Thoughts from D-backs closers: 'In this job, you're going to fail a lot'
The job of a closer in the majors is unlike any other. They're not working unless things are too close for comfort, and it's their job to make sure the ninth inning is no more than walking into the opposition's house and slamming the door.
Scott Bordow of azcentral sports tracked down two men with that weight on their shoulders - Arizona Diamondbacks' J.J. Putz and Addison Reed - gather a few thoughts on one of baseball's most volatile positions.
Reed, 25, saved 40 games with the Chicago White Sox in 2013, and he's already tallied 16 this season.
Putz, 37, took a step back from ninth-inning duties when Arizona acquired Reed in the offseason, though the veteran recorded 45 saves in 2011 to help lift the D-backs to a 94-68 finish for the NL West division title.
On the ninth:
Putz: "It is completely different than any other inning in the game. Not only the pressure, but the energy in the stadium. Everybody is on the top step of the dugout, the crowd is into it, the hitters are locked in.
"Until you've been out there and felt it, you have no idea what it feels like."
On the closer's mentality:
Reed: "One of the biggest tools in baseball is your mind. Are you confident? Do you believe in yourself? I think the mind is probably the most powerful thing you have. Even if you don't have that 98 or 99 mph, you can get away with 92 if you have confidence in what you're doing.
"You have to realize you're here in this situation for a reason."
On blowing saves:
Reed: "It's one of the worst feelings to blow a save. You blow a save, it obviously means your team was up, they gave you the ball in the situation they wanted, and things just didn't work out. You come in here (the clubhouse), and you kind of feel the whole loss is your fault. That's the tough part, letting your teammates down. Nobody is going to come up and say, 'You suck, you were terrible,' but at the same time, you feel like you let everybody down."
On failure:
Putz: "This job isn't easy. You definitely can't be afraid to fail. Because in this job, you're going to. A lot."
For more, Bordow's complete piece is here.