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Saturday, September 30, 2006 Kansas City Royals Joe Nelson still Closer Joel Peralta to 1st in line in place of Ambiorix Burgos Ambiorix Burgos to 2nd in line in place of Ryan Braun Peralta got the last 2 outs on a double play in the 15th of a 9-7 final after allowing 2 inherited runners to score for his first career save yesterday. Nelson started the inning with a 4 run lead but was pulled after walking the bases loaded around getting 1 out. The 30-year-old Peralta has a 1.24 WHIP in 73+ IP with 57 K and 17 holds on the season. Braun, who is a decent relief prospect, has been hit around in his major league debut in September with a 1.62 WHIP and 8.31 ERA in 8+ IP. Journeyman Nelson has pitched well in the closers' role for the Royals converting 10 of 11 save opportunties since taking over the role in mid August. However, the Royals could be in the market for a more experienced closer this Winter. Texas Rangers Akinori Otsuka still Closer Wes Littleton still 1st in line Rick Bauer still 2nd in line C.J. Wilson got the final 2 outs in the 9th in a 6-5 game yesterday for his first save of the year. Otsuka remains out for the final week of the season with migraine headaches. Littleton pitched a scoreless 8th and got 1 out in the 9th after allowing a HR before being relieved with a left hand hitter due up. The left handed Wilson is very effective against left hand hitters with a .572 opposition OPS and a not so good .835 versus right hand hitters. Wilson has a 1.30 WHIP in 44 IP with 43 K and 7 holds on the season. Friday, September 29, 2006 Cleveland Indians Rafael Betancourt to Closer from Co-Closer Tom Mastny to 1st in line from Co-Closer Jason Davis still 2nd in line Betancourt pitched a scoreless 9th in a 5-4 game yesterday for his 3rd save of the year; 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. The 31-year-old veteran has received each of the past 2 Indians' save opportunities after Mastny started pitching poorly. The Indians could be in the market for a closer this off season after Fausto Carmona and Mastny failed in the role following the trade of Bob Wickman; or perhaps they will go with Betancourt who has a 1.13 WHIP in 55+ IP this year with 47 K. Houston Astros Dan Wheeler still Closer Brad Lidge still 1st in line Fernando Nieve still 2nd in line Lidge pitched a perfect 1 stike out 9th in a 3-0 game yesterday for his first save in 3 weeks. Wheeler was unavailable after throwing 3 innings and 46 pitches the day before. Lidge, off this inconsistent season, remains a trade candidate for the Astros this coming off 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 3-1 game yesterday for his 2nd save of the year. Cordero was unavailable after pitching on 3 straight days. Rauch has emerged as solid next in line closer this season with 1.23 WHIP in 89+ IP with 83 K and 18 holds. St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright to Closer from Co-Closer Braden Looper to 1st in line from Co-Closer Josh Hancock still 2nd in line Wainwright pitched a scoreless 9th in a 4-2 game on Wednesday night for his 2nd save of the year; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. This was the Cardinals first save since Jason Isringhausen went out with a hip injury 3 weeks ago. Wainwright has increased value heading in to 2007 due to the uncertainty over Isringhausen and his second hip operation. Wainwright has a 1.15 WHIP in 74 IP with 71 K on the season. Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Texas Rangers Akinori Otsuka still Closer Wes Littleton to 1st in line in place of Rick Bauer Rick Bauer to 2nd in line in place of Wes Littleton Littleton pitched 2 perfect innings with 2 K's in a 5-2 game yesterday for his first career save. Otsuka will miss the remainder of the season due to migraine headaches. The Japanese League veteran had a solid season closing for the first time in the majors converting 32 of 36 save opportunties with a 1.07 WHIP in 59+ IP with 47 K. The 24-year-old Littleton has had a good rookie campaign with a 1.00 WHIP and 1.59 ERA in 34 IP with 15 K and 6 holds. New York Yankees Mariano Rivera still Closer Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line Scott Proctor to 2nd in line in place of Octavio Dotel Proctor recorded his first career save yesterday while allowing 1 run in a 5-4 final; 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Rivera, recently returned from an arm injury, was rested after appearing on Monday. Dotel has been a disappointment since coming back from Tommy John surgery this year; 2.89 WHIP and 10.00 ERA in 9 IP. Proctor has emerged as a solid set up man this year with a 1.20 WHIP in 99 IP with 86 K and 25 holds. 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 5-3 game yesterday for his 3rd save of the season; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. Weathers has been the primary closer since Eddie Guardado went down, put pitched in set up role yesterday appearing in the 7th/8th; 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Schoeneweis has a 1.20 WHIP and 0.68 ERA in 13+ IP since joining the Reds, along with all 3 of his saves. Tuesday, September 26, 2006 San Diego Padres Trevor Hoffman still Closer Scott Linebrink still 1st in line Cla Meredith still 2nd in line Linebrink got the final 4 outs in a 6-5 game yesterday to record his second save of the year; 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Hoffman was rested after picking up saves each of the previous 2 days and 3 or the past 4. The 30-year-old Linebrink continues to be one of the best set up men in baseball with a 1.24 WHIP in 72 IP with 66 K and 32 holds on the season. Linebrink should continue to server as Hoffman's main set up man in to next season as both are under contract for 2007. Los Angeles Angels Francisco Rodriguez still Closer Scot Shields still 1st in line Brendan Donnelly still 2nd in line Shields got the final out of the 8th with a runner in a 7-3 game then stayed on for the 9th to record his second save of the season in a 8-3 final; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 31-year-old has a 1.07 WHIP in 86+ IP with 84 K and 31 holds as he continue to be one of the top set up men in baseball. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 25 Week 24 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 |
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