‘Nice guys’ can get saves, too
Just ask Nationals closer Treinen
Like other members of the Washington Nationals’ bullpen, newly appointed closer Blake Treinen was wearing a T-shirt before the first game of the season that read, in all capital red letters, “Relievers are people too.” Might seem silly, but there have been times that Treinen has been characterized as being the wrong sort of person — far too nice, far too human — to be an effective ninth-inning pitcher in the big leagues. Doesn’t fit the stereotype, in other words, of the off-his-rocker and mean closer. When a reporter asked which recent event meant more to him, his 3-month-old daughter rolling over for the first time or his first save while holding the official title of closer in Washington’s 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday, Treinen chose, of course, his baby’s big moment.
“Everyone tells him that he’s a nice guy, because he is,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “But he was fired up. He wants to get the job done for us. It was awesome. It was great seeing him get that first one out of the way and now hopefully he can continue to do that.” Treinen’s next chance could come tonight, in Game 2 of the season, again against Miami. He beat out teammates Shawn Kelley and Koda Glover in a spring training competition to earn the job, then made his debut by coming into the ninth inning of a two-run game to face the Marlins’ 4-5-6 hitters, starting with imposing slugger Giancarlo Stanton.