As he neared John Smoltz’s Braves career record for saves, closer Craig Kimbrel tried to put things into perspective by noting that Smoltz only served as closer for 3-1/2 seasons of a distinguished 21-year career.
But the fact remained, what Kimbrel has done is nonetheless impressive and historically dominant.
Kimbrel, in his fourth season as closer, entered Sunday needing two saves to match Smoltz’s Braves record of 154. Kimbrel considered it an honor.
“It definitely is,” he said. “(Smoltz is) a man I looked up to when I was younger, and still look up to. The things he was able to do in the game of baseball, not only as a closer but as a starter — and to do it as long as he did it, that’s impressive. Nearing a record that he has is pretty special, but he only (served as closer) for four years.
“So I’m getting closer to a record that he did in four years, and not many guys have had the opportunity to do it here in Atlanta for much longer than that.”
Smoltz is the only pitcher in major league history to have many as 200 wins and 150 saves. He closed for 3-1/2 seasons after returning from Tommy John elbow surgery, and in his three full seasons as closer he had save totals of 55 in 2002 (still the franchise record), 45 in 2003 and 44 in 2004.
Kimbrel last season became the second Brave to have a 50-save season and youngest (25) in major league history to do it, notching a career-best 50 while leading the National League in saves and ERA (1.21). He finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award balloting.
This season he had 13 saves and a 1.96 ERA in 19 appearances before Sunday, and already racked up 36 strikeouts with seven walks in 18 1/3 innings. His 17.7 strikeouts per nine innings was more than 1 ½ strikeouts higher than the next-highest rate among major league pitchers.
In February the Braves signed Kimbrel to a four-year, $42 million extension with a fifth-year option, an unusually large and lengthy contract for closers at a time when the industry trend has been toward shorter deals for what is viewed as the most precarious of major league jobs.
The deal was an obvious indication of how highly the Braves think of Kimbrel, widely viewed as the best in baseball at what he does.
Given his contract, Kimbrel said if he didn’t set the Braves career saves record, “then something’s wrong.” At the same time, he doesn’t take anything for granted.
“I’m just going out there year-by-year,” he said. “Obviously with the contract they’re expecting me to do it for four or five years (more). But my mentality is just day-by-day and season-by-season. Showing up and doing what I have to do.”
The Alabama native’s 89.9 career save percentage rate ranked third in history among closers with at least 150 saves, behind Eric Gagne (91.7) and Smoltz (91.1).
Kimbrel has led or tied for the NL lead in saves in each of his first three seasons as closer, and in 2012 he was the first pitcher in baseball’s live-ball era to strike out 50 percent of the batters he faced, fanning 116 of 231. He was the 2011 NL Rookie of the Year after leading all major league relievers with 127 strikeouts.
He has struck out a remarkable 44 percent of the batters he’s faced in his career, which makes Kimbrel the runaway leader in that category among closers with 150 or more saves. Next on the list: Billy Wagner, a one-time Brave who struck out 33 percent of the batters he faced in a career that included 422 saves and 1,196 strikeouts.
Kimbrel struck out all three Colorado batters he faced in the ninth inning Friday in his 13th save of the season, after striking out three in a row following a leadoff hit-by-pitch Thursday against the Rockies.
“Strikeouts are fun,” he said. “They don’t always attest to how you’re pitching; you can go out there and strike out the side and give up two runs. (But) they do help you get out of situations. I don’t know, I can feel great for a while and not strike anybody out. Or feel awful and strike everybody out.”
He had a 1.00 ERA and .155 opponents’ average in his past 73 appearances since May 9, 2013, allowing 39 hits (one homer) and 24 walks with 113 strikeouts in 72 innings over that period, while converting 53 of 56 save opportunities
