The Craig Kimbrel experience: How the Dodgers closer flips the switch from fun to fierce
LOS ANGELES — It begins with the first chords of "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, Slash's opening guitar riff echoing around Dodger Stadium.
The crowd starts to buzz. The bullpen door swings open. And out lumbers the man with the scruffy beard, curly-haired ponytail and 381 career saves — his unflinching demeanor as stoic as it is imposing as he trots across the field and climbs atop the mound.
It's all part of the Craig Kimbrel experience. And for the first time this season, Dodgers fans have seen it up close.
Traded to the team before the season, in hopes he could fill a Kenley Jansen-sized hole at the back of the bullpen, Kimbrel's addition thus far has been a success.
He has converted all nine of his save opportunities, despite a couple of close calls. He has a 3.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings, flashing an overpowering arsenal that has made him the sport's active career saves leader and all-time leader in strikeout percentage.
And he has given ninth innings at Dodger Stadium a new flair, his
