David Aardsma has gone from closing games at Rice a year ago to pitching in the late innings for the defending N.L. West champion Giants. He appears to have spent seven minutes in the minors; his new teammate, veteran reliever Matt Herges, spent more than seven years.

"A year out of college, I was praying I'd make the Bakersfield Dodgers' roster in (Class) A ball," Herges recalls, chuckling. "I had no clue about how to throw a changeup or curveball, just raring back and throwing as hard as I could, probably hitting 92 at my best."

Aardsma, 22, tops out at ...

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