Astros' All-Time Best Seasons: Closing Pitchers

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Our next closer is Doug Jones, who actually joined the Astros as a free agent prior to the 1992 season. Doug was a three-time all-star with the Cleveland Indians during the first seven years of his career. Jones came to Houston with a 3.08 ERA and 129 saves credited to his name.

Doug Jones (Credit: Houston Astros)

Just for fun: Jones’ earned salary figures of $1,650,000 in ’92 while getting a pay raise to $2,500,000 for the 1993 season. Baseball-reference notes that the former season includes $900,000 in earned bonuses; latter $450,000.

Onward to his 1992 stats:

1.85 ERA
2.29 FIP
1.012 WHIP
36 saves/42 opportunities (85.7%)
70 games finished
111 2/3 innings pitched
5 home runs allowed (0.4 HR/9)
93 strikeouts to 17 walks (5.47 K/BB)

Jones finished his career with a sub .500 record. Following an 18-year career that saw him suit up for 7 MLB teams, Jones finished with 303 saves and 3.30 ERA. With a career strikeout to inning rate less than 1 (909/1128), I had doubts that he had great velocity. Jones’ success as a closer was actually a circle-change up that helped him establish a career despite a mid-80’s fastball.

Next: 1999: Billy Wagner