Wilson "warming" to Role of Closer

That's the title the Merc headline writer used for Baggarly's article, but the writer either didn't read the article or didn't understand it. Clearly, from what Andy wrote in the article, Brian Wilson has the mental attitude for the closer role. He wants to go with his best pitch and challenge the batter. He doesn't want to just fool the hitter. Mano-a-mano with his best heat.

The big bit of info in the article was that Bochy awarded the closer role to Wilson before one pitch was thrown this spring. He noted, "We're not going to go back and forth on this. We want Brian to be relaxed."

There was also interesting info on Wilson's pitches. His repertoire includes a slider but his best stuff is a four-seam fastball (99 MPH) and a cut fastball that he started throwing in 2006. "It can drop, go sideways, tilt up... It's devastating on the inside corner to a righty because it's coming right at them, then at the last second it hovers back in the strike zone. Or it looks like a fat fastball down the middle, then it moves off the plate and breaks a bat. It's just an awesome weapon."

He learned how to throw the cutter through TV and the right circumstances. He remembered the grip for the cutter from watching a Yankee's game on TV where someone demonstrated how Mariano Rivera throws it. Later, in 2006, he grilled Mike Stanton about it after the Giants acquired Stanton since Stanton was teammates with Rivera. He likes it so much that he wants to throw the cutter all the time, just like Rivera.

Giants Thoughts

I'm glad the Giants just named him the closer and moved on. There is really no one else who could seriously compete, as nicely as Hennessey did in 2007 and Walker previously. So take some of the pressure off him and let him prepare and get ready for the season.

In addition, if he can pitch well, that will go a long way towards improving the bullpen in 2008 versus 2007. And I think he can pitch very well in 2008. He, Walker and Hennessey are the core of the bullpen and if they do well it will go a long way towards the pitching staff reducing their overall ERA from what it was in 2007.