Watch: Pirates 1B defends closer after another blown save
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 9-3 and off to one of their best starts in decades. The only real negative so far this season has been All-Star closer David Bednar blowing three saves in his first four appearances. The third of those blown saves came on Tuesday afternoon in a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers as Bednar allowed four runs in the ninth inning.
As he was removed from the game, Pirates fans booed him. It was a strange scene to watch unfold as not only has Bednar been one of the league's top closers the past two years, but he is also from the Pittsburgh area.
Pirates first basemen Rowdy Tellez did not appreciate hearing that and passionately defended his closer.
It is a tough situation because Bednar is clearly not 100 percent and did not pitch much in spring training. That lack of work in the spring as well as any lingering impacts from his injury are resulting in him still working on his control and locating his spots.
But, three blown saves in four appearances is a stat you simply can not hide from, and as long as he is on the mound as a highly paid professional athlete, fans have the right to voice their displeasure when he is not performing — especially when it turns a 3-1 win and a potential 10-2 start into a 5-3 loss that seemed like it was given away.
Having said that, Tellez was also right to come to the defense of his teammate and publicly back him. Everybody is right here in what they decided to do.
In the short term, until Bednar gets back on track, the Pirates might be best served to hand the closing duties over to Aroldis Chapman. The free-agent addition has a track record as a dominant closer and has been nearly unhittable in his first few appearances for the Pirates.
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