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Sunday, August 12, 2007 San Francisco Giants Brad Hennessey still Closer Randy Messenger still 1st in line Brian Wilson to 2nd in line in place of Steve Kline Wilson made his first appearance in the majors this year with a scoreless inning (1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K) in a middle relief role yesterday. The hard throwing right hander was a candidate to close over Armando Benitez during Spring Training, but struggled with control and was sent to the minors. The 25-year-old Wilson had a 1.40 WHIP in 34+ AAA innings with 37 K and 11 saves and could rebuild his future closer value if he can show consistency with the Giants over the final 6 weeks of the season. Chicago White Sox Bobby Jenks still Closer Mike MacDougal to 1st in line in place of Matt Thornton Matt Thornton to 2nd in line in place of Mike MacDougal MacDougal has recorded 3 holds in 5 appearances since being recalled from AAA earlier this month, (5+ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 6 K). The former Royal closer needs to show consistency in a setup role for the remainder of the season to restablish his role as a firm next in line closer. The 30-year-old MacDougal still has ugly numbers on the season with a 1.90 WHIP and 5.93 ERA in 27+ IP with 27 K and 15 holds. Saturday, August 11, 2007 Atlanta Braves Bob Wickman still Closer Rafael Soriano to 1st in line in place of Octavio Dotel DL Peter Moylan to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Soriano Dotel was placed on the DL yesterday with a shoulder injury. Wickman on the other hand was diagnosed with just inflammation in his forearm and was available to pitch last night. The 28-year-old Moylan is having a solid rookie campaign with a 1.02 WHIP in 63+ IP with 43 K and 4 holds. Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers still Closer Antonio Alfonseca still 1st in line Tom Gordon still 2nd in line Gordon pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K) in a 5-4 game last night for his first save in over 3 months. Myers was unavailable after appearing each of the previous two days. Flash has not pitched in back to back games since returning from the DL in the middle of July and the potential of him returning to the closers' role with a tear in his shoulder labrum is questionable. Gordon has a 1.38 WHIP on the season in 17+ IP with 15 K, 6 saves and 3 holds. Friday, August 10, 2007 Atlanta Braves Bob Wickman still Closer Octavio Dotel still 1st in line Rafael Soriano still 2nd in line Oscar Villarreal got the final 2 outs in a 7-6 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Wickman was unavailable with a forearm injury and will have his status evaluated today. If Wickman is to miss some time the Braves have a couple of viable closer options in Dotel and Soriano. The 33-year-old Dotel saved 11 of 14 games with Kansas City this year, but does have an inconsistent 1.46 WHIP on the season in 27+ IP with 34 K. The former Royal has allowed 5 runs over his 5 appearances with the Braves. The 27-year-old Soriano was 4 for 4 in save chances earlier in the year when Wickman was on the DL. The hard throwing right hander has an impressive 0.97 WHIP in 51+ IP on the season, but has been inconsistent in the 2nd half with a 6.92 ERA in 13 IP, (2.79 ERA in 38+ IP in the 1st half). The 25-year-old Villarreal has a 1.23 WHIP in 64 IP with 56 K. The hard throwing Mexican has not pitched in the late innings this year, evidenced by his just 1 hold on the season. Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster still Closer Bob Howry still 1st in line Carlos Marmol still 2nd in line Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless 7th inning (1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 K) in a 10-2 win yesterday. The injury plagued right hander now has 3 scoreless outings (3+ IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K) after missing the first 4 months of the season and throwing just 19+ IP last year. Wood could attain future closer value if he can manage to stay healthy for an extended period of time. Seattle Mariners J.J. Putz still Closer Brandon Morrow still 1st in line George Sherrill to 2nd in line in place of Mark Lowe Sherrill got the final 2 outs in the 8th of a 3 run game yesterday then stayed on for the 9th in a 13-8 final to record his first save of the season. The 30-year-old Sherrill has an impressive 0.85 WHIP on the season in 35+ IP with 37 K and 18 holds. The left hander dominates left hand hitters with a .422 opposition OPS with a .608 mark versus right handers. Sherrill has allowed just 5 runs on the season with a 1.27 ERA. Lowe was demoted to AAA earlier in the week after pitching just 2+ IP over 4 appearances since coming off the DL. Wednesday, August 8, 2007 Texas Rangers C.J. Wilson still Closer Joaquin Benoit still 1st in line Frank Francisco still 2nd in line Wilson retired the final 4 hitters (1 via strikeout) in a 8-6 game yesterday for his 3rd save of the season. The left hander has now received all 3 save opportunties since Eric Gagne was dealt last week, as he's emerging as the Rangers' closer. The 26-year-old Wilson has a 1.05 WHIP in 51+ IP with 51 K on the season, and extended his scoreless appearance streak to 12 games yesterday. New York Yankees Mariano Rivera still Closer Luis Vizcaino to 1st in line in place of Kyle Farnsworth Joba Chamberlain to 2nd in line in place of Luis Vizcaino The 21-year-old Chamberlain made his major league debut last night pitching a scoreless 8th and 9th in a 9-2 win; 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K. The hard throwing right hander is one of the Yankees top prospects and had a 1.01 WHIP with 135 K in 88+ minor league IP this year, split in high A, AA and AAA, (converted to a reliever after 15 starts). Farnsworth has been a disappointment since signing with the Yankees in 2006. The hard throwing right hander has a 1.62 WHIP this year in 44+ IP with 30 K and 11 holds. The 31-year-old Farnsworth has allowed runs in 6 of his past 9 appearances. The 33-year-old Vizcaino has a 1.34 WHIP on the season in 59 IP with 45 K and 8 holds. The right hander had a 5.02 ERA in 43 IP prior to the break and a 1.13 ERA in 16 IP since. Tuesday, August 7, 2007 Oakland A's Alan Embree still Closer Huston Street still 1st in line Santiago Casilla still 2nd in line Kiko Calero pitched a scoreless 13th inning (1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) in a 9-7 game last night for his first save of the season. Embree sent the game in to extra innings blowing the save on a HR to Michael Young. Street and Casilla also pitched earlier in the game. The 32-year-old Calero has a 1.54 WHIP on the season in 35+ IP with 29 K and 9 holds. Monday, August 6, 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers still Closer Antonio Alfonseca still 1st in line Tom Gordon still 2nd in line Mesa pitched a scoreless 11th (1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K) in a 8-6 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Myers earned the win pitching in front of Mesa in the extra inning game. The 41-year-old Mesa has now appeared in 11 straight games with out allowing an earned run. The veteran right hander has a 1.08 WHIP in 24 IP with 8 K and 4 holds since coming to Philly from Detroit in June. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 18 2007 Week 17 2007 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 |
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