Closer Watch Blog Week 3 2007

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Hideki Okajima to 1st in line in place of Joel Pineiro
Joel Pineiro to 2nd in line in place of Mike Timlin

Papelbon was rested last night after throwing 20 plus pitches each of the previous two days. Okajima received the save opportunity in his place and recorded the save in a 1 run game; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. The Japanese League veteran has allowed just 1 run in 7 appearances; 7+ IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K.

Kansas City Royals
Joakim Soria still Closer (Unofficial)
David Riske still 1st in line
Joel Peralta still 2nd in line
Octavio Dotel still DL

The Royals have not had a conventional save opportunity since April 10 when Soria recorded his first career save. Riske pitched a scoreless 8th with an 8-6 lead last night then stayed on for the 9th with the score up to 11-6. The 30-year-old finished the game for his second save on the season; 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. Riske has a 1.56 WHIP in 7 appearances; 8+ IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 6 K.

Soria threw 31 pitches Wednesday night earning the win in a 10 inning game; 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. The rookie has a 0.96 WHIP in 7 appearances this year; 8+ IP, 4 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 11 K.

Dotel is expected back around mid May from his oblique injury.

Washington Nationals
Chad Cordero still Closer
Jon Rauch still 1st in line
Ryan Wagner still 2nd in line

Rivera pitched a scoreless 14th inning in a 6-5 game last night for his first career save; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Cordero blew his second save on the young season earlier in the game to force extra innings. Wagner set up with a scoreless 7th inning and Rauch struggled in the 8th before being relieved by Cordero with 2 outs recorded.

The 29-year-old Rivera has been impressive since being recalled from AAA earlier this week; 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K and 1 hold.

Houston Astros
Dan Wheeler still Closer
Chad Qualls to 1st in line in place of Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge to 2nd in line in place of Chad Qualls

Lidge continues to struggle as he almost blew a 6-2 game in the 9th last night; 2/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. Qualls got the final out in the game for his first save of the year. Wheeler was rested after throwing 33 pitches on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Qualls has a 0.63 WHIP in 9 appearances this year; 8 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K and 3 holds.

Friday, April 20, 2007

San Francisco Giants
Armando Benitez still Closer
Brad Hennessey to 1st in line in place of Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson to 2nd in line in place of Billy Sadler

Hennessey recorded the final 2 outs in the 8th yesteray in a 3 run game. The 27-year-old then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 4 and no save opportunity for Benitez. Hennessey finished the game for his second career save; 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.

The Giants are thin on set up relievers after Wilson's surprise demotion to AAA at the end of Spring Training. Hennessey, used as a swingman the past 2 seasons, now has a 0.95 WHIP in 6+ IP over 5 appearances this year. The 25-year-old Wilson still has good future closer value as Benitez' heir apparent. Wilson has 2 saves in 6 AAA appearances this year, but continues to struggle with control, 8 BB in 7+ IP with 4 H, 2 R and 11 K.

Sadler is also currently in AAA; 9 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 13 K.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Philadelphia Phillies
Tom Gordon still Closer
Brett Myers to 1st in line in place of Antonio Alfonseca
Antonio Alfonseca to 2nd in line in place of Ryan Madson

In a surprise move the Phillies have moved Myers to the bullpen, switching roles with Jon Lieber. Myers struggled in 3 starts this year with 16 runs allowed in 15+ IP, but is just 26 and had sub 4.00 ERA's averaging over 200 IP the past 2 seasons. This move validates the Phillies lack up late inning depth in the bullpen, as Madson can not get back to the level he was 2 years ago.

Myers was a strike out pitcher as a starting pitcher and could potentially be a very good reliever providing the Phillies' closer insurance for the aging, injury risk Gordon. Myers debuted in the bullpen Wednesday night with a scoreless inning; 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster still Closer
Bob Howry still 1st in line
Mike Wuertz to 2nd in line in place of Kerry Wood

Wood remains on the DL and his return from a shoulder injury is to be determined.

Wuertz has not allowed a run in 6 appearances this year; 7+ IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 10 K.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Toronto Blue Jays
Jason Frasor to Closer in place of B.J. Ryan
Shaun Marcum to 1st in line in place of Casey Janssen
Casey Janssen to 2nd in line in place of Jason Frasor

After his 2nd blown save in 5 outings on the young season Ryan landed on the DL with an elbow injury. Frasor is expected to take over as the teams' closer, however Marcum received the save opportunity on Sunday after Frasor threw 30 pitches the previous day. Marcum pitched a perfect 1 strikeout inning for his first career save. The 25-year-old now has 4 consecutive scoreless outings and impressive overall numbers on the season; 8 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 12 K.

Frasor also has impressive numbers in 6 games this year; 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K with 3 holds. The 29-year-old closed for the Blue Jays for part of the 2004 season with 17 saves recorded.

Colorado Rockies
Brian Fuentes still Closer
Manny Corpas to 1st in line in place of LaTroy Hawkins
Ramon Ramirez still 2nd in line

Hawkins has struggled in the young season with a 10.13 ERA in 5+ IP. Corpas has solid future closer value and has already amassed 5 holds this year. The 24-year-old hard thrower has allowed just 1 run in 7 outings; 6+ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

Florida Marlins
Henry Owens still Closer (Unofficial)
Taylor Tankersley still 1st in line
Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line in place of Jorge Julio

Julio continues to struggle with a 4 walk effort in a middle relief role on Sunday. Lindstrom, who has been used conservatively by manager Fredi Gonzalez, is quietly putting up solid numbers following a 3 K performance yesterday; 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K with 2 holds on the season. The Marlins officially have a closer committee following Julio's demotion and Lindstrom could get involved in that if Owens or Tankersley fail to secure the role.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 2 2007
Week 1 2007
Spring Training 2007 Vol II
Spring Training 2007 Vol I
December 2006
October 2006
2006 Season