Can Mark Melancon finally be the shutdown closer he was supposed to be? For two years, he’s alternated between being hurt, ineffective, and effective-but-not-that-effective. Bruce Bochy will make encouraging comments to the media — “I think he’s throwing the ball really well right now” or “You know, he’s finally pain-free in his shoulder, and that’s big” or “I’m so confident that Mark won’t give up a run this inning that if he does, I’ve instructed Bam-Bam to pie me in the face, which surely won’t OH BANANAS” — and then, well, oh bananas.
But this year could be different, right?