Notebook: Putz emerges as clutch closer
J.J. Putz doesn’t need a campaign to make his first All-Star team. He just has to show up to work.
Seattle’s emerging star closer blew through the Boston Red Sox this week to convert his 24th consecutive save chance, the longest current streak in the majors.
“If someone doesn’t know him, someone’s not paying attention,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He’s one of the best. I know the players know it.”
Mariners manager Mike Hargrove had Jose Mesa in Cleveland, when Mesa saved 46 of 48 games in 1995 to lead the Indians into their first World Series in four decades.
“Putz is better than Mesa,” Hargrove said. “And that’s not a knock on Jose. I like Jose. He saved 46 games for me one year and then 39 the next. That’s a lot of games.
“But J.J.? He’s pretty good,” Hargrove said.
The Mariners are 36-1 when leading after seven innings and 35-0 when carrying a lead into the ninth, Putz’s domain.
After finishing last in the A.L. West three straight times, the Mariners have a five-game winning streak and are nine games better than .500, matching their season high. Seattle is five games behind the Los Angeles Angels for the division lead.
Putz figures to become an All-Star when rosters are announced Sunday. He has allowed just 15 hits and six walks in 34 games, and his 0.99 ERA is second in the major leagues to the 0.95 ERA of Boston’s Hideki Okajima among pitchers with at least 18 appearances.
“Yeah, it’s exciting,” Putz said.
He doesn’t like talking about his accomplishments, usually steering questions about them to the success of the surprising Mariners. But he does acknowledge that making the All-Star team “would be nice.”
Putz’s 10 saves are a Seattle record for June, one more than Mike Jackson in June 1991. Putz already is third in Mariners career saves – he passed Norm Charlton with his 68th Tuesday.
Putz has been on the job for all of 13 months.
“I’m just happy with the wins,” he said.
Services held for Beck
Former San Francisco Giants manager Dusty Baker and current manager Bruce Bochy were among the estimated 200 people who attended the funeral in Scottsdale, Ariz., for former major league pitcher Rod Beck. The Giants plan to honor Beck at their annual “Until There’s a Cure Day” event, scheduled for July 27 at AT&T Park. The event raises funds for AIDS education and research.
Beck was found dead in his northeast Phoenix home last Saturday. He was 38.
Clearing the bases
Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield had his three-game suspension reduced to two by Major League Baseball. Sheffield was ejected May 31 at Cleveland for arguing balls and strikes. Plate umpire Greg Gibson claimed Sheffield threw a piece of his broken bat at him as he walked away – Sheffield and Tigers manager Jim Leyland disputed Gibson’s account. “Umpires lie, too,” Sheffield said. … Reliever Roberto Hernandez was put on unconditional release waivers by the Cleveland Indians. The 42-year-old Hernandez, whose 326 saves are 11th on the career list, was designated for assignment on June 20. He went 3-1 with 6.23 ERA in 28 games.