Buck Showalter is right. During spring training, whenever the Orioles manager was asked about his superlative closer, Showalter would say that Zach Britton’s 2016 season was one that can’t be duplicated.
Even though Britton has started 2017 with five saves in as many opportunities and run his consecutive save streak to 54, it seems unlikely that he’ll break former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne’s record.
Gagne converted 84 consecutive saves from Aug. 28, 2002 to July 3, 2004, and Britton needs 31 more to best him.
How amazing is Britton’s streak? Since Sept. 20, 2015 when Britton failed to convert on a save at Tampa Bay and suffered a lat injury that caused him to miss a week, he’s been nearly perfect.
