When Rafael Soriano showed up for the first day of spring training last season, the Tampa Bay Rays had no idea what to expect. They knew him from afar, a 6-1, 220-pound righthander with a menacing stare and a mid-90s fastball that helped him pile up saves with the Atlanta Braves. But neither manager Joe Maddon nor anyone else on his coaching staff really knew their new closer.He didn't make a good first impression.
"He came in and told us what he wanted to do to get ready for the season and how he wanted to be used during it," Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey told the Daily News in a telephone interview Friday. "That usually goes over like a lead balloon."
It didn't take long for Soriano to change everyone's take. He seemed to be conserving himself physically in the first weeks of spring training, but it turned out to be a prelude to a season where he was arguably the most reliable, durable and effective finisher in baseball. Soriano was 'lights out' from Opening Day through the end of the season. He had a 3-2 record with 45 saves in 48 opportunities and posted a stunning 1.73 ERA over 64 appearances as the Rays won the AL East.
"It turned out he knew exactly what he needed to be the most effective player he could be," Hickey said. "He was the consummate pro. He took the ball every time he was asked, pitched well almost every single time we called on him and on days when I expected he would tell me he couldn't pitch he almost always said ‘whatever you need from me today.'
"I wish we were the ones signed up for three more years with him."
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"I know people may wonder about how he will do going back to not finishing games, but I don't think there's any reason to think he will be less effective," Hickey said. "He's getting the ball to Mariano Rivera for the ninth inning. That's the same as pitching to end the game. At least that's how it's been with Rivera for the last 15 years."
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There are some negative perceptions of Soriano in baseball, that he won't pitch through pain and that he resented being asked to pitch in non-save situations. Hickey saw none of it during their one year together. "I might have learned something else were there more adversity," he said, "but there never was any. It was smooth sailing through the whole season."
Soriano wanted a big-money deal this offseason, which may be the reason he fired agent Peter Greenberg in favor of Scott Boras. It seemed harsh treatment after Greenberg had taken the bold gamble that resulted in a closing role on a contending team with a $7.25 million contract. The Braves had signed Billy Wagner to close in 2010, but offered Soriano salary arbitration to ensure they'd get draft picks when he signed elsewhere; Greenberg had Soriano accept the offer so they could orchestrate the trade to the Rays.
But it's Soriano's pitching that is most important to the Yankees and their fans, and on that note he excels. Soriano throws two- and four-seam fastballs and mixes them with a cutter, a slider and an occasional changeup.
"He's not a 'stuff guy' even though he has great stuff and his career isn't defined by one incredible pitch that he throws," Hickey said. "He knows how to pitch, how to use all his pitches, and he is incredible at reading the hitters."
Hickey said it was not uncommon last season for Soriano to show up in the dugout during one of the early innings to point out that certain hitters were looking for specific pitches and to suggest what they might be vulnerable against.
"How many closers do things like that?" Hickey asked. "But that's just Soriano. He was a great teammate to our guys.
"Now he's pitching in our division against us. I can only hope he struggles."
1/16/2011 9:03 PM
