Google
 
Web YOUR DOMAIN NAME
The Inside Pitch  Closer Watch Blog

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster still Closer
Bob Howry still 1st in line
Carlos Marmol still 2nd in line

Howry pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout inning in a 2-1 game for his first save of the season yesterday. Dempster was unavailable with a strained oblique and is considered day to day.

Howry has turned his season around with a strong June, (1 run allowed in 11 IP), reclaiming his next in line closer status with the Cubs. The 33-year-old Howry has a 1.26 WHIP in 35+ IP on the season with 26 K and 9 holds.

St. Louis Cardinals
Jason Isringhausen still Closer
Ryan Franklin still 1st in line
Troy Percival AAA to 2nd in line in place of Russ Springer

Percival has a 1.24 WHIP in 5+ AAA innings pitched with 7 K on his surprise comeback from retirement. The 37-year-old Percival last pitched in the majors two years ago when he had 8 saves in 26 games with the Tigers.

Florida Marlins

Kevin Gregg still Closer
Armando Benitez still 1st in line
Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line in place of Henry Owens DL

Owens remains on the DL with a shoulder injury and is out indefinitely as he's not yet throwing.

Lindstrom has a 1.27 WHIP on the season in 30+ IP with 29 K and 12 holds. The hard throwing rookie has a current 5 game scoreless appearance streak; 5+ IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.


Wednesday, June 20, 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

Lidge has been placed on the DL with a strained oblique, an injury that could keep the closer out longer than the minimum 15 days. Lidge is still looking for his first save of the 2007 season after blowing his only chance upon getting his job back recently.

Wheeler moves back in to the closers' role, but has struggled in June, (13 runs and 15 hits in 7+ IP), to shoot his season ERA up to 6.03.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Matt Capps still Closer
Salomon Torres DL still 1st in line
Shawn Chacon to 2nd in line in place of Damaso Marte

Chacon came on to get the final two outs via strikeout yesterday in a 5-3 game to record his first save in three years. Capps is serving a 3 game suspension.

Chacon has been a disappointment as a starting pitcher over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old did save 35 games for the Rockies in 2004, but with a 7.11 ERA. Chacon has a 1.32 WHIP in 19 relief appearances this year in 37 IP with 25 K and 2 holds.


Closer Watch Blog Archive:

Week 11 2007
Week 10 2007
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

Sign up for Email Alerts for Closer Watch Blog Postings