WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Halfway into Spring Training, the Nationals bullpen is still a work in progress.
The Opening Day closer has yet to be determined. That鈥檚 because manager Dusty Baker hasn鈥檛 had the chance to use the four major candidates in pressure situations in Spring Training games.
鈥淢ost of the time in the ninth, you鈥檙e not usually closing against Major League players,鈥� he explained of the nature of spring games. 鈥淲e鈥檝e put potential guys in the fourth or fifth, but generally speaking your big hitters are out of there by then.鈥�
Blake Treinen, Shawn Kelley, Sammy Solis and Koda Glover are believed to be the main contenders. However, only Kelly has any experience finishing games on the Major League level. He has 11 career saves, seven of which came last year. Treinen got his lone save last season as well. For both Solis and Glover, their next save will be their first.
With such inexperience, it鈥檚 very possible the Nationals鈥� eventual closer is not yet with the team. They could acquire a veteran arm by trading one of their surplus of catchers, though they were unable to move the recently reacquired Derek Norris, releasing him earlier this week.
Of the current contenders, each has thrown five or fewer innings so far. Glover is off to the fastest start this spring, having struck out eight batters while allowing a single hit in five frames. Treinen has nearly matched him, fanning six over three scoreless innings. Kelley has allowed one run, while Solis has given up three in three innings apiece in their small samples so far.
One thing they all have in common 鈥� each would love the closers role.
Solis isn鈥檛 shying away from the possibility.
鈥淭hat would be a lot of fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 take that. I want the ball in the tough situation late in the game.鈥�
Glover says he likes high-pressure situations.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I am. That鈥檚 how I like to play. Baseball can turn into a boring sport. High-leverage situations are never boring, so I love that.鈥�
Does that mean Glover is an adrenalin junkie? He says no.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 get much adrenalin and stuff. It鈥檚 fun to me. 聽I like having my back against the wall. That鈥檚 how I鈥檝e lived my life. I enjoy that.鈥�
Treinen is believed to be the favorite to win the ninth-inning job. He pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the Nationals last year.
鈥淲ho wouldn鈥檛 want to be a premier bullpen arm?鈥� he asked. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e called on with the game on the line, it鈥檚 fun.鈥�
The veteran of the group, Kelley says it doesn鈥檛 matter to him whether he pitches the seventh, eighth, or ninth inning.
鈥淭he roles will work themselves out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we have a closer in this locker room, it will be a great one and we鈥檒l win a lot of games.鈥�
No matter who takes the ball in the ninth inning, all four relievers hope it goes to someone from their own clubhouse.
鈥淚 think we have the tools and the guys to do it,鈥� said Solis. 鈥淥ur bullpen had a lot of success last year and I think we鈥檙e going to carry that into this season.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e all cheering for each other,鈥� said Treinen. 鈥淲hen our bullpen was healthy last year, it didn鈥檛 matter who was throwing in the ninth, didn鈥檛 matter who was throwing in the eighth. We had guys in the back of the bullpen that could do whatever role they needed to and that鈥檚 how it鈥檚 going to be this year.鈥�
Treinen, though, knows the scenario is out of their hands.
鈥淲e鈥檒l leave the decision-making to the guys at the top, because that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e good at.鈥�
