Jesse Crain would like to close?

I know he had been tabbed in the minors as a closer, but I hadn't realized it was still on his to do list. Of course, they don't cite a source. And who wouldn't want to close for the extra cash?

over 1 year ago lazers 15 comments 0 recs |

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Kelly's inbox said the same thing yesterday

I read somewhere that the Twins might get rid of Jesse Crain, but he’s one of our best relievers. Why would they ever do that?
— Andrew G., Mars, Pa.

The Twins aren’t looking to possibly get rid of Crain, but the reliever is eligible to become a free agent for the first time this winter. So the question is whether the Twins can re-sign him or not. Crain put himself in a good position for free agency with a strong final 3 1/2 months for Minnesota this season. After another slow start to the year, the hard throwing right-hander turned things around in June and became one of the most reliable setup options for the Twins in the second half. If Crain is given an opportunity to close for a club, it might be a difficult thing to turn down, because he spent much of his Minor League career as a closer and there is a chance he could get multi-year offers to set up for other clubs. The Twins will likely try to re-sign Crain, but they’ll have to find out how much it might cost. There are a lot of decisions the club will have to make in regard to its bullpen, because they have six relievers who are set to be free agents.

Kelly Thesier

by eau claire twins fan on Oct 27, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Step One: Acquire Saves
Step Two: ???
Step Three: Profit

Hire Mike Leach

by John_Locke on Oct 27, 2010 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

As long as step two isn't "Be a Crainwreck"...

by fischean on Oct 27, 2010 1:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Love the underpants gnomes!

I don’t see the path to profit for the Twins here… unfortunately, though, the path-to-profit is obvious for Crain. I wonder if this is “Close Me or Trade Me” request?

by DavidRF on Oct 27, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like

If I get the chance to close for someone, I am bound to get more money and thus won’t have to worry about money after baseball?
To some extend these guys all have to think of their future after baseball. It’s not likely someone like Crain will be playing into his forties…

Or am I wrong here?

by twinscrazy_german on Oct 27, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

There's the ego thing too

These guys are competitors… deep down they don’t want to be role players.

Just checked bb-ref. Crain is a free agent? Then it all makes sense. Of course he’d take a promotion if someone offered it.

by DavidRF on Oct 28, 2010 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

This is like the worst idea ever.

Jesse Crain sucks in pressure situations. I know I don’t have lots of scientific data to back this up, because I don’t have time to compile all that, but just from watching him over 5 or whatever years it’s been….

"It happened in the moment, and it happened." - Carlos Gomez

by myjah on Oct 27, 2010 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Really?

Bottom of the 7th Bases Loaded up by one, one out and AJ and manny up in the most inportant game of the year and struck them both out. Yes he’s terrible in the clutch

What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your entire rambling incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Oct 27, 2010 6:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

false

most inportant game of the year

by eau claire twins fan on Oct 27, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

At that point in time, you name a more important game

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Oct 27, 2010 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Defined Role

I read an interesting article a month or two back about how Jesse Crain actually prefers to not have a defined role. It would cause him more anxiety if he knew he was the 8th inning guy and it was say the 6th or 7th inning in a tight game. Basically I guess he would overthink things and be his own worst enemy. After reading that I remember thinking well there is no way this guy would ever make it as a closer.

by .mnqwerd on Oct 27, 2010 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

Unsurprising

Every good setup man wants to try to be a closer. Will he get a shot? Maybe. He’d be a mostly effective, but sometimes frustrating closer though. He could get a modest closer contract from a bottom half team just looking to fill in the spot. like maybe he goes to, I dunno, the Brewers or something.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 27, 2010 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

I don't know about the Brewers

that Axford guy looks like pretty good option

"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backward in a mirror" ~George Carlin

by thewild_viking_twins on Oct 27, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

To be honest

To be honest, I just picked the name of a mediocre team without a closer I could recognize. That was the extent of my analysis. You get the idea.

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 28, 2010 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Mediocre teams without a good closer situation

Pittsburgh, Arizona, Baltimore, Washington immediately come to mind as options. Or I could see a team like the Angels or even White Sox wanting to sign Crain to give them another closer option. In the Angels case, it’s not like Fernando Rodney is a safe option at closer…

by Adam Peterson on Oct 28, 2010 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions