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Setup men run hot and cold; By David Lennon, Newsday
Topic Started: Feb 27 2006, 02:02 AM (20 Views)
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The ugly baseball-size bruise on the side of Paul Lo Duca's left thigh was showing improvement, changing from a dark purple to a lighter scarlet around the edges. It was a souvenir from Friday's batting practice, courtesy of Duaner Sanchez, his former teammate on the Dodgers.

Sanchez drilled him with his first pitch that afternoon, a fastball that Lo Duca knew was coming and still could not avoid. The inside heat was an indication that Sanchez is not shy about firing bullets, regardless of the situation.

"He's got -- -- ," Lo Duca said, using a more colorful expression for guts.

That's what the Mets want in the back end of the bullpen for 2006. It's why they moved quickly to sign Billy Wagner, making him the highest-paid closer in the game, and why general manager Omar Minaya pulled the trigger on a pair of controversial trades for Sanchez and the Orioles' Jorge Julio this winter.

With Aaron Heilman seeking a return to the starting rotation, Minaya needed a reliable setup man for Wagner, and it appears that Sanchez is the most likely candidate to fill that role.

He didn't come cheaply. The Mets surrendered Jae Seo, their best second-half starter from last season.

But Sanchez, unlike the shaky Julio, is an intimidator perfect for the late innings. Sanchez, who was 8-for-8 in save opportunities after Aug. 15, held opponents to a .188 average and had a 2.45 ERA in his last 22 appearances.


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