What was that? (Rangers 4, Brewers 3)

By: Big Rygg

Good evening all! Wow...that's all I can say.

In the rarest of occurrences (although the writing was on the wall because of how much it continued to be talked about), Francisco Cordero blew a save tonight. And it wasn't just blown...no, no, no. It was a turbo-charged, all systems go, rocket-fueled meltdown.

It's been said that the psyche of a closer in Major League Baseball is a unique thing. To be on your game, you have to not simply think you'll be dominant...you have to know it.

Since late July of 2006, Francisco Cordero hasn't even had to know it. It's just been that way. Ever since leaving The Ballpark at Arlington, Coco has regained his All-Star form. He has been shutting down hitters more consistently than the sun rises. Simply put, he's been simply stunning.

Tonight, however? I think Arlington, Texas got into his head. I think the doubts that he had about himself, regardless if he ever admitted them publicly, from the first half of the 2006 season caught up with him big time tonight. He got two outs, sure, but then I think it started to creep in. By the time he allowed that first run, his core was breached and full scale fallout commenced.

Honestly, though, what could Ned Yost do? You can't pull him in that situation. Yost had to let his closer be his closer. Everybody blows saves...even Eric Gagne's streak of 50+ a couple of years ago ended...but it's magnified (and perhaps even a little easier to not worry about) because Cordero's streak ended in Arlington.

Do I think there is cause for concern? No. I think that Cordero still knows that he is unhittable. I think that he knows he is dominant. I think that he knows he will get the job done next time. Whether or not I know all of those things is irrelevant. All that matters is whether or not Cordero knows them to be true.

He does.

And tomorrow night, if we are leading by 3 runs or less in the bottom of the 9th inning, Cordero deserves the call. Cordero needs the call. Cordero will get the call.

You know it, I know it, but most importantly...he knows it.