It was supposed to be the perfect match.
The Giants had a solid team in place. They put a scare into the eventual World Champion Chicago Cubs in the 2016 NLDS. But a wobbly bullpen that limped through the season imploded in the playoffs, and the Giants knew that they would have to do some work.
Enter Mark Melancon.
The Giants signed Melancon – one of the top closers in the league over the past few seasons – to a 4 year, $62 million contract, with the vision of having the ninth inning locked down and having the rest of the bullpen find their roles.
So far, no good. It never quite worked from the start, literally, when Melancon blew a save in the ninth inning on Opening Day against the Diamondbacks, and it hasn’t got much better since. Melancon has blown four saves on the season, has a 4.35 ERA and is currently on the disabled list.
Melancon joined Tolbert and Lund on KNBR Tuesday afternoon to discuss his rollercoaster 2017 season and how his rehab is going.
“I learned you can’t rush back because it just bites you in the butt,” Melancon said. “It’s been frustrating all year, but just I didn’t want to go down on the DL to begin with and it was kind of to that point to where I had to.”
Melancon hasn’t been 100 percent healthy for much of the season. The 32-year-old had a DL stint in May and toughed it out at times during the season, but was placed on the 10-day disabled list again on June 28 with a right pronator strain. After recording 131 saves over the past three seasons, Melancon has just 11 so far this year.
“There’s just nothing like being on the DL,” Melancon said. “You feel like you’re invisible and worthless and all the rest but it’s important that you’re healthy. It’s just not a fun place to be.”
It hasn’t been any better for Melancon off the field, as a Fox Sports story last month speculated that Melancon was a source of some clubhouse tension earlier this season. Despite the individual and team struggles, Melancon is still holding an optimistic outlook on the rest of the season and the Giants (slim) playoff hopes.
“I sure would like to make a run at it, as far-fetched and crazy as it sounds,” Melancon said. “This team is too good, we’ve got too many veteran guys to give up. I know it’s a long shot, I’m not painting this perfect picture, but I’m optimistic.”
The full interview with Melancon is available below.