Closer Watch Blog Week 17

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Los Angeles Dodgers
Takashi Saito still Closer
Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line
Brett Tomko still 2nd in line

Saito was unavailable yesterday after a shaky outing on Wednesday. Broxton got the call in a 2 run game and pitched a scoreless 9th to record his first career save. The 22 year-old, hard thrower has high future closer value. Broxton has a 1.28 WHIP in 46 IP with 58 K on the season.

Manager Grady Little said after the game that Saito "overloaded a circuit" in a 37 pitch effort, 3 runs allowed outing 3 days earlier. It's possible Saito has an undisclosed injury or Little just wanted to give him some extra rest after that shaky outing.

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

Soriano has been dealing with a shoulder injury for the past few weeks, which has resulted in a DL trip. Lowe has emerged as the Mariners' top set up man with Soriano ailing, having not allowed over 8 outings with a 0.80 WHIP in 10 IP with 11 K and 2 holds.

Sherrill has a 1.28 WHIP in 29+ IP with 33 K and 10 holds. The left hander over matches left hand hitters with a ridiculous .299 opposition OPS, and right hand hitters are at .772.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Milwaukee Brewers
Derrick Turnbow to Closer in place of Dan Kolb
Francisco Cordero to 1st in line in place of Derrick Turnbow
Dan Kolb to 2nd in line in place of Matt Wise

Manager Ned Yost announced yesterday that Turnbow will be returning to his closers' role, even after the acquisition of former closer Cordero from Texas. Kolb converted his only save opportunity filling in for the demoted Turnbow, but it appears Milwaukee isn't ready to bail on their all-star asset in Turnbow just yet. (I think it's possible Kolb could get another save opportunity or two before Turnbow returns to the role).

Cordero has to be an extremely close next in line closer here as Turnbow can not have much rope if Yost does go back to him. The former Ranger has a 1.31 WHIP in 49+ IP with 55 K on the season. Cordero had a terrible April in which he allowed 15 runs in 11 IP while losing his closers' job.

Texas Rangers
Akinori Otsuka still Closer
Rick Bauer to 1st in line in place of Francisco Cordero
Joaquin Benoit to 2nd in line in place of Rick Bauer

Bauer and Benoit have emerged as solid set men for the Rangers this year. The 29-year-old Bauer has a 1.37 WHIP in 47+ IP with 25 K, 4 holds and 2 fill in saves on the season. Former swingman, Benoit has a 1.28 WHIP in 47+ IP with 51 K and 6 holds on the year.

Atlanta Braves
Bob Wickman still Closer
Danys Baez to 1st in line in place of Ken Ray
Ken Ray to 2nd in line in place of Tyler Yates

Baez was acquired from LA in the Wilson Betemit deal yesterday. The former closer has had an inconsistent season which included losing his closers' job to Takashi Saito. Baez has a 1.29 WHIP in 49+ IP with 29 K, 6 holds, 9 saves and 7 blown saves on the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Takashi Saito still Closer
Jonathan Broxton to 1st in line in place of Danys Baez
Brett Tomko to 2nd in line in place of Jonathan Broxton

The 22-year-old Broxton, who has high future closer value, has a 1.29 WHIP in 45 IP with 56 K and 4 holds on the season.

Tomko has been moved to the bullpen after losing his rotation spot while on the DL. The hard throwing, inconsistent starting pitcher has future closer value if kept in the bullpen. Tomko pitched a perfect 7th last night in his first relief appearance of the season.

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

Corcoran has allowed 7 runs over 3 outings since a mid July call up.

Left handed, journeyman Bowie has impressed in 9 outings with a 0.83 WHIP and 1.35 ERA in 13+ IP with 8 K and 3 holds.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Houston Astros
Brad Lidge still Closer
Dan Wheeler still 1st in line
Chad Qualls still 2nd in line

Lidge was pulled from a 3 run save opportunity last night. The closer gave up a single, hit a batter, threw wild pitch, then got a strike out and was pulled for the left handed Trever Miller with the left handed Ken Griffey, Jr. due up. (Lidge has a poor .871 opposition OPS versus left hand hitters this year). Miller retired Junior, and then Wheeler came on for the final out with a right hander due up to record his second save of the season.

Lidge survived a temporary removal from his closer role earlier in the season and could be back to shaky closer status if he his struggles become more frequent.

Wheeler has a 1.24 WHIP in 42 IP with 39 K and 16 holds. The 28-year-old, like Lidge, struggles with left hand hitters; .843 opposition OPS with an impressive .588 opposition OPS against right hand hitters.

Fernando Nieve has future closer value here. The hard throwing rookie was recently sent back to the minors despite a 1.27 WHIP in 77 IP with 53 K. Nieve continues the Astros' trend of struggling with left hand hitters though; .909 opposition OPS with a .668 opposition OPS versus right hand hitters.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

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

Dempster was pulled from a 3 run save opportunity yesterday after allowing 1 run, leaving the bases loaded and getting 2 outs. Howry came on to get the final out and record his third save of the year.

Dempster was riding a 5 consecutive save chance streak to secure this closer role before this outing. The 29-year-old was appearing on his third consecutive day and threw 29 pitches when manager Dusty Baker pulled him last night. Dempster will most likely still be the closer here, but Baker finally showed the willingness to go to Howry; making Dempster vulnerable if he goes through another inconsistent period.

Cincinnati Reds
Eddie Guardado still Closer
Todd Coffey still 1st in line
Bill Bray to 2nd in line in place of David Weathers

Guardado was unavailable yesterday with a stiff forearm. Coffey got the call for the save opportunity in a 2-0 game, but was pulled after allowing 2 singles with 2 outs. The left handed Bray recorded his first career save retiring the right handed Eric Bruntlett, who was hitting for the left handed Orlando Palmeiro.

The 23-year-old Bray has decent future closer value as he was the centerpiece to the Reds' trade of Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns to D.C. The rookie has a 1.34 WHIP and 3.49 ERA in 28+ IP with 20 K and 1 hold on the season. Bray has allowed just 1 run in his 6 appearances with the Reds; 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Even though forearm tightness often indicates elbow problems, Every day Eddie said following last nights' game that he'll be available to go today.

Kansas City Royals
Ambiorix Burgos still Closer
Joe Nelson to 1st in line in place of Elmer Dessens
Ryan Braun still 2nd in line

Dessens was traded yesterday to LA for the struggling Odalis Perez and 2 pitching prospects.

Nelson set Burgos up yesterday with a scoreless 8th in a 2 run game. The 31-year-old journeyman was been up and down from the minors this year despite solid numbers; 0.92 WHIP and 1.56 ERA in 17+ IP with 17 K.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Chicago White Sox
Bobby Jenks still Closer
Mike MacDougal to 1st in line in place of Brandon McCarthy
Neal Cotts still 2nd in line

The White Sox acquired MacDougal from KC yesterday for two pitching prospects. The 29-year-old closer made his 2006 debut earlier this month coming back from a shoulder injury and was 1 for 1 in save chances. MacDougal has not allowed a run over 4 appearances; 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

McCarthy could join the White Sox starting rotation next week if one of the White Sox starters are traded. The 23-year-old rookie has a 1.25 WHIP in 51 IP with 32 K on the season.

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

Burgos should return to the Royals' closer role with MacDougal off to Chicago. The 22 year-old hard thrower has inconsistent numbers on the season with a 1.49 WHIP and 5.25 ERA in 48 IP with 48 K, 14 saves and 5 blown saves.

Braun is a hard throwing prospect currently in AAA that GM Dayton Moore mentioned as a future closer candidate yesterday. Braun has a 1.13 WHIP in 46+ combined AAA and AA IP this year with 62 K and 12 saves.

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

Aquino continues to have an inconsistent season with a 1.60 WHIP and 4.81 ERA in 33+ IP.

Medders has a 1.45 WHIP and 3.45 ERA in 47 IP with 31 K, 7 holds and has a current 5 game scoreless appearance streak.

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

Williamson made his Padres' debut last night with a scoreless apearance; 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The former closer has had an inconsistent season with a 1.48 WHIP and 5.02 ERA in 28+ IP with 32 K and 3 holds.

Adkins is emerging as a decent set up man with a 1.38 WHIP and 3.24 ERA in 33+ IP with 19 K and 6 holds.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8