Mark Melancon still bristles when it's brought up. And not just a little bit.
To confess here, I tried the topic again Tuesday afternoon in the Pirates' clubhouse at PNC Park, feeling that maybe this was finally the time he'd come forth. Because now, unlike April, unlike when his trademark cut fastballs were registering 3-4 mph below his norm, unlike when Clint Hurdle spoke with open concern that his closer might be hurt, unlike when a franchise and its fan base held its unified breath that this wasn't the case, unlike when the most mild-mannered man you'd ever meet was getting visibly agitated with being asked about "the velocity thing" night after night ... yeah, so very much unlike the totality of that context, all the guy's done in the interim is to become the very best at what he does.
As in striking out the side later in the evening for his 24th save in 25 opportunities, one that tied a bow on the 7-6 rally past the Reds.
As in moving one save above the Twins' Glen Perkins atop Major League Baseball.
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