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LaTroy Hawkins: Game Over

	AP

The Cubs' season is going down in flames and Wrigleyville has wasted no time in finding somebody to blame: LaTroy Hawkins. The former Twins setup man isn't a particularly bad pitcher, but he has developed an uncanny knack for being on the mound when the Cubs lose. Hawkins has four losses and three blown saves already this season, perhaps none more maddening for the Wrigley faithful than what happened against Philadelphia on Friday. Up 2-1 in the ninth, Hawkins caught Placido Polanco's line-drive and threw to first for what should have been a game-ending double play. Instead, the ball hit Jose Offerman's helmet and went into the stands, allowing two runs to score. Cubs lose, 3-2.

Last night, Hawkins was brought in to start the eighth inning of a 4-4 game against the Mets and promptly served up a home run to Doug Mientkiewicz. Chicago went on to lose 7-4 (new closer Ryan Dempster gave up two more in the ninth) to fall seven games back of the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

I tend to agree with the statheads who claim there isn't anything "special" about being a closer. Good relievers should be good closers, regardless of intangibles such as "makeup" and "clutchness." But Hawkins is a case study of how an otherwise terrific relief man just can't deal with being a closer. Last year his numbers were outstanding -- 2.63 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 14 walks, 82 IP -- except for the fact that he blew nine saves in 34 chances. Even with his implosions this year, his ERA is still a semi-respectable 4.26 and he has 12 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. So is it bad luck or is Hawkins simply not a "clutch" reliever?
-- Jacob Luft (12:30 p.m.)

When I read the headline, I thought this article was about Danny Graves.
-- Gary, Cincinnati (1:11 p.m.)

Some of these players just don't have the knack to close. Look at Brad Lidge. The dude was lights-out as a setup man to Octavio Dotel and then comes in and is able to close out games like he has done it for years. Hawkins showed in Minnesota that he couldn't close but the guy is a good setup man. Just don't ask anymore from him than that.
-- Jose, Bryan, Texas (1:12 p.m.)

Frankly, LaTroy Hawkins is the poster boy for the Cubbies' bullpen problems. My biggest worry is that Dusty Baker will lose complete faith in his bullpen and push his starters to go later and later in games. This is why Kerry Wood is always injured, and Mark Prior as well. The reason both had DL-ridden 2004 campaigns was because they were overpitched in 2003. So, if Hawkins doesn't get better soon, the Cubs will be too far behind to catch the Cards or the wild card and the starters will be terribly overworked. Hawkins just isn't clutch.
-- Maggie H., Chicago (1:15 p.m.)

Can't you give honorable mention to Tim Worrell as the worst reliever?
-- Joe, Philly (1:21 p.m.)

Closers, and even some other relievers, are different. It's not the stats batters are afraid of, it's the people. Think Eric Gagne, Goose, the Nasty Boys, old-school Rivera and Smoltz. Closers should make both teams feel the game is over. LaTroy does that, but not in the right way!
-- Hutch, Chicago (1:21 p.m.)

LaTroy Hawkins is a good pitcher. But he's a terrible closer and I think he may do better to be shipped out of Chicago at this point. Too many bad experiences. The fans are not behind him and I can't believe that any of his teammates have any confidence left in this guy. I was at the game last evening and two things struck me: 1) There were some awfully nasty things being shouted at him even before he gave up the home run. The guy gets booed for every ball he throws; and, 2) there was no disappointment in the Cubs position players faces after the home run. I sense they have come to expect this of LaTroy. He has turned into a joke in Wrigleyville, which is unfortunate.
-- Matt Plischke, Chicago (1:31 p.m.)

Even being a Cardinals fan, I cringe every time I see Hawkins take the mound. I feel downright bad for the guy -- but he does play for the Cubs.
-- Alex, Georgetown, Ill. (1:31 p.m.)

I'd rather sulk alone in last place than get any pity from Cardinals fans ... unless they wanna give up Izzy and Ray King
-- Morgan, Peoria, Ill. (1:51 p.m.)

I agree with you, JL, that a good reliever should be good in any spot. But look at Dotel. He was among the game's best setup men but is a disaster as a closer. Lidge was among the game's best setup men, and there's nobody in baseball I'd rather have out there with a one-run lead and one inning to go.
-- Billy, Austin, Texas (1:55 p.m.)

Good luck, Cubs fans. You are seeing what we in Minnesota had to deal with when you send Hawkins to the mound. Best thing that happened for the Twins was Hawkins signing with Chicago. We just wish it was the White Sox.
-- Blair Sorvari, Minneapolis (2:01 p.m.)

This notion of a closer having to be a "clutch reliever" is nonsense. It's the setup men, NOT closers, who must be clutch performers. They're the ones that get thrown into games in the most trying circumstances -- often with runners on with leads or deficits of one or two runs. Nine out of 10 closers today start the ninth innning with no mess to work out of.
-- Sandy , Brooklyn (2:21 p.m.)

I guess my team doesn't even get mentioned because they aren't even considered a part of MLB anymore.
-- Zach, Kansas City, Mo. (2:41 p.m.)

No one is looking at what pitching coaches can do for relievers. When Hawkins was with Minnesota in 2003 he was the most dominating setup man in the game. He was lights out against the Yankees in the playoffs. A large amount of credit has to go to Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson. They found a role for LaTroy in which he could gain confidence through good mechanics. He was a hot commodity in the offseason and the Cubs payed big bucks to get him, but they should have also traded for his pitching coach. Look what happens to Braves pitchers when they leave Leo Mazzone.
-- Nick, Minneapolis (2:46 p.m.)

I read the headline and immediately had a flashback: Cecilio Guante.
-- Dvorak, Indiana, Pa. (2:51 p.m.)

Ever since Hawkins' "I can do your job, but you can't do mine" lashing out at the media, it has brutally come back to bite him. I'll bet any sports writer can go out to Wrigley Field and give up a tater anytime.
-- Marie, Sugar Grove, Ill. (3:11 p.m.)

Blaming LaTroy for the Cubs' woes is insane. Blame those responsible, Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry, who didn't go after a true closer. But typical of Cubs fans, a scapegoat and an excuse are the order of the day.
-- Ken J., Chicago (3:16 p.m.)

How can we even have this conversation without mentioning Byung-Hyun Kim? That guy is a disaster waiting to happen at all times and now he is in Colorado. What genius thought that was a match made in heaven?
-- Ike P., Tuscaloosa, Ala. (3:16 p.m.)

Disparaging Cecilio Guante? Next thing we know, you'll be saying bad things about Rod Scurry.
-- Jeff, Indianapolis (3:36 p.m.)

The more each Hawkins appearance ends in disaster, the more my brain harkens back to The Natural and the droll phrase, "Losing is a disease ..." It is so befitting of the Cubs' ethos that these events are no longer tragic -- just maddeningly depressive.
-- Cale, New Orleans (5:16 p.m.)