Lindstrom or Lind-storm?

Astros closer Matt Lindstrom has been making a art of choking away a lead or a tie ball game as of lately. Here are a two reasons why.



Ouch: His back hurts! As manager, Brad Mills, said. "He isn't one to pass up a weight room." Meaning Lindstrom is a gym rat and probably takes out his frustration of a tough outing by lifting a lot. As a ex-gym rat I can tell you it is a very good release, but as with anything, it's only good in moderation. All that lifting combined with what I'm guessing is a lack of sleep and a hectic travel schedule is more than enough to cause a couple a back spasms. I can speak from experience on how hard it is to play, let alone pitch with your back muscles trying to what feels like breaking your own vertebrae. Astros mlb.com writer Brian McTaggart reported that Lindstrom purchased a bed in the $5,000 dollar range to help. Very wise investment if you ask me.



Natural High: Closers are adrenaline junkies. Everyone has heard of the "fight or flight" response. Closers genetically always fight. Have you ever wondered why you don't bring a closer into a non-save situation? Or why when they are brought into a non-save situation they botch it up into a save? It's because they need the rush and love the pressure.

I hate to say the words "modern day closers" because the idea of a closer is still pretty new to baseball. So new that you can actually see a difference in the motions and arsenal of pitches. Closers like Mario Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Billy Wagner, and I'll throw in Brad Lidge for good measure, have a motion very similar to a starter but have one very different quality; they have a pitch that breaks down in the "zone" causing batters to either strike out or ground out.

On the other hand, we look at closers that have abnormal mechanics. Francisco Rodriguez, Jose Valverde, and Matt Lindstrom have a more "jerky" motion than what is considered normal. They too have one thing in common; when they were born the baseball gods reached down and turned their throwing arm into a lightning bolt (to quote the movie "Bull Durham"). I honestly believe that when Matt throws a pitch out of the wind up, he prays that it winds up in the area the catcher put his mitt.

Lindstrom is a good closer. Don't talk about his blown saves because he hasn't been put into true pressure situations (Astros are not in a play off race). He and his good friend, Uncle Charlie, will come through when the time is set.

It's hot. It's humid. It's Houston. Thanks for reading. I don't proof read so call me out on Twitter.