Closer Watch Blog Week 20

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Cleveland Indians
Tom Mastny to Closer in place of Jason Davis
Jason Davis to 1st in line in place of Rafael Betancourt
Fausto Carmona still 2nd in line

Mastny pitched 2 scoreless innings yesterday in a 5-3 game to earn his first career save in just his fourth major league appearance; 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Manager Eric Wedge said the rookie Mastny would "get another opportunity" to close in this wide open Indians' bullpen. The 25-year-old's line in those 4 appearances; 6+ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Mastny had a 1.02 WHIP in 62+ AA/AAA IP with 76 K and 1 save prior to his call up.

Davis was not used as the closer after Carmona was removed from the role. The Indians gave Brian Sikorski a save opportunity on Friday, which he blew. Now Mastny may have the opportunity to emerge as Bob Wickman's successor.

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

Julio was pulled from the 9th yesterday in a 5-1 game after walking the bases loaded around 2 outs. Manager Doug Melvin said after the game that "Julio is still our closer", but was disappointed with the outing.

Pena came on to get the final out after allowing an infield single and walk before striking out Mark Bellhorn for his first career save. The rookie Pena has a 1.31 WHIP in 18+ IP with 14 K with 2 holds.

Valverde is back from his AAA demotion and has allowed 1 run over 2 appearances; 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

Cincinnati Reds
Eddie Guardado still Closer
Bill Bray still 1st in line
Todd Coffey still 2nd in line

Guardado's health is a huge question mark after he experienced more forearm soreness yesterday while being forced out of 14-7 game in the 9th.

The Reds have no clear cut next in line closer as Coffey and David Weathers both had closing stints this year and Bray picked up 2 fill in saves since coming over from Washington.

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

Bowie has been placed on the DL with a neck injury. Rivera has a mediocre 1.58 WHIP in 35+ IP on the season, but has pitched well 7 August appearances; 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 7 K and holds in each of his last 2 outings.

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

Eyre has been placed on the DL with a hamstring injury. Wuertz has recorded 5 holds and a win since returning from the minors in late July; 15+ IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 17 K.

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

Littleton has impressive numbers in 19 rookie outings; 0.97 WHIP & 1.66 ERA in 21+ IP with 8 K and 3 holds. Benoit has been scored on in each of his past 5 outings.

Friday, August 18, 2006

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

Meadows has appeared in unusual spots this week for a closer with the D'Rays not providing save opportunties. The 30-year-old entered the game yesterday in a tie game with 2 outs in the 7th and proceeded to give up 2 two run HR's in the 8th to take the loss. Meadows entered Tuesdays' game with a tie score in the 8th and gave up 2 runs taking the loss in that game as well. The journeyman Meadows, seemed like a reach as a closer and the opportunity may be there for either McClung or Orvella to step and assume the role now.

McClung has been inconsistent since returning from AAA and his transformation to the late innings. The hard throwing 25-year-old's line in 6 games since the return; 5+ IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K.

Orvella was a huge first half disappointment and spent most of the season in AAA where he had a 1.03 WHIP in 38+ IP with 55 K and 1 save. The 25-year-old returned to the majors on Wednesday with a perfect, 1 strike out inning.

Lugo has been inconsistent since returning from a DL stint in mid July; 14 G, 19+ IP, 18 H, 11 ER, 9 BB, 7 K.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

San Francisco Giants
Armando Benitez still Closer
Vinnie Chulk still 1st in line
Mike Stanton still 2nd in line

Stanton pitched a scoreless 13th inning last night in a 7-5 game to earn his second save of the season. Benitez blew a save earlier in the game on a Ben Johnson HR, after recording saves on each of the previous two days. The veteran closer, Benitez has a shaky 1.53 WHIP in 33+ IP with 7 blown saves on the season.

Chulk continues to pitch well since coming over from Toronto as he set Benitez up last night with a scoreless, 2 strike out 8th. The 27-year-old Chulk has been scored on in just 2 of his 11 Giants' outings; 10+ IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 15 K.

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

Howry pitched a perfect, 1 strike out 9th yesterday in a 1-0 game to earn his 4th save of the season. Dempster was not available after throwing 3 innings (53 pitches) in the 18 inning game on Tuesday.

Dempster has converted 12 straight save opportunities securing this closer role after almost losing it earlier in the year. The 29-year-old closer has only been scored on in 1 of those 12 save outings; 12 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 9 K.

New York Yankees
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line
Octavio Dotel to 2nd in line in place of Scott Proctor

Dotel returned to the majors last night following elbow surgery for the first time in a year and a half with a 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K outing. The 32-year-old Dotel had a 36 save season in 2004 split between Houston and Oakland before blowing out his elbow early in the 2005 season. Dotel had 13 rehab outins in the minors this year with 5 different affiliates; 13+ IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 20 K.

Proctor has emerged as a solid set up man this year, but lacks the closing experience of Farnsworth and Dotel for the closer depth chart. The 29-year-old Proctor has a 1.24 WHIP in 75+ IP with 69 K and 16 holds on the season.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

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

Nelson pitched a perfect, 2 strike out 9th yesterday in a 4-2 game to earn his first save of his career. Manager Buddy Bell announced a closer committee on Monday after Burgos blew his 11th save of the year a few days earlier.

Nelson has 1.18 WHIP in 28 IP with 24 K and 5 holds on the season. The 31-year-old journeyman could have a chance to step as the Royals' closer as the young, hard throwing Burgos isn't ready for the job.

Houston Astros
Dan Wheeler to Closer in place of Brad Lidge
Fernando Nieve to 1st in line in place of Dan Wheeler
Brad Lidge to 2nd in line in place of Fernando Nieve

Lidge blew his 5th save of the year last night on a Matt Murton HR and after the game manager Phil Garner announced a closer committee to replace the fallen closer.

Garner pulled Lidge from the closers' role earlier in the year, but it lasted only a week and the Astros' had no save opportunities in that time period. This time it could be for good as Lidge continues to be inconsistent with a 1.49 WHIP and 8 HR allowed in 53+ IP despite 77 K on the season.

Wheeler has been the clear next in line closer here all season and the 28-year-old set up man could get the chance to emerge as the Astros' closer over the final 7 weeks of the season. Wheeler has a 1.19 WHIP in 49+ IP with 48 K, 3 saves and 20 holds on the year.

Another reliever to watch here is Nieve, who has high future closer value. The 24-year-old rookie was a swing man earlier in the year, but has settled in to a relief role in the second half. The hard throwing right hander has allowed just 1 run over 5 appearances since being recalled from the minors in early August; 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K. On the season Nieve has a 1.22 WHIP in 85 IP with 58 K.

Philadelphia Phillies
Tom Gordon still Closer
Ryan Madson still 1st in line
Arhur Rhodes to 2nd in line in place of Geoff Geary

Gordon is out until at least this weekend with a shoulder injury. Manager Charlie Manuel named Madson and Rhodes his co-closers until Gordon returns.

Madson was a disaster as a starting pitcher this year with a 1.68 WHIP and 5.63 ERA in 111+ IP on the season. The 25-year-old has settled down in the bullpen allowing just 3 runs over 7 appearances in August; 11 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 13 K.

Rhodes has been a disappointment this year with a 1.70 WHIP and 5.11 ERA in 37 IP. The 36-year-old veteran left hander has pitched well of late though currently riding a 7 game scoreless/hitless appearance streak; 6+ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

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

Giovanni Carrara pitched the 8th and 9th yesterday in a 4-1 win to earn his first save of the season; 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Saito was rested after appearing in the previous 2 games and 5 of the past 6. The 38-year-old veteran Carrara has a 1.03 WHIP in 21+ IP with 21 K and 1 hold on the season.

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

Duchscherer pitched a scoreless 9th in a 5-4 game yesterday to earn his 3rd save of the season; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Street was rested after picking up saves on 3 consecutive days. Duchscherer has a 1.23 WHIP in 38+ IP with 32 K and 10 holds on the year.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8