Ranking NL Central’s Closers
Here’s how I see it…
| Team | Name | Saves | BS | K | ERA | |
| 1. | Mil | Axford | 46 | 2 | 127 | 2.10 |
| 2. | Pit | Hanrahan | 40 | 4 | 61 | 1.83 |
| 3. | Cin | Madson | 32 | 2 | 62 | 2.37 |
| 4. | Cubs | Marmol | 34 | 10 | 99 | 4.01 |
| 5. | St. Lou | Motte | 9 | 4 | 63 | 2.25 |
| 6. | Hou | Lyon | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2.40 |
1.) MILWAUKEE
John Axford blew his first save opportunity last season on Opening Day in Cincinnati. Turns out, the hard-throwing righty would only blow one more game all season.
Better still, the Brewers traded for Francisco Rodriguez in mid July. K-Rod never posted a save with Milwaukee (he had 23 for the Mets prior to the trade), but shined setting up Axford with a 1.86 ERA in 31 appearances helping the Beer Makers to the NL Central crown.
Despite Frankie’s public outcry to return to a full-time closer’s role, which assumingly won’t happen in Milwaukee, he and the Brewers surprisingly came to terms on a 1-yr, $8M deal–thus helping solidify Axford’s top ranking as the division’s best closer.
