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Sunday, June 10, 2007 Houston Astros Brad Lidge to Closer in place of Dan Wheeler Dan Wheeler to 1st in line in place of Brad Lidge Chad Qualls still 2nd in line Manager Phil Garner announced yesterday that Lidge would be transitioned back in to the closers' day in a few days. Lidge has not allowed a run over his last 10 outings and has a 1.24 WHIP on the season in 30+ IP with 40 K, 0 saves and 6 holds. Wheeler has allowed 9 runs in 5 May outings and has a 1.20 WHIP on the season in 28+ IP with 34 K and 11 saves in 13 chances. Toronto Blue Jays Jeremy Accardo still Closer Casey Janssen still 1st in line Jason Frasor still 2nd in line Janssen threw 2 scoreless innings in a 1-0 game last night to record his third save of the year; 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Accardo was unavailable after throwing 40 pitches over the previous two days. Janssen has emerged as a quality setup man this year, despite just 12 K in 33 IP. The 25-year-old has a 1.03 WHIP and 1.09 ERA with 9 holds in 27 games. Saturday, June 9, 2007 Houston Astros Dan Wheeler to Closer in place of Brad Lidge Brad Lidge to 1st in line in place of Dan Wheeler Chad Qualls still 2nd in line Wheeler pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout inning in a 5-2 game yesterday for his 11th save of the year. Prior to the game, manager Phil Garner announced that Wheeler is still the teams' closer, despite his recent struggles and Lidge's resurgence. Lidge set Wheeler up last night with a scoreless 8th inning. The former dominant closer, Lidge, remains a very close next in line closer here. Washington Nationals Chad Cordero still Closer Jon Rauch still 1st in line Jesus Colome still 2nd in line Saul Rivera got the final out in an 8th inning jam and stayed on for the 9th to record his second save of the season yesterday in a 8-5 final; 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Rivera has emerged as a solid setup man this year and is close to Colome for 2nd in line honors on this list. The 29-year-old Rivera has a 1.23 WHIP in 33+ IP with 23 K and 8 holds on the season. Rauch has struggled after showing promise as a closer option while Cordero was out on bereavement earlier this year. The 28-year-old Rauch has allowed runs in 5 of his past 8 outings with his ERA up to 5.76 on the season. Friday, June 8, 2007 Houston Astros Brad Lidge to Closer in place of Dan Wheeler Dan Wheeler to 1st in line in place of Brad Lidge Chad Qualls still 2nd in line Wheeler blew a save and took the loss yesterday while giving up 3 ninth inning runs; 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Wheeler has been bad in May allowing 9 runs over 3+ IP in 4 outings. Lidge set up yesterday with a perfect, 1 strikeout 8th inning. Manager Phil Garner mentioned on Wednesday that Lidge was ready to close again, but wasn't sure if he wanted to change the current makeup of his bullpen. Wheeler's poor outing yesterday may prompt Lidge getting his job back. The 30-year-old Lidge has been dominant of late not allowing a run over his past 9 outings; 10 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 13 K. San Francisco Giants Brad Hennessey still Closer Kevin Correia still 1st in line Randy Messenger still 2nd in line Steve Kline pitched a perfect 11th inning in a 5-4 game last night for his first save of the season. Hennessey pitched a scoreless ninth when the game was tied. The 34-year-old Kline has unimpressive numbers this year with a 1.67 WHIP and 5.65 ERA in 14+ IP this year with 5 BB, 3 K and 2 holds. The left handed is effective versus left hand hitters, .654 opposition OPS, and not against right hand hitters, .990 opposition OPS. Thursday, June 7, 2007 Oakland A's Alan Embree still Closer Santiago Casilla to 1st in line in place of Huston Street Huston Street DL to 2nd in line in place of Santiago Casilla Casilla got the final out in the 8th last night of a 3-2 game, then stayed on for a scoreless 9th to record his first career save; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Embree was unavailable after appearing on three straight days. The 26-year-old Casilla now has 3 scoreless outings since being recalled from AAA this past weekend; 3+ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K and 1 hold. Street played catch yesterday for the first time since landing on the DL in mid-May with an elbow injury. The A's closer talked earlier this week about returning around the all-star break in a best case scenario. Cincinnati Reds David Weathers still Closer Marcus McBeth to 1st in line in place of Mike Stanton Eddie Guardado DL still 2nd in line McBeth made his major league debut last night with a perfect inning in a losing effort for the reeling Reds. The 26-year-old was a decent relief prospect with Oakland entering this season and came to the Reds in the Chris Denorfia deal. McBeth had impressive numbers in 20 AAA outings this year split between the two organizations; 0.95 WHIP in 22 IP with 17 K and 11 saves. Stanton has been a disappointment this season with a 1.64 WHIP and 5.06 ERA in 21+ IP with 16 K, zero saves and just 3 holds. Guardado is currently pitching in the minors on a rehab from Tommy John elbow surgery. Every day Eddie could join the Reds later this month and challenge Weathers for the closers' role upon his return. Wednesday, June 6, 2007 Kansas City Royals Octavio Dotel still Closer Joakim Soria to 1st in line in place of Zack Greinke Zack Greinke to 2nd in line in place of David Riske Soria is to be activated from the DL on Thursday and move in to a set up role. Manager Buddy Bell indicated on Tuesday that Dotel will remain the Royals' closer. The 23-year-old Rule V pick, Soria had a 1.37 WHIP in 22+ IP with 25 K, 10 saves and 2 holds prior to going on the DL with a shoulder injury. Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster still Closer Bob Howry to 1st in line in place of Angel Guzman Carlos Marmol to 2nd in line in place of Bob Howry Guzman is expected to be placed on the DL with a forearm injury. The Cubs plans of grooming the 25-year-old as their future closer will have to be put on hold. Guzman had a 1.30 WHIP in 5 relief appearance over 7+ IP with 5 K and no holds after being moved from the starting rotation. Dempster has 7 scoreless appearances since the 5 run loss outing he had back in mid-May that had the Cubs talking about moving the veteran in to the starting rotation. The 30-year-old has just 1 blown save on the season and solid overall numbers; 1.01 WHIP in 25+ IP with 26 K. Veteran setup man Howry has had an inconsistent season with a 1.50 WHIP in 26+ IP with 17 K and 6 holds. The 24-year-old Marmol hasn't allowed a run in 8 appearances this year with a 0.72 WHIP in 8+ IP with 10 K and no holds. Tuesday, June 5, 2007 Los Angeles Dodgers Takashi Saito still Closer Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line Brett Tomko still 2nd in line Broxton recorded his first save of the season yesterday allowing 1 ninth inning run in a 5-4 final; 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Saito remains day to day with a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old future closer, Broxton has a 1.27 WHIP in 30 IP on the season with 34 K and 13 holds. Monday, June 4, 2007 Los Angeles Dodgers Takashi Saito still Closer Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line Brett Tomko still 2nd in line Joe Beimel got the final two outs in a 5-4 game yesterday for his third career save. Saito had to leave the save opportunity with a hamstring injury and is considered day to day. The left handed Beimel is tough on left hand hitters evidenced by a .507 opposition OPS, with a .693 mark versus right handers. The 30-year-old has a 1.18 WHIP in 24+ IP with 10 K and 4 holds on the season. Oakland A's Alan Embree still Closer Huston Street DL to 1st in line in place of Kiko Calero Santiago Casilla to 2nd in line in place of Jay Witasick The A's released Witasick on Sunday and recalled Casilla from AAA. The former future closer, Casilla, made his 2007 major league debut yesterday picking up a hold while striking out 3 of the 4 batters he faced. The 26-year-old had a 1.33 WHIP in 24 IP with 29 K and 3 saves at AAA this year. Street has yet to begin throwing after going on the DL in mid May with an elbow injury. Calero has been inconsistent this year with a 6.64 ERA and 1.43 ERA in 20+ IP with 16 K and 6 holds. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 9 2007 Week 8 2007 Week 7 2007 Week 6 2007 Week 5 2007 Week 4 2007 Week 3 2007 Week 2 2007 Week 1 2007 Spring Training 2007 Vol II Spring Training 2007 Vol I December 2006 October 2006 2006 Season |
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