sporTSNumbers

Sporting News, The, Nov 1, 1999

Humble pie

JOHN ROCKER of the Braves has made quite a splash as a closer, both with his arm and his mouth. But, judging by the recent history of Braves closers, Rocker might want to maintain some humility. Since 1991, only Mark Wohlers had more than one consecutive season as the team's leader in saves, and shortly thereafter, Wohlers forgot how to throw strikes and found himself jobless. How other Braves closers have fared:

                                              Career after
                      Year(s) as closer      year as closer

                                             Total
Pitcher             Year     Saves   ERA     saves     ERA

Kerry Ligtenberg   1998       30     2.71   Injured
Mark Wohlers       1995-97    97     2.90      8      10.72
Greg McMichael     1994       21     3.84     13       3.41
Mike Stanton       1993       27     4.67     14       4.01
Alejandro Pena     1992       15     4.02      7       4.35
Juan Berenguer     1991       17     2.24      1       5.41