Skip to main content

Cardinals’ Rosenthal leads majors with 34 saves

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Trevor Rosenthal’s fastball tickles the triple digits, he has developed a nasty change-up and keeps his cool.

The 24-year-old right-hander leads the major leagues with 34 saves in his first season as the closer is a perfect fit for the St. Louis Cardinals.

“You guys have seen his demeanor, whether it’s on the mound or in the clubhouse afterward, it’s pretty consistent when he shuts the door and when he’s had struggles,” manager Mike Matheny told reporters. “I think that’s one of those key characteristics of a guy who can do that job.”

That’s been the profile of most of the team’s successful closers over the years. Jason Motte, who’s regaining his footing coming off reconstructive elbow surgery, is more of a happy-go-lucky sort. Jason Isringhausen had a matter-of-fact demeanor and made it a point to be at his locker stall and face the music after the blown saves. Lee Smith, Tom Henke and Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter, too.

“It’s fun, being the last guy out there,” Rosenthal said. “Getting these wins is not something that I take for granted. It’s definitely special.”

The former 21st-round draft pick out of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, took charge last September when Edward Mujica faltered. He has been a key piece ever since for the defending National League champions, who were a game back in the Central Division entering Monday after taking two of three from first-place Milwaukee over the weekend.

He saved both victories. On Sunday, he gave up a hit and walk but struck out Scooter Gennett and Carlos Gomez to end it. More impressive, he finished off Saturday’s win by freezing Gerardo Parra with an off-speed delivery.

“Even last year, he had a good one,” catcher Tony Cruz said. “We figured it out that’s his second-best pitch.”

Cruz didn’t hesitate to call for the change-up, which keeps hitters from timing even the best fastball over an extended at-bat.

“The best pitch he threw was the last pitch of the game,” Matheny said. “He pulled the string. If he misses with it, everybody’s probably got another topic they want to talk about right now. That’s the guts of being a closer and guts of behind the plate and understanding.”

Rosenthal has been durable, leading the team with 51 appearances. Implacable, too, calmly taking responsibility after the infrequent tough outings, showcased by the 1-5 record and 3.14 ERA.

“I feel like my mentality has been pretty consistent,” he said. “There’s ups and downs.”

Rosenthal struggled with control early in the season, and walked 26 batters in his first 42 1-3 innings. He’d made eight straight walk-free appearances before Sunday.

Matheny said the job is still new for Rosenthal, who was the setup man before last September.

“Anything you do at this level in a different role is a bit of a learning curve, whether through the long haul of the season or short term,” the manager said.

The back end of the bullpen has been a delight for the manager. Rosenthal has made eight consecutive saves since July 9, three of them against the Brewers, and side-arming setup man Pat Neshek was a National League All-Star. Neshek has a microscopic 0.79 ERA and has surrendered runs in just four of his 50 appearances.

Rosenthal was a starter in the minors and when he got to the majors that was his goal. Now that he’s had so much success at closing, he’s not so sure.

“It’s good to have seen both sides of it,” he said. “I’d have to think about it.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote