THE GIANTS
1. Brian Wilson
He threw the most important pitch in San Francisco Giants history, the one that struck out Nelson Cruz to end Game 5 of the 2010 World Series and give the franchise its first Series championship since moving west. Although clearly a major reason behind Duane Kuiper’s “torture” characterization of the club — Wilson tended to create alarming predicaments before settling down to retire the side — he was a top-notch closer after assuming the role in 2008, and he was especially good during the 2010 postseason: 112⁄3 innings without allowing an earned run while converting six of seven save opportunities.
2. Robb Nen
A trusted reliever doesn’t tell his manager, “I’m not ready.” It just isn’t done, even if the man’s arm is falling off. Heroic in the eyes of teammates after five sensational seasons closing out Giants wins, Nen pitched through the searing pain in his shoulder down the stretch of the 2002 season and into the World Series — and at the bitter end, he simply had nothing left. The last game he ever pitched was the fateful Game 6 against the Angels, and it was off to rotatorcuff surgery. But he’ll never be forgotten, and he’s the club’s all-time saves leader with 206.
3. Rod Beck
Arm dangling at his side, Fu Manchu countenance setting the tone, Beck was one of baseball’s best closers through the 1990s and posted 199 saves in a Giants uniform. It was his strikeout of San Diego’s Greg Vaughn that clinched the NL Western Division title in 1997, and fans got a sense something good was about to happen when he strode out of the bullpen. The World Series eluded Beck, who died far too soon at the age of 38, but he was an outright stud.
4. Greg Minton
Such lean years. The Giants didn’t make much significant noise from 1979 through ’86, when Minton made a habit of baffling National League hitters with his off-the table sinker. When a victory came around, he was usually the one to finish it. In his best year, 1982, he posted 30 saves and a 1.83 ERA, earning himself some Cy Young and MVP votes. Sadly, Minton had departed before the Giants’ NLCS appearance in 1987. With his arm in tatters, he was released in May of that season.
5. Sergio Romo
There are plenty of candidates for this fifth spot, but none of the others closed out a World Series title, as Romo did so spectacularly, surprising Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera with a fastball (instead of his famed slider) for a called third strike that completed the Giants’ four-game sweep in 2012. A mere wisp of a man, the tough-minded right-hander was equally formidable the following season (2.54 ERA, 38 saves). Nothing — not even his recent signing with the Dodgers — can dim the memory of his performances.
The second five
Stu Miller, Gary Lavelle, Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez. With a nod to Madison Bumgarner for Game 7 in Kansas City.