MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Feliz provides needed experience closing games

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Brewers reliever Neftali Feliz worked out Monday for the first time with his new team.

PHOENIX - Neftali Feliz reported to the Milwaukee Brewers’ camp Monday, nearly a week behind schedule, but manager Craig Counsell used a different calendar from a previous closer to dispute that notion.

“Frankie Rodriguez is our guideline,” Counsell joked.

Rodriguez often reported late from Venezuela because of visa issues, the same problem that delayed Feliz’s arrival from the Dominican Republic. But experienced closers don’t need nearly as much work to get ready during spring training, so it was all good.

“We’ve got plenty of time,” Counsell said. “He’ll throw a light bullpen today and be part of it.  He has been throwing. We’ve known that. He was aware that everyone was here and started already. He’s ready to go.”

Feliz, 28, signed a $5.35 million deal with the Brewers in January, giving them the ninth-inning pitcher they lost when Tyler Thornburg was traded to Boston at the winter meetings. Thornburg had inherited that role when Jeremy Jeffress was traded to Texas last Aug. 1.

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Feliz was among a large group of experienced late-inning relievers on the market, but the Brewers targeted him for several reasons. He had a background as a highly successful closer early in his career with Texas and after needing some time to recover from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery was throwing well again last season as a setup man in Pittsburgh.

“It’s good for us when it works out that this was the guy we really wanted to get, and we were able to,” Counsell said. “Free agency doesn’t always work like that, but this was the guy that we targeted and were able to get him.

“We felt last year he got back to the form that he had early in his career. He fought through some injuries. It affected him for a while, but the guy we saw last year was the guy that’s been a dominant reliever in (the majors).”

Feliz had offers from other clubs but coveted the chance to get back to closing. From 2010-’11 he saved 72 games before briefly being converted to starting by the Rangers, then blowing out his elbow.

“Obviously, you miss it,” Feliz said of closing. “It’s something I got used to from the beginning. I did it for a few years. It was fun; I enjoyed it a lot. It got the adrenaline going.

“Whether I’m closing or not, I’m going to give 100%. It’s what I’ve been doing the last couple of years. I’m just focused on getting outs, really. Whether I’m the closer or not, I’m thankful to the team for giving me the opportunity. Whatever role they give me, I’ll be ready to go.”

That’s music to the ears of Counsell, who is not enamored with the term “closer.” He constantly emphasizes the importance of  “getting outs,” be it in the ninth inning or the sixth.

“Neftali is going to get really important outs for us,” Counsell said. “That’s what we signed him to do. Someone is going to finish the game. It certainly could be Neftali. He’s got experience doing that. He has been really good doing that.

“He’s got all the ability to be the guy to get you those big outs at the end of the game. That’s why Neftali is here. He’s got a track record. What we saw last year was him getting back to the player that broke into the big leagues and was really a dynamic arm and reliever, and capable of great things.”

Feliz was shut down by the Pirates last September with biceps fatigue but said his arm is “100%” now. He understands the Brewers are in rebuilding mode and looks forward to helping the process, on and off the field.

“It’s a very young team but there are really good players here,” he said, with the help of translator Carlos Brizuela. “You go out there to win every game, play hard and try to help these guys win as many games as we can.

“I will try to help them as much as I can, just teaching. Tell them when they’re doing good stuff, tell them when they’re doing bad stuff. Guys did it for me (when he was younger) and I look forward to doing it for other guys. It’s something I enjoy doing.”