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Nine Reliever Has Season for the Record Books
September 22, 2043: Yellow Springs – Several months ago, some buzz began to build when sports writers around the league pondered the idea of, given the emergence of high-usage relievers, a relief pitcher winning the Nebraska Award. Move time forward and here we are, a week from the end of the season and still looking that question down the barrel.
In the Johnson League, Rockville’s Danny Leach has already qualified, and his 1.72 ERA and 15-5 record combined with 16 saves would seem to make him a leading candidate. Las Vega’s Shawn Huber would probably contend, but will likely not throw the innings required to qualify—a fact that probably drops him a notch to voter’s eyes.
In the Frick, Nashville’s Lorenzo de’ Medici has now officially qualified for the race, and at 8-11, with 19 saves and a 2.93 ERA, he’s got the numbers to make a case. Especially when you throw in those gaudy K numbers. His FIP of 1.87 is danged spiffy, too.di’ Medici’s numbers throw him smack in the middle of a hot argument between him, and guys like Luis Gracia, Amayas Moelling, and the Nine’s own Ernesto Ramos—who has quietly gone about having another outstanding season.
But, Wait, What About Tiernan O’Macken?
Let those numbers register.
Oh, yeah, there's his 245 Ks, too, if you're into those.
“I don’t know if he deserves it or not,” said manager Sam Brewington, “but he’s the anchor of the best bullpen in baseball, so there’s a lot to be said for him.”
Another interesting fact might play here, too. O’Macken’s presence has allowed the team to absorb the loss of starter Carlos Pineda much better than might have been anticipated. A major adjustment made after Pineda’s injury has included the use of eleven different pitchers to start games along the way (including O’Macken himself for one game). “Having arms in the pen who can absorb innings makes a difference,” Brewington said. “We know we can throw a starter out there for three or four innings and lean on guys like Tiernan, Josh (Henson), Al (Colbert), and Angel (Hernanadez) to get us through the last parts of about any game. So those guys are real weapons for us.”
O’Macken himself is quiet on the subject—as he is about most things.
“It would be nice to win,” he said after yesterday’s two inning outing, “But I’d have to find a place to put it.”
