Krukow: Melancon Could Help Turn Law, Strickland Into Closers

Mark Melancon is the Giants' new closer.

On Tuesday morning, Mike Krukow broke down San Francisco's latest acquisition.

"Number one, he's gonna fit in beautifully," Krukow said on KNBR 680. "He's gonna anchor down that bullpen ... that solves a lot ... when you have a guy that anchors the ninth, everybody else settles into a role. And they think that they have enough talent down there to have a good bullpen. And I agree with them.

"A strike-thrower that puts the ball on the ground that can get a strikeout and basically keeps the ball off the barrel of the bat, that's a commodity. And he's just a bull. He works quick. You're gonna see some quick ninth innings. He doesn't jimmy-jack around.

"And I think he's gonna be very appreciative of the gloves that are behind him in that infield. When you're a guy that puts the ball on the ground, you really rely on your defense ... you got Gold Glovers everywhere."

How will Melancon's presence impact other guys in the bullpen, such as Derek Law and Hunter Strickland?

"It allows guys a chance to develop," Krukow said. "You can't hide in that ninth inning. If you're a guy like Strickland right now -- who we all think has great stuff but he doesn't have the dimension of movement on his fastball that Melancon has -- when Melancon comes into that bullpen he's gonna help guys like Law, like Strickland. He's gonna show them how he throws his cutter and then perhaps they may apply that type of particular movement to their arm angle.

"And lo and behold, all of a sudden, you may have a guy become another pitcher in the bullpen to be responsible for a whole inning -- to get both righties and lefties out. This was the path that Melancon was on when he first got to big leagues. He was not really a guy looked at as being capable to pitch a full inning, but he learned how to do it.

"And that's what you do at the big league level when you have great talent like Strickland or Law -- you have a guy come in and show you how to get to that next level."

Law, 26, went 4-2 with a 2.13 ERA over 61 appearances last season.

Strickland, 28, went 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA over 72 games in 2016.

Melancon, who will turn 32 in March, has racked up 131 saves in 141 opportunities over the last three seasons.

"Then you talk about the guy in the clubhouse -- very solid citizen," Krukow added.
 

Copyright CSNBY - CSN BAY
Contact Us