Closer Struggles

As the Nationals remain atop the NL East, a troubling sign has emerged as temp closer Henry Rodriguez struggles to find his grove. Things started off strongly but are rocky as of late, blowing a save in Cincinnati and loading the bases last night against the Padres. Skipper Davey Johnson brought in Sean Burnett to close the door, which he did successfully. Unfortunately, these haven't been isolated incidents as of late, leading many fans to call for a new close, like Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, or Sean Burnett. However, I believe HotRod should be given at least one more shot. When he's in the right state of mind, he is very difficult to hit. A 100 MPH fastball is one hell of a weapon when aimed properly. But, if his struggles do continue, look for Johnson to go in a different direction, as HotRod isn't his permanent closer.