PHOENIX — Brad Ziegler is putting a lie to the notion that a closer has to throw the hard stuff. Ziegler may touch 87 mph on a good night, but outs are what matters, and Ziegler is among the best in getting his three per appearance.
Since becoming the Diamondbacks’ closer on May 21, Ziegler has converted all 21 save opportunities. Only nine major leaguers have more. The results defy the conventional wisdom.
“We talk about (closers) who can strike people out because you want to be able to bring him in with a man on third or man on second and third and strike the side out,” Arizona manager Chip Hale said.
“In reality, the closer usually goes in in a clean inning. Where ‘Zig’ is attractive, even when he gives up a hit or two hits, he is still one pitch away from getting two outs. We know he can get a ground ball. It’s a different type of guy. I don’t know in his own mind if he still believes he is a closer. Maybe that’s the key. He just goes in there and pitches his game, sinkers and getting balls on the ground.”
Ziegler is 0-1 with 23 saves and a career-low 1.49 ERA in 54 appearances this season. He is limiting hitter to a .162 batting average while getting three ground balls for every fly ball, one of the best ratios in the majors.
He has a $5.5 million team option for 2016, and even if he does not continue as a closer, his value to a bullpen is immense. Ziegler had 29 holds in 2014, another step in the continuing evolution that began when he was converted from an overhand thrower to a submariner by Oakland in 2004 after being released by Philadelphia the previous year.
His growth has included his ability to attack left-handed hitters. Submariners traditionally have a tougher time against lefties, who get a clear look at the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. Lefties hit .373 against Ziegler in 2011, when he split the season between Oakland and the Diamondbacks. That number was down to .183 last year and is at .180 this season. Righties have barely put the ball in play this season, hitting .146 against him.
“I wondered after they started seeing video on me what kind of adjustments would I have to make to keep pitching here, because that’s the biggest thing,” Ziegler said. “Once you get two or three years in, everybody has seen you, everybody has video on you. Can you still get guys out at that point? Even from year to year, I’ve still tried to continue to evolve and get new pitches and continue to execute the ones that I throw better.”