Closer Watch Blog Week 22

Sunday, September 3, 2006

Pittsburgh Pirates
Salomon Torres to Closer from Committee
Matt Capps to 1st in line from Committee
John Grabow to 2nd in line from Committee
Mike Gonzalez DL

Torres pitched 2 scoreless innings in a 1-0 game yesterday to record his first save of the season; 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. This was the Pirates first save opportunity since Gonzalez went on the DL and Torres has now appeared in the 9th in all 4 of his outings in that timeframe. The 34-year-old veteran has a 1.49 WHIP in 80 IP with 53 K.

Capps pitched a scoreless 6th/7th in front of Torres yesterday to earn his 6th win of the year. The 22-year-old rookie, who has high future closer value, has a 1.12 WHIP in 71+ IP with 52 K and 9 holds on the season.

Gonzalez is to test his elbow in a throwing session early this week and hopes to be back for the final few weeks of the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Jorge Julio still Closer
Jose Valverde still 1st in line
Tony Pena still 2nd in line

Julio blew a 2 run save opportunity yesterday and has been scored on in 4 of his past 5 outings. Valverde may be close to getting his closers' role back. The hard throwing 27-year-old has allowed just 2 runs over 5 appearances since returning from AAA; 10 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 13 K.

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

Stanton got the final 2 outs in a 4-2 game yesterday to record his 4th save of the season. Benitez was pulled from the save opportunity after allowing a HR, single and a walk around 1 out. The veteran Benitez continues to have a shaky season with his WHIP now at 1.57 in 38+ IP with 8 blown saves.

Stanton has pitched in a more frequent late inning role since coming over to SF from D.C. with 4 saves and 5 holds in 16 appearances. The 39-year-old veteran has a 1.52 WHIP on the year in 56+ IP with 40 K and 15 holds.

Florida Marlins
Joe Borowski still Closer
Taylor Tankersley still 1st in line
Sergio Mitreo still 2nd in line

Tankersley pitched a scoreless 10th yesterday in a 9-6 game to earn his third save of the season; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Borowski blew a save in the 9th allowing 2 runs.

The 23-year-old Tankersley has decent future closer value with a 1.35 WHIP in 30+ IP wtih 34 K and 17 holds on the season. The left hander is equally tough on right handers as left handers; .654 opposition OPS and .617 respectively.

Atlanta Braves
Bob Wickman still Closer
Danys Baez DL still 1st in line
Joey Devine to 2nd in line in place of Ken Ray

Devine pitched scoreless innings in each game of a double header yesterday; 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K. The hard throwing rookie regained his future closer value with a 0.55 WHIP in 11 IP with 20 K at AA prior to his call up.

Ray has struggled of late allowing 10 runs over his last 6 outings and now has a 1.49 WHIP in 61+ IP.

Baez could return soon from a DL stint (appendectomy).

Minnesota Twins
Joe Nathan still Closer
Juan Rincon still 1st in line
Pat Neshek still 2nd in line

Jesse Crain got the final out of the 7th yesterday in a 2-1 game and was credited with a save after the game was shortened due to rain in the 8th with the Twins up 6-1. The 25-year-old Crain has a 1.34 WHIP in 64 IP with 53 K and 5 holds on the season.

Neshek continues to put up impressive numbers in his rookie campaign with a 0.58 WHIP in 25+ IP with 37 K and 6 holds.

Saturday, September 2, 2006

Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Mike Timlin still 1st in line
Keith Foulke still 2nd in line

Timlin got the final out in the 9th yesterday to record his 3rd save of the season. Papelbon had to leave the inning with what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury. However, following the game the rookie believed the injury to be minor and was hopeful to return in a few days.

The Red Sox bullpen in front of Papelbon is very shaky. Veterans, Timlin and Foulke have been inconsistent. Timlin allowed 11 runs in 13+ August IP and has a 1.42 WHIP on the year in 52 IP with 24 K, 21 holds and 6 blown saves.

Foulke spent June/July on the DL and has pitched scoreless outings in 4 of 5 outings since returning. However, that 1 poor outing included 3 HR's allowed earlier this week. Foulke has a 1.27 WHIP in 39+ IP on the season with 27 K and 9 holds.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Pittsburgh Pirates
Salomon Torres to committee from 2nd in line
Matt Capps to committee from 1st in line
John Grabow to committee
Mike Gonzalez to DL

Gonzalez was placed on the DL yesterday with an elbow injury. Manager Jim Tracy talked about a "closer committee" to fill in for his closer.

The veteran Torres pitched a perfect 2 strike out 9th yesterday in a 11-6 game. The 34-year-old has a 1.47 WHIP in 75 IP with 48 K and 20 holds on the season.

Capps pitched in front of Torres with a perfect 1 1/3 IP. The 22-year-old rookie, who has high future closer value, has a 1.12 WHIP in 68+ IP with 51 K and 9 holds on the season.

Grabow has a 1.30 WHIP in 60 IP with 58 K and 8 holds. The 27-year-old left hander has a .678 opposition OPS against left handers and a .745 versus right handers.

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

Broxton got the final 5 outs in a 6-5 games yesterday for this 3rd save of the year; 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Saito was rested after pitching the 2 previous days. Broxton, who has high future closer value, has a 1.19 WHIP in 60+ IP with 72 K and 7 holds on the season.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 21
Week 20
Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
Week 10
Week 9
Week 8