Salas Picks Up Second Save, But He Is Not The Closer

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St. Louis Cardinals reliever Fernando Salas closed out his
second game of the season during the Cardinals 3-2 win
 over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon.  - Photo
courtesy of Getty Images
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Fernando Salas did not even make the big league club out of spring training despite putting together a monster March down in Florida. 

Salas allowed just 1 run and 4 hits in 10 appearances during spring training, but for some reason, was left off the big league roster.

After a couple of bullpen injuries, Salas was brought up to the big leagues and on Saturday afternoon, he picked up his second save of the season in the Cardinals 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Salas was solid during the spring and he has been solid since rejoining the big league club in mid-April.

Salas has appeared in 7 games since being re-called, posting a 0.96 ERA while striking out 10 and posting 2 saves over 9.1 innings.

And while Salas was overlooked in spring training, he is not being overlooked now, getting chances to close games as the Cardinals search for a new closer.

But manager Tony La Russa won't name Salas or Mitchell Boggs or anybody else the legitimate closer at this point.

"He's the guy who was available today," said La Russa of Salas.

While the closer's role remains unclear as Salas, Boggs, and Eduardo Sanchez seem to be the most likely future candidates, one thing is for certain.

Fernando Salas should be in St. Louis the rest of the season in some capacity.  He has the stuff.  He's posted the numbers.

And after Saturday, he's closed out two victories in two chances for the St. Louis Cardinals this season.

Sources:

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Salas will slowly take over the closer role. Boggs can not get lefties out unlike Salas and La Russa will not make a guy with zero prior ML experience, Sanchez his closer. I see Sanchez becomming the 8th inning set up man and Salas becomming the closer with Boggs and Motte as the middle releivers. Salas pitched very well in St louis last year and he was so good in the spring training that he should have made the ML roster opening day. La Russa likes this guy despite the smoke and mirrors comment he made today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 2, 2011 at 8:44 AM

    sanchez will be the closer

    ReplyDelete

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