Closer Watch Blog Week 15

Saturday, July 15, 2006

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

Yates pitched a scoreless 11th last night in a 3 run game to earn his first career save. The 28-year-old Yates has a 1.58 WHIP in 18+ IP with 13 K and 2 holds since a late May call up.

Ray appeared in the 8th of this game with the Braves' down a run with a perfect 2 K inning. Sosa blew a 2 run save opportunity in the 9th and then gave up a 1 run lead in the 10th. Ray has to be the closer here over the struggling Sosa and was most likely used in the 8th yesterday with no guarantee at the time the Padres would bat in the 9th.

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

Lugo returned from the DL yesterday with a scoreless inning. The 26-year-old rookie was building short term closer value before the back injury and could get a chance to succeed Meadows if the veteran struggles. Lugo has a 1.32 WHIP in 43+ IP with 24 K and 6 holds on the season.

McClung has been impressive since a switch to the bullpen with a return to the minors and could factor in to this closer picture upon his return to the majors. The 25-year-old has a 0.90 WHIP in 10 AAA IP with 16 K.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Washington Nationals
Chad Cordero still Closer
Jon Rauch to 1st in line in place of Gary Majewski
Roy Corcoran to 2nd in line in place of Jon Rauch

The Nationals thinned out their bullpen dealing Majewski and Bill Bray to the Reds for offensive help in Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns.

Rauch has finally stayed healthy this year and the Nats have decided to keep him in the bullpen instead of returning him to a starting role. The 27-year-old has a 1.28 WHIP in 53 IP with 53 K and 6 holds on the season.

Corcoran was called up from the minors after the trade and had a 1.08 WHIP in 44+ combined AAA/AA IP with 64 K and 23 saves. The 26-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2004 with 5+ IP with the Expos.

San Diego Padres
Trevor Hoffman still Closer
Scott Linebrink still 1st in line
Jon Adkins to 2nd in line in place of Scott Cassidy

Cassidy tailed off some after a strong April/May and was sent to the minors yesterday despite a 2.79 ERA and 1.37 WHIP on the season. Adkins has a 1.48 WHIP and 3.76 ERA in 26+ IP with 16 K, 6 holds and has a current 6 game scoreless appearance streak.

Oakland A's
Huston Street still Closer
Justin Duchscherer still 1st in line
Kiko Calero still 2nd in line

Kirk Saarloos got the final two outs of the 11th yesterday to earn his second save of the year; 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Street, Duchscherer and Calero were all used earlier in the game.

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

Hansen still has high future closer value, but fellow hard throwing rookie Delcarmen has out pitched him challenging Timlin for the top set up role for the Sox. The 24-year-old Delcarmen has a 1.31 WHIP in 23+ IP with 21 K, 7 holds and has a current 8 game scoreless appearance streak. The 22-year-old Hansen has a 1.31 WHIP and 4.85 ERA in 13 IP with 12 K, 4 holds and has allowed a run in 3 of his past 4 outings.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

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

MacDougal has been actived from the DL and could resume his closers' role after an appearance or two. The 29-year-old posted a 1.04 WHIP in 8+ IP with 7 K on his minor league rehab from a shoulder injury that has kept him out all season.

Burgos failed to nail down the closers' role while MacDougal was out with erratic pitching; 1.57 WHIP and 5.98 ERA in 40+ IP with 8 blown saves.

Monday, July 10, 2006

San Diego Padres
Trevor Hoffman still Closer
Scott Linebrink still 1st in line
Scott Cassidy still 2nd in line

Linebrink pitched a perfect 1 K, ninth yeterday to earn his first save of the season in a 1 run game. Hoffman was rested after recording saves on each of the previous 4 days. The 29-year-old Linebrink is one of the best set up men in baseball and has a 0.94 WHIP in 42+ IP with 42 K and 17 holds.

St. Louis Cardinals
Jason Isringhausen still Closer
Braden Looper still 1st in line
Josh Hancock to 2nd in line in place of Adam Wainwright

Hancock pitched a perfect 1 K, 12th inning yesterday to earn his first career save in a 2 run game, (Isringhausen and Looper were both used earlier in the game). The 28-year-old Hancock has emerged as a solid reliever this year with a 0.96 WHIP in 45 IP with 31 K and 3 holds.

Wainwright is having a solid season as well with a 0.99 WHIP in 44+ IP with 39 K and 9 holds. The 24-year-old rookie struggles against left hand hitters though with a .963 opposition OPS versus a dominate .401 opposition OPS against right hand hitters. Wainwright was a decent starting pitching prospect in the minors and remains a candidate to join the rotation in the second half or next season.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8