Closer Watch Blog Week 24

Friday, September 15, 2006

Chicago Cubs
Bob Howry to co-closer from 1st in line
Ryan Dempster to co-closer from closer
Mike Wuertz still 2nd in line

Howry pitched a perfect 1 strike out 9th in a 6-5 game yesterday to earn his 5th save of the year. Dempster was not used after blowing his 8th save of the year on Tuesday. Manager Dusty Baker didn't announce any changes to the closer role, but said he used Howry because; "Bobby is throwing better and he's rested". Dempster has had a poor year as a closer with his 1.51 WHIP and 4.59 ERA in 68+ IP with 8 losses and 8 blown saves.

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

Benitez has been placed on the 60 day DL with his bad knees ending his inconsistent season with a 1.57 WHIP in 38+ IP and 8 blown saves.

Sadler replaces Benitez on the roster. The 25-year-old rookie posted a 1.06 WHIP in 55+ AAA/AA IP with 79 K and 21 saves this year.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Houston Astros
Brad Lidge still Closer
Dan Wheeler still 1st in line
Fernando Nieve still 2nd in line

Wheeler got the final out with 2 runners on in a 5-1 game yesterday for his 5th save of the season. Lidge was not used after blowing a save Tuesday night. It's questionable that the Astros will bring Lidge back as their closer for 2007 after this extremely inconsistent season.

Wheeler continues to be a solid late inning reliever with a 1.13 WHIP in 61 IP with 61 K and 24 holds.

Boston Red Sox
Mike Timlin still Closer
Manny Delcarmen still 1st in line
Keith Foulke still 2nd in line

Timlin started the 9th in a 6-1 game on Tuesday and was pulled with 2 outs after allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. Left hander Javier Lopez come on to get the final out to record his first save of the year. Timlin has had a very inconsistent season with a 1.47 WHIP in 57+ IP with 27 K, 21 holds, 4 saves and 7 blown saves.

Lopez has a 1.71 WHIP in 11+ IP with 7 K and 4 holds on the season. The left hander has a .766 opposition OPS vs. left hand hitters and an ineffective .901 against right hand hitters.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

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

Farnsworth pitched a scoreless 9th in a 9-6 game yesterday to earn his fourth save of the year; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Rivera played catch on Sunday and will be sidelined at least another week with his elbow injury. This was Farnsworth' second save this month filling in for Rivera who hasn't pitched since 8/31. Farnsworth has a 1.39 WHIP in 59 IP with 66 K and 19 holds on the season.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Cincinnati Reds
David Weathers still Closer
Scott Schoeneweis still 1st in line
Todd Coffey still 2nd in line

Schoeneweis pitched a scoreless 9th in a 4-2 game yesterday to earn his third save of the year. Weathers was unavailable as he was with his wife and new born child. In 10 appearances with the Reds, Schoeneweis has a 0.96 WHIP in 9+ IP with 5 K, 2 saves and 1 hold.

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

Rhodes is done for the year with an elbow injury. The free agent to be finished his season in Philly with a 1.66 WHIP and 5.12 ERA in 45+ IP with 23 holds and 4 saves.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 23
Week 22
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