Closer Watch Blog Week 11

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Florida Marlins
Joe Borowski still Closer
Logan Kensing still 1st in line
Carlos Martinez still 2nd in line

Borowski was rested yesterday after pitching on 3 consecutive days. The Marlins used their trio of young relievers to close out a 3-1 lead last night, with Martinez pitching a scoreless 8th. Kensing started the 9th and retired the first two hitters, then allowed a single and was pulled for the left handed Taylor Tankersley with the left hand hitting Lyle Overbay due up. Tankersley gave up a single to Overbay, then walked the left hand hitting Eric Hinske before retiring Russ Adams for his 2nd save this week.

The 23-year-old Tankersley has a 1.07 WHIP in 4+ IP with 7 K, 2 saves, 3 holds and has not allowed a run in 7 appearances. The rookie has quickly become a key member of the late inning bullpen for the resurgent Marlins.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Ruddy Lugo to closer-by-committee
Shawn Camp to closer-by-committee
Tim Corcoran to closer-by-committee
Ty Walker to DL

Walker has landed on the DL with an elbow injury. The D'Rays don't have an obvious next in line closer and manager Joe Maddon mentioned "closer-by-committe" yesterday.

With the D'Rays up 4 in the 12th last night Corcoran got the call and pitched a scoreless inning in his 2006 MLB debut; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. The 28-year-old had a 1.04 WHIP in 37+ AAA IP prior to the call up with 32 K and 1 save.

Lugo has pitched well of late only being scored on in 1 of his past 5 appearances. The 26-year-old rookie has a 1.42 WHIP in 38 IP with 20 K and 5 holds.

Camp has struggled of late having been scored on in 3 of his past 4 appearances. The 30-year-old journeyman has a 1.58 WHIP in 30+ IP with 14 K, 3 saves and 8 holds.

As usual with closer committees, whichever reliever converts the save opportunties given will have a greater chance as emerging as the closer.

Atlanta Braves
Ken Ray still Closer
Chad Paronto to 1st in line in place of Chris Reitsma
Mike Remlinger to 2nd in line in place of Chad Paronto

Reitsma's ERA reached 9.11 on the season after allowing 11 runs over 3 appearances and he's been placed on the DL with an arm injury. Paronto has a 1.22 WHIP in 18 IP with 18 K & zero holds and has been scored on in just 1 of his past 8 appearances. Remlinger has a 1.45 WHIP in 20+ IP with 19 K, 2 saves and 2 holds.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Mike Timlin to 1st in line in place of Keith Foulke
Craig Hansen still 2nd in line

Foulke was out 10 days with a back injury then came back over the weekend and got lit up for 6 runs in 2 appearances. The former closer now has been placed on the DL with an elbow injury. Timlin is back from the DL and his shoulder injury pitching a perfect 11th inning in a tie game last night. Hansen was sent back to the minors only after 1 outing last week, but could be back soon as the Red Sox are short on late inning relievers. Which was proven yesterday as Julian Tavarez blew a one run 12th inning save opportunity on a walk off grand slam by Jason Kubel.

Cleveland Indians
Bob Wickman still Closer
Rafael Betancourt still 1st in line
Fausto Carmona to 2nd in line in place of Jason Davis

Davis has been sent to the minors after being scored on in 4 of his past 5 appearances, pushing his ERA to 5.04 and WHIP to 1.48. The Indians are uncharacteristically thin on quality late innings relievers this year as Guillermo Mota and Fernando Cabrera have disappointed. Carmona has been scored on in just 1 of his past 6 appearances and has a 1.36 WHIP in 27+ IP with 20 K and 1 hold. The 22-year-old rookie was a solid starting pitching prospect entering this season and had a 1.12 WHIP in 22+ AAA IP earlier this year with 22 K.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Detroit Tigers
Todd Jones still Closer
Fernando Rodney still 1st in line
Joel Zumaya still 2nd in line

Zumaya recorded a 3 inning save yesterday in a 10-5 Tigers' win; 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. The hard throwing rookie has high "future closer" value if kept in the bullpen and now has a 1.06 WHIP in 32 IP with 38 K and 15 holds on the season. The 21-year-old has not been scored on in his last 9 appearances.

Florida Marlins
Joe Borowski still Closer
Logan Kensing still 1st in line
Carlos Martinez still 2nd in line

Taylor Tankersley got the final out of the 8th inning yesterday with a 3 run lead then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to four to record the save; 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. The 23-year-old rookie has a chance to emerge as a left hand set up man and has not been scored on his 4 appearances since being called up this month. Tankersley had an impressive 0.88 WHIP in 28+ AA IP earlier this year with 40 K and 6 saves.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8