Washington Nationals: Chad Cordero, a good year on a surprising team
The Washington Nationals had just relocated from Montreal and were not expected to do well. They took the league by surprise and closer Chad Cordero put up great numbers.
When the moving trucks were finally unpacked and the Washington Nationals situated in their new digs at RFK Stadium, the team was ready to start the 2005 season. Chad Cordero was penciled in as the team’s closer, though was not expected to get much meaningful work.
This team was a relocated team, not an expansion team, yet the cupboards were barren and the expectations were not high.
Surprisingly, when the team woke up on July 24th, they were tied for first place in the division, eleven games over .500. As the remaining dog days of summer played out, the Nationals would fall out of the race, finish the year with an 81-81 record and sit in the cellar of the National League East.
They played better than expected, and one reason was their lock down closer, Chad Cordero.
Cordero was a first round pick in the 2003 draft by the Montreal Expos, and he was fast tracked to the majors that season. The following year he took over for closer Rocky Biddle during the year, and established himself as a dependable option in high leverage situations.
His coming out party was in 2005, however. In his lone All-Star season, he would have a 1.82 earned run average and lead the majors with 47 saves.
During the month of June, Cordero pitched in 16 games and secured 15 saves. He had a WHIP of .80 and did not allow an earned run the entire month.
His pitching exploits were good enough to get his name listed on a Cy Young ballot, the only reliever that year to garner attention.
The 2005 Washington Nationals turned a few heads with their play, and closer Chad Cordero established himself as a quality closer that year. The Chief would pitch three more years for the Nationals before arm injuries derailed his career.
Next. Carter Kieboom, the singles hitter. dark
Cordero would finish with 128 career saves and be known as the first lock-down closer the fans in DC ever knew.