By running Blake Treinen out into games, the Washington Nationals are doing no favors for their former closer. When injuries heal elsewhere, he needs time away.
To say this is a bad year for Washington Nationals reliever Blake Treinen is an understatement. Anointed the closer when the team left camp, 2017 is a never-ending nightmare.
Treinen had the goods to merit the job. He throws a devastating sinker. A pitch hitting 98 on radar guns that never leave the ground. Although he has never had great command of the strike zone, the sinker is one pitch away from a double play.
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Until this year.
Only once in his 14 games has Treinen not allowed a base runner. That was Opening Day at home against the Miami Marlins. A mix of excited and nervous, he looked the part of a closer fanning two and fist-bumping the air after locking down the save.
As of Saturday, his ERA is 9.00. In 13 innings, Treinen has put on 31 base runners; 23 hits and nine walks. His WHIP is 2.460. When batters make contact, the BAbip is .468. Last year, in 67 innings, he allowed 17 earned runs. This season, 13.
With runners on base, he pitches at a pace where turtles would get bored. One thing is clear, Treinen pitches with zero confidence.
Injuries to Koda Glover, Sammy Solis and now Shawn Kelley give Dusty Baker little choice but to keep throwing Treinen out there. When your most used reliever has numbers as written above, you would think the team is in desperate straits.
Washington carries the best record in Major League Baseball at 20-9. For more on Friday night’s win over the Philadelphia Phillies, here is Ricky Keeler and Chris Lacey’s take:
When the bullpen regains their health, Treinen needs time away from the big club. The bad numbers are one thing, but the demotion from closer and his inability to get anyone out is doing permanent damage to his career.
Goodness, his WHIP is double over last year. For a team harboring championship aspirations, Treinen is the last pitcher you want to see in a playoff game.
Treinen is 28. Until this year, he pitched well setting up the hodge-podge of closer the Nats used. He can strike out hitters and induce double plays. His abilities have not changed, but his mind set has.
These are games that sink careers. Sitting in the pen while waiting for the right situation for Treinen, when everyone comes back, is not the answer. Neither is running him out there every night hoping things change. Square pegs never fit into round holes.
Instead, Treinen has minor-league options left. Use them. When the time is right, see if a couple weeks or a month in Triple-A Syracuse can give him the solace and environment to restore his effectiveness.
Washington was right to let him try to be a closer. It did not work. It happens. But, what we see now is painful for everyone.
Next: Albers a reliable bullpen arm
Especially him.