There's no question as to what kept the Los Angeles Angels from not only taking the AL West but just making the postseason. It was that horrific back end of the Angels' bullpen that blew an unreal 22 saves in 2012.
The Angels took a big step toward solving that problem on Tuesday when they agreed to a deal with former Phillies closer Ryan Madson, who actually signed with the Reds last offseason but missed all of 2012 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He's expected to be ready to pitch by April.
That now means Madson will likely take over at closer for the electric, yet wild, Ernesto Frieri, who walked 26 batters in 54 1/3 innings and had three of his team's 22 blown saves. He took over the closer role from Mansfield's Jordan Walden and Scott Downs.
Now pretty much everyone in the back of the Angels' bullpen has been a closer at one time or another, and if Madson comes back like he's expected to, they will have a top-notch closer back there to close out games.
Now, if the Angels could just figure out that once-feared starting rotation.