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Friday, September 28, 2007 New York Yankees Mariano Rivera still Closer Joba Chamberlain still 1st in line Luis Vizcaino still 2nd in line Jose Veras pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 1 H) yesterday in a 3-1 game for his first career save. Rivera was rested after picking up the playoff clinching save the night before. The 26-year-old Veras has a 1.44 WHIP on the season in 8+ IP with 6 K and 1 hold. Seattle Mariners J.J. Putz still Closer George Sherrill still 1st in line Brandon Morrow still 2nd in line Sherrill got the final out in a 4-2 game yesterday for his 3rd save of the season. Putz was rested after throwing 31 pitches over the previous 2 days. The 30-year-old Sherrill has an impressive 0.99 WHIP on the season in 45+ IP with 56 K and 22 holds. Thursday, September 27, 2007 Florida Marlins Kevin Gregg still Closer Armando Benitez still 1st in line Matt Lindstrom still 2nd in line Lee Gardner pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 1 H) in a 7-4 game yesterday for his second save of the season. Gregg missed a second game with a forearm\wrist injury, but expects to be available today. The 32-year-old Gardner has a 1.22 WHIP on the season in 72+ IP with 51 K and 7 holds. The rookie has had a strong 2nd half with a 0.92 ERA in 39+ IP after posting a 3.38 mark in 32 first half innings. Houston Astros Brad Lidge still Closer Chad Qualls still 1st in line Trever Miller still 2nd in line Qualls pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 1 BB) in a 7-6 game yesterday for his 5th save of the season. Lidge was rested after pitching on 2 of the previous 3 days, including a 27 pitch save effort on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Qualls has a 1.31 WHIP on the season in 81+ IP with 76 K and 20 holds. Washington Nationals Chad Cordero still Closer John Rauch still 1st in line Saul Rivera still 2nd in line Luis Ayala pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout 9th in a 9-6 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Cordero was a late scratch with an illness. The 29-year-old Ayala has a 1.30 WHIP on the season in 41+ IP with 28 K and 6 holds. Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Florida Marlins Kevin Gregg still Closer Armando Benitez still 1st in line Matt Lindstrom still 2nd in line Taylor Tankersley got the final out in a 4-2 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Gregg was unavailable with a forearm injury that he doesn't believe is serious. The 24-year-old Tankersley has a 1.49 WHIP on the season in 46+ IP with 49 K and 15 holds. The left hander is tough on left hand hitters with a .564 opposition OPS versus a hittable .833 mark against right handers. Washington Nationals Chad Cordero still Closer Jon Rauch still 1st in line Saul Rivera still 2nd in line Rauch got the final 2 outs (1 via strikeout) in a 10-9 game yesterday for his 4th save of the season. Cordero was pulled from the save opportunity after allowing 3 baserunners without recording an out. The 28-year-old Rauch has a 1.12 WHIP in 84+ IP on the season with 70 K and 31 holds. It's possible Cordero is traded this Winter with Rauch becoming the Nats' closer in 2008. Cleveland Indians Joe Borowski still Closer Rafael Betancourt still 1st in line Tom Mastny still 2nd in line Betancourt pitched a perfect, 1 stikeout 12th inning in a 4-3 game yesterday for his 3rd save of the season. Borowski blew his 7th save of the season earlier in the game allowing 2 ninth inning runs. The 32-year-old Betancourt has a 0.75 WHIP on the season in 77+ IP with 76 K and 29 holds. Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Baltimore Orioles Jamie Walker still Closer Chad Bradford still 1st in line Fernando Cabrera still 2nd in line Bradford pitched a scoreless 9th (1 IP, 1 H) in a 3-2 game yesterday for his 2nd save of the season. Walker pitched the 8th picking up the win; 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R. The 33-year-old Bradford has a 1.41 WHIP on the season in 63 IP with 29 K and 18 holds. The Orioles could be in the market for a closer this Winter after ending the season with a closer committee following the injuries to Chris Ray and Danys Baez. Texas Rangers C.J. Wilson still Co-Closer Joaquin Benoit still Co-Closer Wes Littleton to 2nd in line in place of Frank Francisco Littleton pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout 9th in a 8-7 game yesterday for his 2nd save of the season. Wilson and Benoit weren't used after pitching 3 of the past 4 days The 25-year-old Littleton has a 1.35 WHIP on the season in 47 IP with 24 K and 2 holds. Toronto Blue Jays Jeremy Accardo still Closer Casey Janssen still 1st in line Jason Frasor still 2nd in line Janssen got the final 4 outs in a 4-1 game yesterday for his 6th save of the season; 1 1\3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 26-year-old Janssen has a 1.20 WHIP on the season in 72 IP with 39 K and 24 holds. Monday, September 24, 2007 New York Mets Billy Wagner still Closer Aaron Heilman still 1st in line Jorge Sosa still 2nd in line Scott Schoeneweis got the final out in the 11th inning of a 7-6 game yesterday for his second save of the season. Wagner blew a save on a Dan Uggla HR in the 9th after missing the past few games with a back injury. Heilman and Sosa both appeared ealier in the game. The left handed Schoeneweis retired the left handed Jeremy Hermida for the save. The 30-year-old southpaw has a tough .549 opposition OPS against left handers with a not so impressive .972 mark versus right handers. Texas Rangers C.J. Wilson to Co-Closer from 1st in line Joaquin Benoit to Co-Closer from Closer Frank Francisco still 2nd in line Wilson pitched a scoreless 9th in a 3-0 game yesterday for his 12th save of the season; (1 IP, 1 H). Benoit set Wilson up with a scoreless 8th for his 18th hold of the year; (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K). Wilson served as the Rangers' closer after Eric Gagne was dealt recording 11 saves before Benoit got a look. However, Benoit blew 2 of his past 3 chances getting Wilson another opportunity. Manager Ron Washington talked over the weekend about the need for a veteran closer next season, implying that Wilson or Benoit are not ready for the job. Akinori Otsuka's status heading in to 2008 is unknown after he missed the final 3 months of the season with an elbow injury. Cleveland Indians Joe Borowski still Closer Rafael Betancourt still 1st in line Tom Mastny still 2nd in line Betancourt pitched out of an 8th inning jam then stayed on for a perfect 9th yesterday to record his second save of the season in a 6-2 final; 1 1\3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. The 32-year-old Betancourt has had a dominant season as a setup man with a 0.76 WHIP in 76 IP with 75 K and 29 holds. New York Yankees Mariano Rivera still Closer Joba Chamberlain still 1st in line Luis Vizcaino still 2nd in line Chamberlain pitched out of an 8th inning jam then stayed on for a perfect 9th yesterday to record his first career save in a 7-5 final; 1 1\3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Rivera was rested after throwing 64 pitches pitching 3 of the past 4 games. The 22-year-old Chamberlain has quickly emerged as a promising future closer this year with a 0.74 WHIP in 21+ IP with 31 K and 7 holds. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 25 2007 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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