The Inside Pitch Closer Watch Blog |
Sunday, September 23, 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers still Closer Tom Gordon still 1st in line Clay Condrey to 2nd in line in place of Antonio Alfonseca Condrey pitched a scoreless 10th innning (1 IP, 1 H) in a 4-1 game yesterday for his second save of the season. Myers picked up the win pitching in the 9th and Gordon appeared in the 8th. The 31-year-old Condrey has a 1.55 WHIP on the season in 48+ IP with 26 K and 2 holds on the season. San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson still Closer Tyler Walker still 1st in line Brad Hennessey still 2nd in line Wilson pitched a perfect 9th in a 2-0 game yesterday for his 5th save of the season. The hard throwing right hander could head in to Spring Training 2008 as the Giants' closer. The 25-year-old has a 0.79 WHIP in 20+ IP on the season with 12 K, 9 holds and is 5 for 5 in save chances. Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker still Closer Chad Bradford still 1st in line Fernando Cabrera still 2nd in line Walker pitched a perfect 9th in a 11-9 game yesterday for his 6th save of the season. The 36-year-old Walker has a 1.23 WHIP on the season in 58+ IP with 40 K, 21 holds and is 6 for 11 in save chances. With Chris Ray out next year rehabbing from Tommy John and Danys Baez potentially heading for Tommy John, the O's could be in the market for a closer this coming off season. Saturday, September 22, 2007 New York Mets Billy Wagner still Closer Aaron Heilman still 1st in line Jorge Sosa still 2nd in line Scott Schoeneweis struck out 3 of the final 4 batters in a 9-6 game last night for his first save of the season. Wagner was unavailable with a back injury. The 33-year-old Schoeneweis has a 1.55 WHIP on the season in 56 IP with 38 K and 11 holds. The left hander is tough on left hand hitters with a .567 opposition OPS, with a poor .986 mark against right hand hitters. Atlanta Braves Rafael Soriano still Closer Octavio Dotel to 1st in line in place of Peter Moylan Peter Moylan to 2nd in line in place of Octavio Dotel Dotel has been activated from the DL and a tricep injury. The Braves have had only 3 save opportunties since Bob Wickman was let go a month ago. Soriano has converted all 3 and could head in to 2008 as the Braves' closer. The 27-year-old has a 0.88 WHIP on the season in 69 IP with 65 K, 19 holds and 8 saves in 11 chances. Toronto Blue Jays Jeremy Accardo still Closer Casey Janssen still 1st in line Jason Frasor still 2nd in line Frasor got the final out in the 14th inning last night of a 5-4 game for his 3rd save of the season. Accardo and Janssen both appeared earlier in game. The 30-year-old Frasor had first chance to succeed B.J. Ryan as the Jays' closer, but failed quickly in April. Frasor has a 1.21 WHIP on the season in 54+ IP with 55 K and just 3 holds. Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Seattle Mariners J.J. Putz still Closer George Sherrill to 1st in line in place of Brandon Morrow Brandon Morrow to 2nd in line in place of George Sherrill Sherrill struck out the side in an 8-7 game yesterday for his 2nd save of the season. Putz was unavailable with a tricep injury. The 30-year-old Sherrill is a top setup man in the AL this year with a 0.98 WHIP in 43 IP with 53 K and 20 holds. The left hander is tough on left and right hand hitters with a .527 opposition OPS and .585 respectively. The hard throwing Morrow has had an inconsistent rookie campaign with a 1.71 WHIP in 58+ IP with 60 K and 17 holds. The 23-year-old had a rough patch earlier this month allowing 8 runs over 3 straight outings while recording just 3 outs. Toronto Blue Jays Jeremy Accardo still Closer Casey Janssen still 1st in line Jason Frasor still 2nd in line Scott Downs retired 1 batter, David Ortiz via strikeout, in a 4-3 game last night for the situational, spot save. The 31-year-old Downs has a 1.22 WHIP on the season in 55 IP with 55 K and 21 holds as the veteran has settled in to a setup role this year. The left hander is tough on left handers with a .508 opposition OPS with a decent .668 mark versus right hander hitters. Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers still Closer Tom Gordon still 1st in line Antonio Alfonseca still 2nd in line Clay Condrey pitched a perfect 14th inning in a 7-4 game yesterday for his first career save. Gordon and Myers (blew a 10th inning save) both appeared earlier in the game. The 31-year-old Condrey has a 1.53 WHIP on the season in 47 IP with 25 K and 2 holds. The right hander has pitched better in the 2nd half (4.08 ERA in 28+ IP) after posting a 7.36 mark in 18 first half innings. Tuesday, September 18, 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Brett Myers still Closer Tom Gordon to 1st in line in place of Antonio Alfonseca Antonio Alfonseca to 2nd in line in place of Tom Gordon Francisco Rosario got the final 2 outs (2\3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K) in a 13-11 game last night for his first career save. Myers and Gordon were both rested after pitching each of the previous 3 days. Alfonseca appeared in the middle innings of this game and has struggled in the 2nd half, 7.80 ERA in 15 IP after serving as the teams' closer earlier in the season. The 26-year-old Rosario has a 1.78 WHIP in 26+ IP on the season with 25 K and 1 hold. The right handed rookie has allowed just 1 run in 6 IP since a September 1 recall from the minors. San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson still Closer Tyler Walker still 1st in line Brad Hennessey still 2nd in line Wilson pitched a perfect 9th in a 8-5 game yesterday for his 4th save of the season. With Hennessey officially removed from the closers' role, Wilson has a chance to secure the Giants' closer role over the final 2 weeks of the season and head in to Spring Training as the teams' closer. The 25-year-old Wilson has a 0.87 WHIP on the season in 18+ IP with 11 K, 9 holds and is 4 for 4 in save chances. Monday, September 17, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker still Closer Chad Bradford still 1st in line Fernando Cabrera to 2nd in line in place of Jim Hoey Cabrera pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout 12th inning in a 8-6 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Walker and Bradford both appeared earlier in the game. Cabrera had high future closer value when with Cleveland, but struggled in the majors before being waived a few weeks ago by the Indians. The 25-year-old has a 1.85 WHIP and 6.81 ERA in 38+ IP on the season with 45 K and just 1 hold. Danys Baez could be headed towards elbow surgery pending a second opinion. Walker, who has 5 saves since Chris Ray went down, could be the lead for saves the remainder of the season. Texas Rangers Joaquin Benoit to Closer from Co-Closer C.J. Wilson to 1st in line from Co-Closer Frank Francisco still 2nd in line Benoit got the final 4 outs (1 1\3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) in a 11-9 game for his fifth save of the year yesterday. Wilson pitched in front of Benoit recording a hold while getting 2 outs in the 8th; 2\3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Wilson closed for the Rangers when Eric Gagne was initially dealt, but now Benoit is emerging as the teams' closer. The 30-year-old Benoit has a 1.09 WHIP on the season in 77+ IP with 83 K with 18 holds and now 5 saves. San Francisco Giants Brian Wilson to Closer from Co-Closer Tyler Walker to 1st in line in place of Bred Hennessey Brad Hennessey to 2nd in line in place of Tyler Walker Manager Bruce Bochy announced over the weekend that Wilson and Walker would close over Hennessey for the remainder of the season. Wilson could be the lead for the job with a strong showing over the past month. The 25-year-old Wilson has a 0.92 WHIP in 17+ IP with 11 K, 9 holds and is 3 for 3 in save opportunities. The hard throwing right hander was Armando Benitez' heir apparent this past Spring Training prior to struggling with command and being sent to the minors. The 31-year-old Walker has a 0.88 WHIP in 8 IP with 6 K and 5 holds. Walker recorded 23 saves two years ago for the Giants and had 10 last year for the Devil Rays before having Tommy John surgery. Cincinnati Reds David Weathers still Closer Jared Burton to 1st in line in place of Eddie Guardado Eddie Guardado to 2nd in line in place of Jared Burton Manager Pete Mackanin announced over the weekend that Burton would be his next in line closer if Weathers wasn't available at any time over the final 2 weeks of the season. The 26-year-old Burton has a 1.21 WHIP on the season in 39 IP with 34 K and 8 holds. The right handed rookie has a 1.78 second half ERA in 30+ IP after a 5.19 mark in 8+ first half innings. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 24 2007 Week 23 2007 Week 22 2007 Week 21 2007 Week 20 2007 Week 19 2007 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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