Closer Watch Blog Week 14

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Atlanta Braves
Ken Ray to Closer in place of Jorge Sosa
Jorge Sosa to 1st in line in place of Ken Ray
Chad Paronto still 2nd in line

Ray pitched a scoreless 9th in a 4-1 game last night for his first save in a month; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Ray has a 1.23 WHIP in 40+ IP with 31 K, 5 saves and 6 holds on the season.

Sosa's trial as the closer may be over after he blew a save on Thursday, his second in his past 4 appearances. The 29-year-old allowed 3 HR in his 7 appearances after moving to the bullpen and has a league leading 20 HR allowed on the season.

Toronto Blue Jays
B.J. Ryan still Closer
Justin Speier still 1st in line
Brandon League to 2nd in line in place of Pete Walker

Walker has landed on the DL with a shoulder injury. League was recalled to take his roster spot, pitching a perfect 7th yesterday in a set up role for his 2006 MLB debut. The hard throwing prospect had a 1.32 WHIP in 54+ IP with 43 K and 8 saves this year at AAA.

Friday, July 7, 2006

Cincinnati Reds
Eddie Guardado to Closer in place of Todd Coffey
Todd Coffey to 1st in line in place of David Weathers
David Weathers to 2nd in line in place of Esteban Yan

The Reds gave up a "B" level prospect in Travis Chick for Guardado yesterday and announced Every Day Eddie would close over Coffey. The 35-year-old veteran had a 1.74 WHIP & 5.48 ERA in 23 IP with the Mariners this year and was hammered by right hand hitters, 1.115 opposition OPS. Guardado has pitched better after a terrible April, but his overall numbers caution against him succeeding in the second half as the Reds' closer.

Seattle Mariners
J.J. Putz still Closer
Rafael Soriano to 1st in line in place of Eddie Guardado
George Sherrill to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Soriano

The 29-year-old Sherrill has a 1.31 WHIP in 23+ IP with 25 K, 7 holds and 1 save on the season. The left hander dominates left hand hitters with a .359 opposition OPS with a .721 opposition OPS against right hand hitters.

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

Carmona is quickly picking up future closer value as Indians' pitching coach Carl Willis talked this week about the 22-year-old being the teams' current back up closer. Wickman has been an inconsistent closer this year and is a trade candidate for the under achieving Indians, making Carmona a very interesting next in line closer to watch. The rookie has a 1.39 WHIP in 37+ IP with 30 K and 7 holds on the season.

Chicago White Sox
Bobby Jenks still Closer
Brandon McCarthy still 1st in line
Neal Cotts still 2nd in line

Matt Thornton recorded his first career save yesterday by getting the final out in the 9th of a 3 run game. Jenks was rested after throwing 31 pitches the day before. The 29-year-old Thornton has a 1.11 WHIP in 28 IP with 29 K and 6 holds. The left hander has an impressive .527 opposition OPS against left hand hitters with a .717 opposition versus right hand hittes.

Thursday, July 6, 2006

Texas Rangers
Akinori Otsuka still Closer
Francisco Cordero still 1st in line
Rick Bauer still 2nd in line

Cordero came on to get out of a 7th inning jam last night in a 6-3 game, then stayed on through the 9th with the final lead pushed to six; 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. The former closer has a 1.27 WHIP in 41+ IP with 43 K, 6 saves, 11 holds and is riding a five game scoreless appearance streak.

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

Ramon Colon pitched the final three plus innings of a 10-4 Tigers' win yesterday to earn his first career save; 3 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 26-year-old has a 1.46 WHIP in 24+ IP with 17 K and 3 holds on the season.

Florida Marlins
Joe Borowski still Closer
Logan Kensing still 1st in line
Taylor Tankersley still 2nd in line

Renyel Pinto pitched the final three innings of a 18-9 Marlins' rout yesterday to pick up maybe the ugliest save of the season; 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 6 K. The 23-year-old, left handed rookie was a starting pitcher in the minors and had a 1.34 WHIP in 14 AAA starts earlier this year with 75 K.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Brian Meadows still Closer
Seth McClung to 1st in line in place of Chad Harville
Chad Harville to 2nd in line in place of Seth McClung
Tyler Walker DL

Shawn Camp came on to get an inning ending double play in the 8th of a 4-3 game yesterday, then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 6. The 30-year-old was credited with a save despite giving up 3 runs in the ninth; 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Camp has a 1.44 WHIP in 39 IP with 21 K, 11 holds and 4 saves on the season.

In 3 games since being sent to AAA to convert to relief, McClung has a 1.00 WHIP in 6 IP with 8 K. The 25-year-old could factor in to the D'Rays' late inning picture later this month.

Walker is still having problems with his elbow and is out indefinitely.

Kansas City Royals
Ambiorix Burgos still Closer
Mike MacDougal DL still 1st in line
Elmer Dessens still 2nd in line

Dessens pitched a scoreless 8th yesterday in a 5-2 game then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 5 to record his second save of the year; 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. The 35-year-old veteran has a 1.35 WHIP in 46 IP with 31 K and 10 holds.

MacDougal is to throw back to back games this weekend on his AAA rehab and could return after the all-star break. The 29-year-old probably won't have to wait long to get his closers' role back with Burgos struggling so much with it.

Milwaukee Brewers
Derrick Turnbow still Closer
Jose Capellan still 1st in line
Matt Wise still 2nd in line

The left handed Brian Shouse relieved starting pitcher Doug Davis with 2 out in the 9th yesterday in a 5-2 game with 2 on. Shouse retired pinch hitter Ryan Freel for his second save of the season. The 37-year-old veteran has a 1.36 WHIP in 21+ IP with 12 K and 8 holds. Turnbow was rested after a 30 pitch blown save effort the day before.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Jorge Julio still Closer
Brandon Lyon still 1st in line
Greg Aquino to 2nd in line in place of Jose Valverde

Valverde has been sent to the minors with his WHIP up to 1.79 and ERA at 8.22. It has been quite a fall for the 26-year-old after he looked to have the makings of a dominant closer following a strong second half last year and solid April this year.

Aquino has a 1.59 WHIP in 27+ IP with 27 K and 2 holds. The 28-year-old has a current 6 game scoreless appearance streak.

Monday, July 3, 2006

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster still Closer
Bob Howry still 1st in line
Scott Williamson to 2nd in line in place of Scott Eyre

Howry got the final out of the 8th yesterday in a 3 run game and stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 5 to record his 2nd save of the year; 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

Manager Dusty Baker gave Dempster a vote of confidence as the closer prior to Sundays' game, despite the 29-year-old blowing his second save of the week on Saturday. Baker is being patient with Dempster, but another blown save in the near future could change that in a hurry.

Williamson came back from the DL and an elbow injury last week. The former closer has a 1.44 WHIP in 23+ IP with 29 K and 2 holds on the season.

San Francisco Giants
Armando Benitez still Closer
Jeremy Accardo still 1st in line
Brian Wilson to 2nd in line in place of Steve Kline

Wilson got out of a bases loaded, 1 out jam in the 8th yesterday in a 6-2 game, then stayed on for the 9th to record his first career save; 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 24-year-old has been up and down from the minors this year and has a 1.85 WHIP in 8+ IP with 8 K.

Colorado Rockies
Brian Fuentes still Closer
Jose Mesa still 1st in line
Ramon Ramirez still 2nd in line

The left handed Ray King came on to retire the left handed Raul Ibanez to get the final out in the 11th yesterday of a 4-3 game for his 1st save of the season. Fuentes and Mesa were used earlier in the game.

The 32-year-old veteran King has a 1.54 WHIP in 22+ IP with 8 K and 9 holds. Right hand hitters have a .857 opposition OPS against King and left handers are at .641.

Toronto Blue Jays
B.J. Ryan still Closer
Justin Speier still 1st in line
Pete Walker to 2nd in line in place of Jason Frasor

Frasor, who doesn't have terrrible numbers on the season (1.48 WHIP), has been sent to the minors for the second time this year. Walker has a 1.38 WHIP in 28+ IP with 25 K and 2 holds.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8