I must admit a lot of the game is mental, and he was just about done after last year blowing that save to Pujols. Plus Garner did not get him right back in there, like he had no confidence in him. It seems like a combination of things, but he does not look like a dominant closer any longer, and he was dominant. Maybe a touch of lost confidence, a tad of overuse, a smidgeon of lower velocity and a never needed before offspeed pitch not there. Closers can just lose it between games, see Rob Nen. There is only one Rivera, and a couple of youngsters in Papelbon and Street. Closing long term is very, very, iffy. I would not be surprised if he was never as effective again. Not even close to his first three seasons. Maybe the Rocket will come back and close...does he have any fuel left?
Best Wishes...OF :howdy: