Last night I was fortunate enough to witness a significant moment in sports history firsthand.
For the last two years, we’ve bought a 9-pack of Brewers tickets. Last night’s game against the Cardinals was our eighth of the season, but unfortunately Amber wasn’t able to go. She had to leave early this morning on a trip for work and decided it would be best not to be up past midnight the night before. Instead, I invited a friend. I now feel very guilty that I helped convince her not to go to the game.
The game itself was pretty crazy, and the craziness doesn’t even include the best part. The Brewers scored two runs early, and the Cardinals managed two runs in the fourth on four straight hits. Other than that, Chris Narveson had a strong start and pitched seven complete innings, giving up just the two runs. Along the way, four people were ejected from the game: the Brewers manager for arguing an interference call that negated a run, the Cardinals pitching coach for arguing balls and strikes, the Brewers center fielder for slamming down his bat and helmet after a called third strike, and a fan sitting behind home plate near the Brewers dugout heckling the Cardinals catcher. On top of that, there were at least two calls reversed during the course of the game which almost never happens. All of this brings us to the eighth inning with the Brewers leading 4-2. The bullpen went to work with the first reliever getting the first man out but then walking the second. To understand the significance of the game from here, you need a little background.
Trevor Hoffman is the all time leader in saves. He spent most of his career as the closer for the San Diego Padres, but about two years ago it became clear that they would not resign him. Instead, he agreed to a two-year deal with the Brewers. Hoffman is a bit of a finesse pitcher with a fastball in the mid-80s who relies on good location and the reduced speed of his changeup to keep hitters off balance. He was fantastic last season for the Brewers, playing in the All Star game, recording 37 saves in 41 opportunities with an ERA under 2.0. He was pretty much unstoppable. The 2010 season started out complete opposite his 2009 showing. He struggled right out of the gate, blowing 5 of his first 10 save opportunities and giving up more earned runs and more home runs than he did in all of 2009. Despite having 595 saves, more than anyone (ever), he was pulled from the closer’s role.
After a few games, a new closer began to emerge in rookie John Axford. In contrast to Hoffman, Axford is a power pitcher throwing a mid-90s fastball and a big overhand curve. He’d never closed a game before (at any level), but after a few chances it seemed he had a knack for it. Since he took over the majority of the closing duties, he has a 7-1 record with a 2.34 ERA, has recorded 20 saves in 22 opportunities, and has 62 strikes in 50 innings pitched.
While Axford was racking up saves, Trevor Hoffman got some stuff worked out and starting putting together some excellent performances as well. He reduced his ERA from something over 13 back into the single digits (now cut by more than 50%), no small feat for a reliever who usually pitches just one inning at a time. Now the Brewers had a dilemma. Everyone wanted to see Hoffman get the opportunities he would need to reach the milestone of 600 saves (he only needed 5 more) and he had proven he could still be effective. But how could they allow him to close games over Axford who was doing such a bang up job? Rather than making a tough decision, I think they did an admirable thing and opted for a middle of the road approach. Axford would get his shots when the game was tight and Hoffman would come in when the Brewers had a more comfortable three run lead. After almost three months sitting at 595, the banner showing Hoffman’s save total finally started creeping upward again.
That brings us back to last night’s game. There was one out with a man on first in the top of the eighth inning, Brewers leading 4-2, when John Axford entered the game. Keep in mind that he as several multi-inning saves this year. When we arrived at the game, I couldn’t help but notice that Hoffman’s banner sat at 599; it’s about 20 feet tall in left center field so it was hard to miss. I had a fleeting thought that it would be pretty cool to witness his 600th save, but once Axford entered the game, I figured there was no chance it would happen. The Ax-Man would record the last five outs and he’d have save number 21. Axford did strike out two batters to end the top of the eighth inning, but then something awesome happened.
Trevor Hoffman started to get loose in the bullpen. The crowd noticed and started cheering. I decided I shouldn’t get too excited yet because bullpen pitchers often start warming up without ever coming into a game. The Brewers didn’t do much in the bottom of the eighth, so it didn’t take long to find out what which pitcher would head to the mound for the top of the ninth. I saw Hoffman start walking toward the bullpen gate and I knew it was Trevor Time. Hells Bells. The fans left in the stands (almost all Brewers fans by now) went absolutely nuts. The buzz was quelled quickly when the first batter singled, but the runner was quickly wiped out by a double play and the excitement grew once again. The last pinch hitter worked into a full count before he grounded out to short.
Then the celebration started. The Brewers all stormed the field and mobbed Hoffman in congratulations. Fireworks. Banner rolled from 599 to 600. Trevor’s wife and three sons came out to congratulate him. The Brewers manager came back out of the clubhouse to congratulate him (remember he had been ejected early in the game). We stayed for a little while, but didn’t want to linger too long with a big drive ahead of us.
600 career saves. Not only is this a huge milestone, there is a very real possibility that no one else will ever reach that number, at least not for a long time. The closer with the second most saves ever is Mariano Rivera with the Yankees; he has 555. He’s 40 years old. Even if Rivera stays healthy, continues to be effective, and does pass Hoffman in the next year or two, he was the first to 600 saves. No one will forget that.
600. And I was there to see it.
