The Inside Pitch Closer Watch Blog |
Sunday, July 29, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker still Co-Closer Chad Bradford still Co-Closer Danys Baez to 2nd in line in place of Paul Shuey Cory Doyne couldn't record a 9th inning out in a 7-1 game last night, creating a save opportunity for Walker. The left handed Walker recorded his 3rd save of the year while allowing 1 inherited runner to score in a 7-5 final; (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K). Walker has received 3 of the 4 post Chris Ray save chances as the 9th inning often has left hand hitters due up; (two left handers were due up when Walker entered the game yesterday). The 36-year-old Walker has a 1.13 WHIP on the season in 40+ IP with 28 K. The veteran setup man has a current 16 game consecutive scoreless streak, having not allowed a run since June 24. Baez set up last night with a perfect, 1 strikeout 8th inning. The former closer has a 1.30 WHIP in 34+ IP with 22 K and 13 holds on the year. Tampa Bay Devil Rays Al Reyes still Closer Dan Wheeler to 1st in line in place of Gary Glover Gary Glover to 2nd in line in place of Brian Stokes The D'Rays acquired Wheeler from Houston yesterday for secondbaseman Ty Wigginton. The 29-year-old righthander has had an inconsistent season losing the closers' role during a bad June. Wheeler has a 1.19 WHIP this year in 49+ IP with 56 K, 6 holds and is 11 for 15 in save chances. Stokes has been a disappointment this year with his ERA now up to 7.90 after taking the loss in an extra inning game last night. Manager Joe Maddon liked the 27-year-old as a late inning reliever during Spring Training, but the former starting pitcher didn't respond with a 1.98 WHIP in 49 IP on the season. Houston Astros Brad Lidge still Closer Chad Qualls to 1st in line in place of Dan Wheeler Trever Miller to 2nd in line in place of Chad Qualls Houston thinned out their late inning corps with the deal of Wheeler yesterday. Qualls is a decent setup man with a 1.38 WHIP in 51+ IP with 47 K, 11 holds and 2 saves. However, the Astros have no legitimate closer options beyond that. The 34-year-old Miller has a 1.64 WHIP in 28 IP on the season with 30 K and 9 holds. The left hander surprisingly has a better opposition OPS against right hand hitters, .742, with an .829 mark against left handers. Saturday, July 28, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker to Co-Closer from Closer Chad Bradford to Co-Closer in place of 1st in line Cory Doyne Paul Shuey still 2nd in line Bradford pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K) in a 4-2 game last night for his first save of the season. Manager Dave Trembley is going with match ups with Chris Ray out. The left handed Walker pitched a scoreless 8th (1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K) with 2 left handers due up to set Bradford up yesterday. Walker recorded the first 2 saves after Ray was injured, with left handers due up in the 9th of those games. The 32-year-old Bradford has a 1.21 WHIP in 41+ IP with 23 K and 13 holds on the season. The veteran setup man is tough on right handers with a .531 opposition OPS versus a .721 mark against left handers. Doyne allowed 2 ninth inning runs on Thursday in a 5 run game to raise his ERA to over 7 in just 2 plus IP, slowing down his chances of jumping right in to save opportunities. Danys Baez could still get involved in this closer committee. The former Devil Ray closer (41 saves 2 years ago) has had an inconsistent season in Baltimore slowed by injuries. Baez has a 1.34 WHIP on the year in 33+ IP with 21 K and 13 holds. Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers to Closer in place of Antonio Alfonseca Antonio Alfonseca to 1st in line in place of Brett Myers Tom Gordon still 2nd in line Myers was activated from the DL yesterday and could return to the closers' role after an initial non save outing or two. The former top starting pitcher was on the DL for 2 months with a shoulder injury. Alfonseca has recorded 8 of 11 save chances filling in, and has a 1.66 WHIP on the season in 38 IP with 13 K. Thursday, July 26, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker to Closer in place of Chris Ray DL Cory Doyne to 1st in line in place of Jamie Walker Paul Shuey still 2nd in line Ray has been placed on the DL with an elbow injury, which could result in season ending surgery. Manager Dave Trembley has not named a closer replacement. The left handed Walker received the 2 save opportunties since Ray was injured. Walker should continue to get the call when left handers are due up in the 9th and could evolve in to the closer with continued success with his opportunties. The 36-year-old is equally tough on right handers as left and has a 1.14 WHIP on the season in 37+ IP with 26 K. Cory Doyne was called up to replace Ray on the active roster and pitched a perfect 1 strikeout 8th in a 6-1 win last night. The 25-year-old had a 0.88 WHIP in 44+ AAA innings with 49 K and 29 saves. Detroit Tigers Todd Jones still Closer Tim Byrdak to 1st in line in place of Zach Miner Zach Miner to 2nd in line in place of Jose Capellan Byrdak pitched a perfect 8th last night in a 1 run game then stayed on for a perfect 9th with the lead pushed to 4 to record his first save of the year; 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. This was Byrdak's first appearance off the DL (elbow). The 33-year-old left hander has a 1.38 WHIP in 21+ IP with 27 K on the season. Fernando Rodney, currently on the DL (shoulder), is heading out for a minor league rehab and could be activated in a couple of weeks. Joel Zumaya, also on the DL (finger surgery), has begun to throw and could be 3-4 weeks from rejoining the Tigers. Milwaukee Brewers Francisco Cordero still Closer Derrick Turnbow still 1st in line Scott Linebrink to 2nd in line in place of Matt Wise The Brewers traded top starting pitcher prospect Will Inman, along with pitching prospects Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison, for veteran setup man Scott Linebrink yesterday. The 30-year-old Linebrink has a 1.22 WHIP on the season in 45 IP with 25 K and 15 holds. Linebrink has struggled in July allowing 9 runs over 8+ IP with 2 of his past 3 appearances being blown save outings. San Diego Padres Trevor Hoffman still Closer Heath Bell to 1st in line in place of Scott Linebrink Cla Meredith to 2nd in line in place of Heath Bell Bell's emergence as a reliable setup man may have contributed to the Linebrink deal. The 29-year-old Bell has a 0.97 WHIP on the season in 56+ IP with 57 K and 19 holds. Meredith has not been as good this year as his surprise rookie campaign in 2006. The 24-year-old right hander has a 1.48 WHIP in 49+ IP with 36 K and 7 holds on the season. Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Chris Ray still Closer Jamie Walker to 1st in line in place of Danys Baez Paul Shuey still 2nd in line Walker pitched a scoreless inning (1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K) in a 3-0 game yesterday for his second save in 3 days. Ray hasn't pitched since last Friday and could be headed to the DL with an elbow injury. The left handed Walker faced 3 of 4 left handed batters in his save outing yesterday. However, the 36-year-old has a better opposition OPS against right hand pitching on the season, .548 vs. right and .634 vs. left. Walker has a 1.14 WHIP on the season in 37+ IP with 26 K. Shuey set Walker up with a scoreless 8th yesterday ( 1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K) for his 3rd hold of the season. The 36-year-old veteran has a 1.68 WHIP on the season in 13+ IP with 8 K. Oakland A's Huston Street still Closer Alan Embree still 1st in line Santiago Casilla still 2nd in line Embree retired the final 4 batters in a 4-3 game yesterday for his 11th save of the season. Street has 1 middle relief outing since going off the DL this week and could return to the closers' role by this weekend after another non save appearance or two. The 37-year-old Embree is 11 for 13 in save chances filling in and has a 1.32 WHIP in 43+ IP with 33 K on the season. Philadelphia Phillies Antonio Alfonseca to Closer in place of Tom Gordon Brett Myers DL still 1st in line Tom Gordon to 2nd in line in place of Antonio Alfonseca Alfonseca pitched a scoreless inning ( 1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K) in a 4-3 game yesterday to record his 8th save of the season. Gordon is not being used in the closers' role since coming off the DL last week after it was revealed the veteran is pitching with a torn shoulder labrum. The 35-year-old Alfonseca is 8 for 11 in save chances since Myers went on the DL during May. The veteran Alfonseca has a 1.59 WHIP on the season in 37+ IP with 13 K. Myers is currently on the minor league rehab, (shoulder), and could be activated by this weekend. Myers could then assume the closers' role after a couple of non save outings. Atlanta Braves Bob Wickman still Closer Rafael Soriano still 1st in line Tyler Yates still 2nd in line Yates got the final 2 outs in the 13th of a 7-5 game last night for his 2nd save of the season. Wickman received his 5th blown save of the season earlier in the game allowing 1 9th inning run. Soriano wasn't used after pitching on 3 of the previous 4 days. The 29-year-old Yates has a 1.42 WHIP on the season in 43 IP with 43 K and 9 holds. Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Oakland A's Huston Street to Closer in place of Alan Embree Alan Embree to 1st in line in place of Santiago Casilla Santiago Casilla to 2nd in line in place of Huston Street Street returned from the DL (elbow) yesterday allowing a run in a middle relief outing; 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 23-year-old closer was expected to make a couple of non save outings before moving back in to the closers' role. Street has a 0.95 WHIP on the season in 19 IP with 21 K and is 9 for 11 in save chances. Boston Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon still Closer Hideki Okajima still 1st in line Manny Delcarmen still 2nd in line Delcarmen got the final out in the 8th yesterday in a 3 run game, then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 4 to record his first career save; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 25-year-old has established himself as a reliable setup man since a mid June recall from the minors. Delcarmen has a 0.98 WHIP on the season in 17+ IP with 17 K and 5 holds. Monday, July 23, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Chris Ray still Closer Danys Baez to 1st in line in place of Paul Shuey Paul Shuey to 2nd in line in place of Danys Baez Jamie Walker pitched a perfect, 1 stike out 9th in a 2-0 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Ray was unavailable with a shoulder injury and is considered day to day. Walker faced 2 left hand hitters in his outing Sunday as the left hander has a .685 opposition OPS versus lefties. However, the 36-year-old surpisingly has a better .525 mark against right hander hitters. Walker has a 1.15 WHIP in 36+ IP this year with 26 K and 16 holds. Baez has allowed 1 run over 3+ IP since coming off the DL (forearm) earlier this month. The former Devil Ray closer has a 1.38 WHIP on the season in 32+ IP with 20 K and 13 holds. Shuey has struggled since recording a spot save on June 30, allowing 6 runs over his past 7 appearances. The 36-year-old veteran has a 1.74 WHIP this year in 12+ IP with 8 K and 2 holds. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 16 2007 Week 15 2007 Week 14 2007 Week 13 2007 Week 12 2007 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 |