Half the time Aardsma comes in with 2-3 runs, bases empty, and a random part of the lineup to deal with. Anybody with a good arm, who remains calm, and throws strike one can pitch one scoreless inning with a clean start and a 2-run lead.
You get an overwhelming relief pitcher that you can bring in when it's really leveraged -- MOTO, or a man or two on, whatever -- and THAT is a difference-maker...
With Jack Wilson at short, and the grass at Safeco, I agree. In '010, League could perform a role like Rivera did behind Wetteland in 1996, or like KRod did behind Percival in 2004.
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Mark Lowe had a big second half too, with his CTL going from 1.7 to 3.2. Lowe may be all the way back now. If Aardsma could throw strikes, they might have something approaching the 2001 bullpen.
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