The biggest mystery of spring training is over already. Clint Hurdle named Joel Hanrahan as his closer, with Evan Meek his set-up guy.
We're assuming that leaves Chris Resop and Joe Beimel as the seventh inning bridge arms and three spots up for grabs. If you get excited watching a free-for-all over the long (OK, mop-up) pitchers' position, boy, is this is your year!
Hanrahan, 29, was 4-1-6 with a 3.62 ERA and struck out 100 batters in 69-2/3 frames. He saved 14 games in 2008-09 with the Nationals, which makes him the wily veteran of the pair (Hanrahan has 4 years and 269 innings under his belt compared to Meek's three campaigns and 140 innings.)
Meek, 27, was 5-4-4 with a 2.14 ERA and had 70 K in 80 IP. His WHIP was an impressive 1.050 in 2010, but our guess is a little prior experience and the huge whiff rate won the day for Hanny.
Now to find that fifth starter...
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