Nen struggled with his control at times this year, which accounts for his 3.89 ERA, but he had a 9-3 record with 35 saves in 42 chances. It really kind of makes it a no-brainer for you," Leyland said. "When you can throw it 102 mph, it becomes an eight-inning game if you've got the lead. As part of owner Wayne Huizenga's spending spree last winter, they signed their 27-year-old closer to a four-year, $17.5 million contract.Ī standout closer makes managing easier for Jim Leyland, who often relied on a bullpen by committee in Pittsburgh. NBC commentator Joe Morgan saw the awkward looking delivery during the National League division series and thought Nen had hurt himself.Īctually, he added the foot tap several years ago while trying to improve his control. New to the national spotlight, the right-hander was asked about his unorthodox throwing motion, which includes a skip-step with his left foot before his arm starts forward. He might throw hard, but he speaks so softly that reporters in the back of a pack around his locker after the game complained they couldn't hear him. "When you go out there and the people are cheering for you, it makes you get a little excited. He attributed the extra hop on his fastball to the frenzied crowd, the largest at a World Series game since 1963. "I think one was even a changeup," pitcher Alex Fernandez joked.Īctually, Nen's changeup is a 93-mph slider. "He was really fired up, and his ball was taking off." "The radar doesn't lie," catcher Charles Johnson said. Nen's 102-mph clocking was a personal best, and teammates said the triple-figure readings were legitimate. "You've got me and Sandy at the plate, and you've got a guy throwing hard," Thome said. But he struck out swinging on another fastball, and Nen had his third save of the postseason. Next was Sandy Alomar, who has made clutch homers a habit this year. Instead, he swung and missed at a 102-mph fastball for strike three. "I was looking for a ball to drive and tie up the ballgame," he said. Jim Thome, who hit 40 home runs this season, stepped to the plate hoping to continue the Indians' recent pattern of late-inning heroics. Then, Matt Williams reached on an infield single. But that didn't mean the ninth inning was a breeze for the Marlins.Īfter Ramirez led off with a groundout, David Justice somehow managed to pull a 102 mph pitch into right field for a single. Whatever the exact speed, no one disputed that Nen had a hurricane-force fastball.
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