A closer is as good as his music.
Sure, I try and maintain an objective approach; I know that saves are up there with wins and runs scored as the wardens of a system of statistical analysis that borders on farcical, but I still give the closer’s role a great deal of weight. There’s a poetry to the ninth inning, and the men who reside there, but that poetry is elusive to all but the greatest of figures. Figures with kick-ass entrance songs.
Whether it’s Trevor Hoffman’s use of “Hell’s Bells” (still the undisputed king of entrances) or Mariano Rivera/Billy Wagner and “Enter Sandman”, the ambience of the ninth inning can really be dictated by the song. Hell, I wanted JJ Putz closing in 2009 ahead of Frankie Rodriguez for one unassailable reason: I would much rather hear “Thunderstruck” than “Sandungueoso” with Rollins, Utley and Howard set to bat in the ninth.
So here you have my uber-scientific philosophy on closing, and with it I would like to return you to August of 2008, as hard as it may be. Billy Wagner is injured, and all hands are on deck. The bullpen is hemorrhaging wins left and right, and Jerry is looking for the solution. Enter Eddie Kunz, set to be my folk hero until the end of time.
Drafted in the supplement road of the draft in 2007 draft (thank you Roberto Hernandez) out of Oregon State, Kunz was a closer from the get-go. He threw a hard sinking 95-mph fastball, and not much else, but the fastball was a plus-pitch. He was groomed in the bullpen, closing for an Oregon State team that won back-to-back national championships and then racking up 27 saves for AA Binghamton in his first full professional season. Some real AAA seasoning would be nice, but time is of the essence. Kunz needs to go to the big-time. The Mets are going to need a closer.
My hope was that he would immediately slot in in the ninth inning. Duaner Sanchez wasn’t the answer, and God knows Aaron Heilman wasn’t. Kunz had been bred for the role; he was no 7th inning man. But Jerry chose to slot him in slowly; his debut against Houston resulted in a scoreless inning. The heavy sinker was lauded; Kunz had yet to give up a home run as a professional ball-player. The Mets returned home and faced San Diego. In the 8th inning down one, Kunz set to come in, clearly inching up the pecking order. I listen intently to the SNY broadcast for some indication of musical gravitas that will give me strength in the depths of my dismay for another woebegone season. And Kunz came up empty.
I don’t even remember the song; if I had to hazard a guess it was some rock anthem, a couple power chords and a shouted chorus. Admittedly, my criteria for a closer song is significantly less nuanced than it is for anything I listen to on an every day basis, but this song still sucked. Or maybe it didn’t suck, but Kunz didn’t convey any of the sort of energy that I was sure he would bring to the team so the song hardly mattered. After all, Mariano Rivera still has no clue what “Enter Sandman” means (what Panamanian would?), it just sounds cool when he’s jogging in. It’s what you bring to it. And after getting the lead-off man out, Chase Headley homered, the first Kunz had allowed in over a year. He brought nothing to it.
It’s been a hard road since then for Eddie Kunz. He was demoted to AAA to end 2008, and spent the duration of 2009 there, quadrupling the number of home runs allowed in his professional career over the course of one season as he posted a 5.02 ERA and notching only one save. While never a great control pitcher, Kunz’s BB/9 reached 4.57, a suicidal number for a reliever no matter how good the sinker (and the sinker, by all observers accounts, had lost some life). In 2010 a makeover was in order, so the Mets shifted Kunz into the rotation at Binghamton; the experiment did not go well, as a one-pitch pitcher simply will not survive multiple runs through the batting order. A return to the bullpen (this time in middle to long-relief) did not particularly rejuvenate him, either. As it stands Kunz is facing the loss of both the action on his best pitch, and his command of it. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who can forecast a return to the majors now.
I’m not about to forecast that either, but I will say that Eddie Kunz is exactly the type of player I enjoy following; one with plenty of potential for redemption. In the least George Will and Ken Burns way possible, I love the poetry of the game, and exult in the success of the RA Dickeys and Colby Lewises of the world far more than I rationally should. So while I promise to cover the minors faithfully and objectively, I also promise to be on a vigilant watch for the stories that transcend the five tools and a slider with late bite, since unfortunately this system had been lacking on those for far too long.
And if Eddie Kunz is reading this, which I’m sure he is, then Eddie, I’m pulling for you. If you’re in need of the right song to get you back on track, just drop me a line, I think it’s finally time for me to admit I won’t be needing mine.
I’m Max, by the way, and I’m one of the new Minor League guys. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be here. Let’s go Mets and let’s get started!
Or rather Wright?!? } – 
17 comments
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome Max and thank you for some new content worthy of these starving Mets minds.
rustyjr
11/19/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
TRS86
11/19/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome Max. I look forward to reading more!
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome to the party, pal!
njstuckintx
11/19/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
I always wondered why no one ever came out to “the end” by the Doors. I know it’s not high energy, but it’s appropriate.
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
I could see Brian Wilson doing that as a goof.
wannybackstra
11/19/2010-2:00pm at 2:00 pm (UTC -4)
While the selections of Kunz and Vineyard in the supplemental round (the mets two highest pick that year) are complete disasters, that horrible memory did not take away from this entertaining piece.
Nicely done.
If anyone is wondering, the following solid prospects (and major leaguer) were on the board when Kunz was picked: Tommy Hunter, Drew Cumberland (.316 .380 .430), Josh Donaldson (.271 .366 .460 – catcher with pop), Michael Burgess (.257 .349 .464), Charlie Culberson (SS with pop who struggled until putting up these numbers at a+ this season .290 .340 .457), Nick Hagadone (rated by BA as #44 prospect coming into 2010), Corey Brown (.272 .359 .497), Cory Luebke (pitched well in short MLB cameo this season) and most aren’t counting out Jays SS Justin Jackson just yet.
Prismo
11/19/2010-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
Great first piece Max! I really enjoyed how it was written as a story instead of an article. Very unique and fresh. Welcome to the cool kids club!
GravediggerHebner
11/19/2010-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Bienvenue, willkommen, how are ya?
I can’t substantiate it but my vague recollection is that Kunz came out to “My My, Hey Hey” by Neil Young.
“…and once you’re gone you can never come back.”
stickguy
11/19/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
middle relievers fresh out of the minors actually come in to their own music? I thought they just got whatever generic noise the DJ felt like blasting!
Kunz is a sad case. As dumb as it was to draft a RP in the 1st round (ok, supp.), if you at elast get a dominant arm out of it it is still worth while!
Something that bugs me is the whole 1 pitch issue. He obviously knows how to pitch. ANd given that only Mariano really survives with 1 pitch, has there been an effort over the last 4 years to teach him a couple more?
Hell, I have seen little league age kids get taught a pitch on the sidelines, and be able to use it in a few days. So couldn’t he learn a CU or something besides the sinker to help him out?
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, Snap!
metsfan4decades
11/19/2010-3:23pm at 3:23 pm (UTC -4)
Welcome, Max. I enjoyed this first read.
Kunz….I remember Wagner working with him in ST as the possible heir apparent. I had high hopes. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
I thought he was all but the forgotten man, forever to troll away in the minors. If you say he’s got possible potential, I’ll roll with that.
Max
11/19/2010-5:55pm at 5:55 pm (UTC -4)
Hey guys,
Thanks for all the kind words of welcome! Really excited to talk Mets with you guys, I can tell already we’re gonna have some fun. And for the record, I’m still searching for my perfect closer song. Think the scoreboard operators would consent to “Nuthin’ but a G thang?”
stickguy
11/19/2010-11:16pm at 11:16 pm (UTC -4)
hope you have a thick skin! there are a few people floating around here that are not hesitant to calling out a blogger. Or calling them most anything!
but it is never personal.
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-11:18pm at 11:18 pm (UTC -4)
Lookin in the mirror again I see?
stickguy
11/19/2010-11:26pm at 11:26 pm (UTC -4)
twas actually thinking of a few of our colleagues that are more famous for, shall we say, bluntness.
Mr North Jersey
11/19/2010-11:28pm at 11:28 pm (UTC -4)
lol i was just ribbin u. I kinda figured that.