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Guides' Bullpen Crew Looks to Finish
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_3516.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">DALLAS, TX — All year long, the Maines Guides' cadre of relief pitchers shrugged off skepticism about their ages.
"We heard we're too old," said 39 year old closer Edgar Salazar.
"They said we were washed up," added 36 year old setup man B.J. Leary. "It pissed us off."
Indeed, the Maine bullpen did lag behind in the first half of the season, struggling to live up to expectations set by their league-leading performance last season.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_1623.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Leary, who joined the club two years ago in a July trade from Philadelphia, started the season as the closer. He saved 38 games for the Guides in 2010.
However, Leary had trouble shutting the door out of the gate, blowing seven save opportunities in April and May, at which point Maine handed the closer duties back to Salazar, who held the title prior to Leary's 2009 arrival.
Upon that change, the bullpen morphed back into The Crew, as the relievers have taken to calling themselves.
Salazar converted 29 of his 31 save opportunities. Leary returned to his dominance of past seasons, wrapping up the regular season with seven consecutive scoreless appearances.
"The Crew" came about last year, reportedly after a clubhouse comment from veteran infielder Dusty Simmons. Though Simmons played only a part of last season with Maine and didn't return for the 2011 campaign, the nickname stuck.
The pitchers embraced it, hanging a banner on the home bullpen wall at Old Port Park emblazoned with "The Crew" and a skull and crossbones with the team logo.
Reports of a secret handshake linger.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_8684.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Meanwhile, the mid-season addition of Jon Vejar from last-place Toronto helped the cause. The 35 year old right-hander fit right in with the bullpen veterans. He recorded a 2.54 ERA after joining Maine.
"It's a relief — no pun intended — to get to play postseason baseball," said Vejar. "I've only had one trip to the playoffs before and I didn't expect to have this opportunity this year."
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_2813.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Angelo Gonzales, who turns 40 years old in December, perhaps surprised the most this season. The former All-Star signed with Maine for the 2010 season but made only seven appearances for the club in between suffering major shoulder injuries. Relentless in his rehab, he returned this season.
Since struggling early, particularly against left-handed hitters, Gonzales has found success in a new role as a right-handed specialist. He has hurled 20 consecutive scoreless outings dating back to August 18th. He's allowed only one hit in his last 11 appearances.
29 year old Jarrod Davidson is the amicable child of the group. Though he hasn't pitched as well in 2011 as in his previous two seasons with Maine, the veterans credit his youthful energy with holding The Crew together.
The left-handers Zach Wallace and Geoff Ohlinger, the latter a holdover from last year, complete The Crew.
This postseason takes on a special atmosphere for the group, as only Davidson has a contract in place for next season. The pitchers have avoided public questions about their future but privately don't expect to return for 2012.
The Crew adds one new member for October — Tyler Garner, who pitched brilliantly as a starter this season.
When asked what The Crew would do to make Garner feel welcome, Leary went stone-faced and said, "That's Crew business." He didn't elaborate.
Dallas awaits The Crew. Their run continues as Gonzales and Salazar combined for three shutout innings on Tuesday to bring down the curtains on Pittsburgh's season.
"Oh, we're not done yet," said Salazar. "We want to finish this thing."
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_3516.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">DALLAS, TX — All year long, the Maines Guides' cadre of relief pitchers shrugged off skepticism about their ages.
"We heard we're too old," said 39 year old closer Edgar Salazar.
"They said we were washed up," added 36 year old setup man B.J. Leary. "It pissed us off."
Indeed, the Maine bullpen did lag behind in the first half of the season, struggling to live up to expectations set by their league-leading performance last season.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_1623.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Leary, who joined the club two years ago in a July trade from Philadelphia, started the season as the closer. He saved 38 games for the Guides in 2010.
However, Leary had trouble shutting the door out of the gate, blowing seven save opportunities in April and May, at which point Maine handed the closer duties back to Salazar, who held the title prior to Leary's 2009 arrival.
Upon that change, the bullpen morphed back into The Crew, as the relievers have taken to calling themselves.
Salazar converted 29 of his 31 save opportunities. Leary returned to his dominance of past seasons, wrapping up the regular season with seven consecutive scoreless appearances.
"The Crew" came about last year, reportedly after a clubhouse comment from veteran infielder Dusty Simmons. Though Simmons played only a part of last season with Maine and didn't return for the 2011 campaign, the nickname stuck.
The pitchers embraced it, hanging a banner on the home bullpen wall at Old Port Park emblazoned with "The Crew" and a skull and crossbones with the team logo.
Reports of a secret handshake linger.
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_8684.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Meanwhile, the mid-season addition of Jon Vejar from last-place Toronto helped the cause. The 35 year old right-hander fit right in with the bullpen veterans. He recorded a 2.54 ERA after joining Maine.
"It's a relief — no pun intended — to get to play postseason baseball," said Vejar. "I've only had one trip to the playoffs before and I didn't expect to have this opportunity this year."
<img src="http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/news/html/images/person_pictures/player_2813.png" style="float:right;padding:23px;">Angelo Gonzales, who turns 40 years old in December, perhaps surprised the most this season. The former All-Star signed with Maine for the 2010 season but made only seven appearances for the club in between suffering major shoulder injuries. Relentless in his rehab, he returned this season.
Since struggling early, particularly against left-handed hitters, Gonzales has found success in a new role as a right-handed specialist. He has hurled 20 consecutive scoreless outings dating back to August 18th. He's allowed only one hit in his last 11 appearances.
29 year old Jarrod Davidson is the amicable child of the group. Though he hasn't pitched as well in 2011 as in his previous two seasons with Maine, the veterans credit his youthful energy with holding The Crew together.
The left-handers Zach Wallace and Geoff Ohlinger, the latter a holdover from last year, complete The Crew.
This postseason takes on a special atmosphere for the group, as only Davidson has a contract in place for next season. The pitchers have avoided public questions about their future but privately don't expect to return for 2012.
The Crew adds one new member for October — Tyler Garner, who pitched brilliantly as a starter this season.
When asked what The Crew would do to make Garner feel welcome, Leary went stone-faced and said, "That's Crew business." He didn't elaborate.
Dallas awaits The Crew. Their run continues as Gonzales and Salazar combined for three shutout innings on Tuesday to bring down the curtains on Pittsburgh's season.
"Oh, we're not done yet," said Salazar. "We want to finish this thing."
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