Behind the closer meltdowns

Four high-profile closers — 150 saves in 2009 amongst them — blew ninth-inning leads in the first round of the playoffs.

And in retrospect, those blown leads couldn't have been much of a surprise to their team's fan bases, even after seasons of success.

Taking them in order:

Ryan Franklin, St. Louis, Game 2 against Los Angeles. Franklin's ERA in September/October was 6.75.

Joe Nathan, Minnesota, Game 2 against New York. Nathan's September/October ERA was 3.38. Of more alarm, he had given up four homers in that period — more than in the rest of the season combined — and pitched 16 innings, almost 50 percent more than the other closers involved in these blown saves. He was, of necessity, worked hard down the stretch, and he's about to turn 35.

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston, Game 3 against Anaheim. No real issues here; he had last blown a save opportunity in July, his September/October ERA was 1.58, he hadn't walked a batter since August 24. Still, there were rumblings in the Nation that he wasn't quite as dominant in 2009 as they're used to seeing.

Huston Street (photo above), Colorado, Game 4 against Philadelphia. For that matter, he took the loss in Game 3, which wasn't a save opp. Street's September/October ERA (3.38) wasn't much worse than his season ERA (3.09), but he had a three-week gap in September in which he didn't pitch, and his August ERA was 5.79.

As the boilerplate financial services disclaimer says, past results do not guarantee future performance.

This Street is closed

Huston Street has been linked to the Twins year after year in trade rumors. He had a very good year for Colorado this season — the 3.06 ERA is no indication of how well he pitched — but tonight he took the loss for the second straight game.

The umpire shared the blame for Sunday's debacle, but Monday's was all on Street.

Meanwhile, Brad Lidge — perfect last season in save opportunities for the Phillies, and perfectly awful this season (7.21 ERA) — wound up with his second straight save. Go figure.

I wouldn't say Lidge (above) is back in form. His save Sunday was hardly impressive, and manager Charlie Manuel went with LOOGY Scott Eyre for four batters in the ninth inning Monday. Eyre faced four batters in all of September. So Manuel — who has been excruciatingly patient with Lidge's struggles all season — wasn't fully trusting him Monday.

You couldn't ask for a more glaring difference in pitching staffs in the NLCS. Los Angeles has no real ace starter, but boasts a deep and flexible bullpen. The Phillies have, in Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, two top-flight starting pitchers, and no real confidence in anybody in the 'pen.

Now we have several days without baseball so that Bud Selig can have his November World Series.

For what little it's worth, I'll pick the Phillies over the Dodgers in the NLCS, and the Yankees over the Angels. And I'll root for the Phillies and Angels.