RSL Poll: Greatest Sox Closer
The Guru
Contributing Writer
Red Sox closer Koji Uehara literally has been unhittable for the Red Sox. The closer has retired 34 consecutive batters, the longest run of perfection by a Sox pitcher all-time. Uehara has not allowed a hit since Aug. 17.
As the Boston Herald reported Wednesday, when Sox manager John Farrell was asked if he'd seen a run like the one Koji is on he said, "Not firsthand, anyway. To be in the same uniform, in the same dugout, to see a guy who's been this efficient, it's a very calm inning when he comes to the mound."
Calm, cool, collected and prone to get a K, when it's closing time it's Koji time. Since taking over the role in mid-June, Uehara has converted 17 of 19 save opportunities, struck out 47 in 34 1/3 innings, walked two, with a 0.27 ERA. Those are Mariano Rivera type numbers. If Mo's theme song is Metallica's "Enter Sandman", than Koji's is "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
The Red Sox have had some dominant closers over the years: Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox all-time saves leader with 219, Bob Stanley (132), Dick Radatz (104), Jeff Reardon (88), Tom Gordon (68), Lee Smith (58) and 2004 World Series closer Keith Foulke (47).
In today's Red Sox Life Poll, we ask:
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Contributing Writer
As the Boston Herald reported Wednesday, when Sox manager John Farrell was asked if he'd seen a run like the one Koji is on he said, "Not firsthand, anyway. To be in the same uniform, in the same dugout, to see a guy who's been this efficient, it's a very calm inning when he comes to the mound."
Calm, cool, collected and prone to get a K, when it's closing time it's Koji time. Since taking over the role in mid-June, Uehara has converted 17 of 19 save opportunities, struck out 47 in 34 1/3 innings, walked two, with a 0.27 ERA. Those are Mariano Rivera type numbers. If Mo's theme song is Metallica's "Enter Sandman", than Koji's is "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
The Red Sox have had some dominant closers over the years: Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox all-time saves leader with 219, Bob Stanley (132), Dick Radatz (104), Jeff Reardon (88), Tom Gordon (68), Lee Smith (58) and 2004 World Series closer Keith Foulke (47).
In today's Red Sox Life Poll, we ask:
Follow The Guru on Twitter @TheGuruGS
More musings from The Guru.
