C-Mac has consistently defended Clay Holmes from a level of criticism he believes is unfair toward the Yankee closer, and on Friday morning, he brought receipts to back his case.
“I hear it all the time that Clay Holmes is not a good enough closer and will cost them in the playoffs,” C-Mac said. “But the number one argument that I have a big problem with is the strikeout complaint about Clay Holmes. While I agree that the Yankee bullpen in general doesn’t have enough swing and miss…I don’t think it necessarily has to come from the closer.”
To back up his claim, C-Mac compared Holmes with one of the best, if not the best, closer in the game.
“Who is the most dominant closer in the game? I think many would agree that Emmanuel Clase is the most dominant closer in baseball right now,” C-Mac said. “He has pitched 56 innings, has 49 strikeouts, for a K/9 rate of 7.8. Clay Holmes has pitched in 48 innings, he has 51 strikeouts…his strikeout per nine is 9.6. Clay Holmes, Mr. ‘Can’t be a closer’ because he doesn’t miss enough bats…he’s striking out almost two more batters per nine innings.”
So, the strikeouts complaint about Clay Holmes? C-Mac doesn’t want to hear it anymore.