Closer Watch Blog Week 23

Sunday, September 10, 2006

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

Thornton got the final out in a 10-8 game yesterday via strike out to record 2nd save of the year. Jenks wasn't used after blowing a 2 run save Friday night with out recording an out. Manager Ozzie Guillen gave Jenks a vote of confidence after the game Friday and may have just been giving his closer a mental rest by not using him on Saturday.

Thornton has a 1.20 WHIP in 49+ IP with 45 K and 16 holds. The 29-year-old left hander dominates left hand hitters with a .554 opposition OPS and has a .696 OPS against right hand hitters.

New York Yankees
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line
Octavio Dotel still 2nd in line

Farnsworth recorded his third save of the year allowing 1 ninth ining run in a 3-2 final; 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Rivera remains sidelined with an elbow injury and hasn't pitched since 8/31. Rivera feels his injury is improving but he could still be a week away from returning barring any set backs.

Toronto Blue Jays
B.J. Ryan still Closer
Brandon League to 1st in line in place of Jeremy Accardo
Jeremy Accardo to 2nd in line in place of Brandon League

League set Ryan up with a perfect 1 strike out 8th last night in a 2-1 game. The 23-year-old rookie has a 5 game scoreless appearance streak; 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K. League has a 1.07 WHIP in 32+ IP on the season with 24 K and 7 holds.

Accardo has struggled of late allowing 7 runs over his past 3 appearances and has a 1.34 WHIP in 61+ IP on the season with 48 K and 9 holds.

Saturday, September 9, 2006

St. Louis Cardinals
Braden Looper to co-closer
Adam Wainwright to co-closer
Josh Hancock still 2nd in line
Jason Isringhausen out indefinitely

Isringhausen's status for the remainder of the season in in question due to a hip injury. Izzy revealed that his recent struggles were due to the injury. Manager Tony LaRussa mentioned both Looper and Wainwright yesterday as possible fill in closers.

Looper has a 1.26 WHIP in 65 IP with 37 K and 15 holds on the season. The 31-year-old had 28 saves for the Mets last year before losing the job in the second half.

Wainwright has had a very impressive rookie campaign with a 1.13 WHIP in 68+ IP with 65 K and 16 holds. The 25-year-old has a current 4 game scoreless appearance streak; 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K.

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

Street returned from the DL yesterday and pitched a scoreless 9th in a 8-6 game for his 30th save of the year; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Duchscherer proved to be a capable back up closer once again going 5 for 5 in save chances while Street was out.

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

Pineiro pitched a perfect 8th in a 3-0 game yesterday and was credited with a save despite allowing two 9th inning runs in a 7-2 final; 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Pineiro has made 5 relief appearances since being dropped from the starting rotation; 14+ IP, 13 H, 6 R, 6 BB, 11 K.

Soriano is questionable to return this season after getting hit in the head by a line drive on 8/29.

Lowe is out for the year with an elbow injury.

Thursday, September 7, 2006

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

Stanton pitched a perfect 9th in a 4-3 game to record his fourth save in the past five days. Benitez remains sidelined with bad knees. Stanton's recent success may keep him in the SF closer role, or a share of it, when the inconsistent Benitez comes back. Stanton has a current 6 game scoreless appearance streak with 5 saves in that stretch; 6+ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Boston Red Sox
Mike Timlin to Closer in place of Jonathan Papelbon
Manny Delcarmen to 1st in line in place of Mike Timlin
Keith Foulke still 2nd in line

Timlin pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th last night in a 1-0 game to record his fourth save of the year; 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Papelbon had a MRI on his shoulder yesterday which resulted in a "fatigued shoulder" and it's questionable he'll return this season.

Timlin has been inconsistent this year with a 1.40 WHIP in 53 IP. The 40-year-old veteran closed for the Red Sox after Foulke and Curt Schilling last year picking up 13 saves.

Delcarmen was warming up behind Timlin last night with Foulke no where to be seen. The 24-year-old Delcarmen has had an inconsistent rookie campaign with a 1.44 WHIP in 46+ IP with 41 K and 13 holds.

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

Todd Wellemeyer pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings last night in a 5-0 game to record his first save of the year; 3+ IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. The 28-year-old has a 1.52 WHIP in 67+ IP with 47 K and 3 holds in 42 combined games with KC and Florida.

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

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

Stanton pitched a perfect, 2 strike out 9th in a 5-4 game yesterday for his third save in three days. Benitez remains sidelined with sore knees. Stanton is making a case to close for SF for the remainder of the season even when the inconsistent Benitez is ready to go. The 39-year-old Stanton has a 5 game scoreless appearance streak that includes 4 saves; 5+ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Monday, September 4, 2006

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

Manager Bob Melvin announced yesterday that Valverde is returning to his closer role due to Julio's recent struggles. Valverde has had five 2 inning outings since returning from AAA allowing just 2 runs; 10 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 13 K.

Philadelphia Phillies
Tom Gordon to Closer from DL
Arthur Rhodes to 1st in line from Committee
Ryan Madson to 2nd in line from Committee

Gordon was activated from the DL yesterday and could immediately return to the closer role. Flash missed 3 weeks with a shoulder injury and has a 1.20 WHIP in 49+ IP with 60 K and 27 saves in 31 opportunities on the season.

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

Stanton pitched a perfect 1 1/3 yesterday to pick up his second save in as many days; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Benitez was unavailable with arthritic knees that could keep him out for a few days. Stanton now has a surprise 5 second half saves and has a 1.48 WHIP in 58 IP with 40 K on the season.

Washington Nationals
Chad Cordero still Closer
Jon Rauch still 1st in line
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Rauch pitched a perfect 9th in a 5-3 game yesterday to record his first career save; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Cordero was rested after pitching both ends of the double header on Saturday. The 27-year-old Rauch has emerged as a solid set up man this year and the Nationals' clear next in line closer with a 1.21 WHIP in 76+ IP with 72 K and 13 holds.

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

Orvella allowed 4 runs with 2 HR's allowed with out recording an out yesterday as whatever was left of his future closer star has faded out; 2.30 WHIP and 7.40 ERA in 24+ IP on the season.

Lugo has a 1.36 WHIP in 73+ IP with 38 K and 7 holds on the year.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 22
Week 21
Week 20
Week 19
Week 18
Week 17
Week 16
Week 15
Week 14
Week 13
Week 12
Week 11
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Week 9
Week 8