Closer Watch Blog Week 4

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Los Angeles Dodgers
Takashi Saito still Closer
Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line
Chin-Hui Tsao to 2nd in line in place of Chad Billingsley

Tsao pitched a perfect 1 2/3 last night and has been very good since being recalled from the minors; 6 G, 6+ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. The former Rockie opened the 2005 season as the Rockies' closer before falling to injury after just 3 saves. The Dodgers are deep in closer options with Saito and Broxton, but that doesn't deny the 25-year-old Tsao's future closer value with his plus fastball and early season dominance.

Billingsley has been inconsistent in his new relief role with a 1.97 WHIP in 8 outings; 11+ IP, 17 H, 10 R, 6 BB, 10 K. It's possible the former top starting pitching prospect is moved back to a starting role later in the season.

Seattle Mariners
J.J. Putz still Closer
Chris Reitsma still 1st in line
Brandon Morrow to 2nd in line in place of George Sherrill

Morrow is another top pitching prospect working in relief. The 22-year-old is a 2006 draftee and has only logged 16 minor league IP. Morrow has been inconsistent with a 1.85 WHIP over 6 games; 8+ IP, 9 H, 4 R, 7 BB, 6 K and 1 hold. However, Manager Mike Hargrove was going to use Morrow in a save opportunity on Friday night if the over worked Putz got in to trouble. Morrow, who was a closer in college, has good future closer value with his plus velocity and prospect status.

The left handed Sherrill is more of a left hand specialist than a closer option having faced more left hand hitters than right on the season. The 30-year-old has a 0.30 WHIP in 9 games; 6+ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K with 2 holds.

Texas Rangers
Akinori Otsuka still Closer
Eric Gagne DL still 1st in line
Joaquin Benoit still 2nd in line

Otsuka blew a 1 run save opportunity yesterday; 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Benoit got a save chance in the 10th inning and recorded his second career save in a 9-8 game; 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. The 29-year-old Benoit has a 1.37 WHIP on the season in 11 games; 11+ IP, 11 H, 8 R, 5 BB, 15 K with 4 holds.

Gagne's hip strain has healed and he could return from the DL after the minimum 15 days, which would be May 8.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Pittsburgh Pirates
Salomon Torres still Closer
Matt Capps still 1st in line
Jonah Bayliss to 2nd in line in place of Josh Sharpless

Torres may be on the verge of losing his closer' role to Capps. The 35-year-old veteran was pulled in the 9th yesterday after struggling with a 5-1 lead giving up 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning. The left handed John Grabow came on and allowed a hit to the left handed Mike Lamb and issued a walk before recording the final out for his second career save.

Torres already has 3 blown saves on the season in 9 attempts with a 1.70 WHIP in 11 outings; 10 IP, 13 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 6 K.

Capps has been very good this year allowing just 1 run in 13 outings; 12+ IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K with 8 holds. The hard throwing 23-year-old pitched a scoreless 8th in front of Torres yesterday; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

The 26-year-old Bayliss has a 1.13 WHIP in 12 outings this year; 10+ IP, 9 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K with 1 hold. Sharpless failed to make the team out of Spring Training and is currently in AAA.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Florida Marlins
Henry Owens still Closer
Taylor Tankersley still 1st in line
Matt Lindstrom still 2nd in line

Until yesterday, the Marlins had not received a conventional save opportunity since Jorge Julio was removed from the closers' role. It was expected that Owens would get the first chance to emerge from this closer' committee to succeed Julio. The Marlins did give Owens the call in the 9th last night with a 3 run lead. However, the rookie struggled giving up 2 runs and was pulled for Renyel Pinto who got the final out for his first career save. The left handed Pinto was brought in to face the left hand swinging Brian McCann, and struck him out for the save.

The 24-year-old Pinto was a starting pitcher in the minors, but is settling in to a set up role at the major league level this year; 1.36 WHIP in 11 games, 11 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 8 BB, 13 K with 3 holds.

Owens could still be the primary closer here, but he needs to convert his next save opportunity to prevent the Marlins from going back in to a closer committee.

Milwaukee Brewers
Francisco Cordero still Closer
Derrick Turnbow still 1st in line
Matt Wise still 2nd in line

Turnbow pitched a scoreless 12th inning last night in a 1 run game for his first save of the season; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Cordero was rested after throwing 57 pitches over the weekend. Cordero is a perfect 7 for 7 in save chances this year and has dominant numbers; no runs allowed in 9 IP, 2 H, 6 BB, 16 K. However, if Cordero does run in to any trouble, Turnbow has emerged as a solid next in line closer after losing his closers' job last year. Turnbow has a 1.00 WHIP in 10 outings; 10 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 17 K and 6 holds.

Texas Rangers
Akinori Otsuka to Closer in place of Eric Gagne
Eric Gagne to 1st in line in place of Akinori Otsuka
Joaquin Benoit still 2nd in line

Gagne has been placed on the DL with a strained hip/gluteus muscle. Gagne does not feel the injury is serious and could return after the minimum 15 days.

Otsuka returns to the Rangers' closer role. The former Japanese Leaguer recorded 32 saves last year for Texas and has not allowed a run over 8 outing this year with 2 saves and 2 holds.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Texas Rangers
Eric Gagne still Closer
Akinori Otsuka still 1st in line
Joaquin Benoit still 2nd in line

Gagne had to leave a save opportunity yesterday after straining a gluteus muscle. Otsuka recorded the final 2 outs in a 4-3 game for his second save of the season. Gagne's injury is not expected to be serious, but Otsuka is a capable closer replacement if needed to fill the role once again. The 35-year-old has not allowed a run in 8 outings this year; 6+ IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K and 2 holds.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
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