Oct. 9--ST. PETERSBURG -- He talks to himself, even shouts to himself as he races in from the bullpen to the rescue. He's from Down Under, but Over The Top works for the man from Sydney, Australia, who could moonlight as a Tasmanian Devil.
"He's an animal, man," Rays reliever J.P. Howell said.
"We definitely say that in a loving way," Rays center fielder B.J. Upton said. "He gives us a boost when we need it. You see him screaming at himself. Peps you right up."
He's Grant Balfour, 30, the Rays' Mad Max. A friendly, peaceful sort -- until you hand him the baseball. He might just match Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon for pure heat and intensity when the Rays face Boston in the ALCS.
There was Balfour's memorable showdown with the Sox at the Trop in early July, when he escaped a bases loaded jam in the eighth, then struck out three in the ninth for the save. And there was his salty throw-down with White Sox dirt kicker Orlando Cabrera in the ALDS. Balfour won that with a 96 mph strikeout. Then he told Cabrera to sit down, though not in those exact words.
"I definitely will not back down," Balfour said. "I'll stand my ground. That's what we've done as a team this year."
Balfour's year with the Rays began two months into this season. He didn't make the team in spring training. The fire in his belly burned down all comers at Triple-A Durham until, boomerang, baby, he joined the big club.
He has kept Aussie chip on his shoulder to become truly dominant, a closer disguised as a set-up man. Balfour struck out 82 in 581/3 innings, held hitters to a .143 average and had an 1.54 ERA. It's been more of the same in the postseason.
There are evenings when Balfour throws nothing but fastballs. But it's that weapons-grade approach, all emotion all the time, that blows people away.
"I found something that works for me," Balfour said.
"He pitches better when he's angry," said Ray manager Joe Maddon, who likens Balfour to Al Hrabosky, a famously rabid closer. Rays pitching assistant Brian Anderson sees someone else.
"The Incredible Hulk," Anderson said. "Grant is 180 degrees different off the field. He's a nice, likable guy. But on the mound, he's clinically crazy. When danger arises, he goes off. His eyes and face tighten up. He's challenging himself, challenging hitters. He's the Hulk. Yeah, he might as well rip his shirt off and turn green."
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