Never had Russell Martin seen Jonathan Broxton the way he saw him Saturday night.
Broxton didn't hesitate. He seemed completely sure of himself. And when he struck out Alfonso Soriano to end the game and preserve the Dodgers' 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs, he did something no Dodgers pitcher had done in two decades: close out a playoff series.
"That's the best I've ever seen Broxton pitch," Martin said.
Broxton's dominance in recording the four-out save that night -- and designated closer Takashi Saito's troubles in Game 2 -- could force Manager Joe Torre to reconsider their roles with the National League Championship Series opening Thursday in Philadelphia.
What was previously unknown about the 24-year-old with the 100-mph fastball -- his ability to handle the big moment -- became known Saturday.
"I wanted it," Broxton said. "I wanted it a lot."
From his station behind home plate, Martin said he didn't sense that Broxton had any fears or doubts. He didn't fidget or look around.
"He just needs to let it go like he did," Martin said. "He was a beast [Saturday]. It was fun to catch him."
General Manager Ned Colletti smiled and shook his head.
"He went right after them," Colletti said. "He didn't lack confidence."
Dealing with situations like that one was something Colletti and Broxton talked about at the end of the 2007 season, when the Dodgers finished fourth in the NL West.
"Fifty-three weeks ago, we had a great conversation," Colletti said. "We talked about what it would take for him to be as great as he could be. We talked about competing."
"He told me we got our butts handed to us," Broxton said. "He said, 'Let's return some of the butt-whippings next year.' "
Broxton said Colletti's words stayed with him throughout the winter.
Nothing came easily for Broxton this season.
He was moved from the setup to closing role in July when Saito went down with a sprained elbow ligament, but the two-month trial period had its ups and downs. Torre said that Broxton sometimes had problems with mechanics because his 300-pound frame didn't always cooperate.
What became clear as the playoffs neared was that Torre seemed intent on making Saito his closer again.
On the day the series with the Cubs started, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt told Saito that he would be the Dodgers' closer. Honeycutt then told Broxton that he would be pitching the eighth.
