be fun and definitely entertaining to see those guys. But we're still trying to win a series."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
Is he nostalgic? No.
How about reflective? Not really.
Are there extra juices flowing? Nope.
"It's really just another series," Nathan said. "It'll be nice to see everyone again. I've been talking to the guys on the phone."
The acquisition that sent Nathan and two pitching prospects to the Twins for catcher A.J. Pierzynski proved to be one of the great coups of 2004 and another feather in the cap of Minnesota's renowned scouting department.
"We're very happy. He's very good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
While Pierzynski was released after last season, Nathan's career rocketed into another stratosphere. The right-hander went from a largely unheralded setup man in San Francisco to an All-Star in his first year as a closer.
"Things have changed, but I'm not doing anything different besides moving to an inning later in the game," the 30-year-old Nathan said, underplaying his rise. "I don't do much different than I did as a setup man there."
He has helped make the Twins' bullpen perhaps one of the most formidable in baseball. After he posted a 1.62 ERA and saved 44 games last season, Nathan became one of the most respected closers and earned a new two-year, $10-million contract extension.
Nathan has cemented his reputation this season with an American League-leading 18 saves and a 2.67 ERA in 28 games. In nearly one and a half seasons, he's blown just five of 67 save opportunities.
"I think he's fearless with what he does," Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "He loves to be in there at the end of the game. That's what makes a good closer. Game on the line -- he loves that."
Maybe that's why Nathan has made working the ninth appear so effortless.
"That's a by-product of hard work and commitment," veteran pitcher and pregame throwing partner Terry Mulholland praised. "He's definitely a creature of habit. If I want to take a day off from playing catch ... I thought he was going to have an anxiety attack. He's very diligent about his preparation, which is a prerequisite for being consistent in the manner he's been consistent."
Ironically, the Giants could use Nathan's services as a closer right now. They've never had a consistent person for that role since All-Star Rob Nenn in 2002. Current closer Armando Benitez is on the 60-day disabled list with a torn hamstring.
"When you look back, there really was never a thought to put me in the closing-type role [with the Giants]," Nathan said. "Fortunately, I got to come over [here] and happened to fall into a spot that's worked out so great."
Although Nathan, a formerly oft-injured starting pitcher, had just one season as a strong setup man in 2003, Twins scouts thought his size, makeup and stuff would make him an ideal closer. When it appeared that Eddie Guardado would leave as a free agent, a deal was made.
Nathan earned the job in camp despite a lackluster Spring Training. His fastball, usually clocked in the mid 90s mph, was just in the mid 80s at first.
"We all went, 'Whoa,'" Gardenhire said. "But we also knew he was a notoriously slow starter. You just let him go. We had reports about him, his character and the way he threw the ball. We were just going to wait and see what we have."
By late summer, Nathan broke a club record after a run of 27 consecutive saves.
"Making the All-Star Game hasn't changed him one bit," Anderson said. "But I think it has given him confidence that he's one of the best around."
More than likely, Nathan will spend his time before the Giants games doing what he usually does. He's regularly at a clubhouse table, locked into a battle in the card game of cribbage with pitchers Matt Guerrier and Kyle Lohse or third baseman Michael Cuddyer.
And if he's called on for the ninth against San Francisco, he'll be locked into another kind of battle. But that's all it would be -- nothing more and nothing less.
"I don't need any more adrenaline than I usually have," Nathan said. "Hopefully, it's just another team and we can take care of business. As far as who we're playing, that's not the big picture right now. It'll be fun and definitely entertaining to see those guys. But we're still trying to win a series."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
