Brad Ziegler is on a near-unprecedented run
By Joseph Jacquez
Brad Ziegler doesn’t throw in the high-90’s like many closers today do. Yet, he has been just as– if not more– effective than guys like Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel.
When he get’s the opportunity to lock down a Diamondbacks victory in a save situation, the 36-year-old side arming right-hander gets the job more often than not.
In fact, after recording a five-out save and sealing Monday’s win over the Dodgers, Ziegler has now converted 41 consecutive save opportunities.
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Fans have had plenty of chances to “Get Ziggy with it,” and chances are they will have many more. That save tied him Heath Bell, Trevor Hoffmann, and Rod Beck for the seventh-longest streak of all time. Next up on the all-time list is Grant Balfour who saved 44 consecutive from 2012-2013.
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Ziegler set the club record for most consecutive saves with 29 back in April. He last blew a save on May 9 of last season against the Padres, and began his current streak 20 days later on May 29th.
The most amazing part of this story is that Brad only has one 30-plus save season to his credit– last season. Monday’s effort was the 12th time that he saved a game when working more than an inning.
This season, Ziegler has an 2.93 ERA, but it drops to 0.66 in save situations. He has given up just one earned run in 13.2 innings pitched. He is tied for first with seven double plays turned, and 58 ground ball outs. He is also third in groundball-to-flyball Ratio (4.46).
He owns franchise all-time records for appearances (338), and earned run average (2.49) in a minimum of 100 games, and he has the lowest reliever earned run average for a single season (1.85 in 2015).
Among major league relievers since 2008, his 561 games are the most in the Majors and the 104 double plays turned behind him is also No. 1.
Here is the bottom line: Ziegler get’s the job done when it matters most, and with his contract up at the end of this season. It will interesting to see what he does in free agency.