The Inside Pitch Closer Watch Blog |
Saturday, May 12, 2007 Florida Marlins Jorge Julio to Closer in place of Henry Owens Taylor Tankersley to 1st in line in place of Jorge Julio Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line in place of Taylor Tankersley Owens has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury. The rookie closer will be shut down for a week and be reavaluated at that time. Manager Fredi Gonzalez is on record this week that Julio will be moved back in to the closers' role once he shows some consistency. In the short term the Marlins' officially have a closer committee. Julio moved a step closer to gaining his role back last night with his second scoreless outing since coming back from the minors; 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Tankersley or Lindstrom may get the Marlins' next save opportunity, but Julio could get his job back shortly barring a poor outing in his next outing or two. Atlanta Braves Rafael Soriano still Closer Mike Gonzalez still 1st in line Bob Wickman DL still 2nd in line Gonzalez pitched a scoreless inning last night in a 3 run game for his second save of the year; 1 IP, 0 BB, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Soriano was rested after recording saves on 3 straight days. Wickman is due back from the DL (back) next week. The veteran closer should immediately assume his closer' role upon return. Soriano and Gonzalez have been a perfect 6 for 6 in save chances filling in, displaying the Braves' depth of closer options. Thursday, May 10, 2007 Atlanta Braves Rafael Soriano to Closer from Co-Closer Mike Gonzalez to 1st in line from Co-Closer Bob Wickman DL still 3rd in line Soriano pitched a perfect 2 stikeout 9th for his fourth save of the season in a 3-2 game last night. Gonzalez set up with a perfect 1 strikeout 8th. This was suppose to be a co-closer situation with Wickman out, but Soriano has received 3 of the 4 opportunities since the former Indian went on the DL. It appears the Braves will use the left handed Gonzalez in the 8th anytime a left hand hitter is due up in the inning. The former Pirate may still get more save opportunties, but it appears Soriano is emerging as the primary closer in this current set up. Houston Astros Dan Wheeler still Closer Brad Lidge to 1st in line in place of Chad Qualls Chad Qualls to 2nd in line in place of Brad Lidge Lidge has started to shown flashes of being a reliable late inning reliever again. The former dominant closer set Wheeler up last night retiring all 4 hitters he faced. Lidge has allowed just 1 run in 5 appearances in May; 6+ IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Wheeler should remain the Astros' closer as long as he's successful in the role. The 29-year-old is 8 for 8 in save chances since Lidge was demoted and has a 1.06 WHIP on the season in 17 IP with 16 K. Detroit Tigers Todd Jones still Closer Fernando Rodney still 1st in line Jose Mesa to 2nd in line in place of Joel Zumaya Zumaya will be out at last 2 months with surgery on a ruptured tendon in his finger. The veteran, Mesa has been slowed by a groin injury this year appearing in just 6 games with a 13.50 ERA and 2.50 WHIP. The 40-year-old did pitch a scoreless inning in a blow out yesterday. Mesa closed for the Pirates two years ago recording 27 saves. Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Washington Nationals Jon Rauch to Closer in place of Chad Cordero Chad Cordero to bereavement Saul Rivera to 2nd in line in place of Ryan Wagner Rauch will fill the Nats' closers role for a week while Cordero is out on bereavement. The 28-year-old Rauch has a 0.92 WHIP in 17+ IP with 10 K and 8 holds. Rauch is the Nats' lead candidate to close in the 2nd half if the rumored to be traded Cordero is dealt. The disappointing Wagner, (1.79 WHIP in 15+ IP), has landed on the DL with a shoulder injury. Rivera has a 1.05 WHIP in 13+ IP with 11 K and 3 holds. Florida Marlins Henry Owens still Closer Jorge Julio to 1st in line in place of Taylor Tankersley Taylor Tankersley to 2nd in line in place of Matt Lindstrom Manager Fredi Gonzalez talked yesterday about moving Julio back in to the Marlins' closer role at some point. Julio created optimism after throwing 2 scoreless innings on Monday in a mop up role. The Marlins went out and acquired the former Oriole to be their closer and sounds like they aren't ready to bail on that plan if Julio can cooperate. Owens has pitched well as the Marlins' closer converting 3 of 4 save chances and has a 1.25 WHIP on the season in 18+ IP with 12 K. Arizona Diamondbacks Jose Valverde to Closer Tony Pena to 1st in line in place of Brandon Lyon Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line in place of Tony Pena Pena pitched a perfect 1 strikeout 9th last night for his second career save in a 3-2 game. Valverde was rested after appearing on 3 consecutive days. The D'Backs have two decent closer options behind Valverde in Lyon and Pena. Lyon set Pena up yesterday with a perfect 2 strikeout 8th inning and has a 1.80 ERA & 1.53 WHIP in 15 IP with 5 K and 8 holds on the season. The hard throwing Pena has very good future closer value with a 0.83 WHIP this year in 19+ IP with 10 K and 4 holds. Toronto Blue Jays Jeremy Accardo to Closer in place of Jason Frasor Jason Frasor to 1st in line in place of Jeremy Accardo Casey Janssen still 2nd in line There has been nothing official, but Accardo may have supplanted Frasor as the Blue Jays' closer. Manager John Gibbons is on record to be weighing his options as to who the Jays' closer is. On the losing end of a blow out last night Frasor pitched in the 8th while Accardo pitched a scoreless 9th. The 25-year-old Accardo has yet to allow a run this year in 12 games with a 0.82 WHIP over 14+ IP with 13 K. Tuesday, May 8, 2007 Texas Rangers Eric Gagne to Closer in place of Akinori Otsuka Akinori Otsuka to 1st in line in place of Eric Gagne Joaquin Benoit still 2nd in line Gagne is expected to return from the DL, (strained hip/gluteus muscle), today and could immediately assume his closers' role. Otsuka was 2 for 3 in save chances while Gagne was out and has a 1.11 WHIP on the season in 11+ IP with 12 K. Tampa Bay Devil Rays Al Reyes still Closer Brian Stokes still 1st in line Chad Orvella to 2nd in line in place of Juan Salas Salas has been suspended 50 games for using performance enhancing drugs. Orvella could be called up to fill one of the 2 openings in the bullpen, Salas or Ruddy Lugo's recent demotion. The former future closer, Orvella was pitching well at AAA this year recording 5 saves in 12 games with a 0.92 WHIP in 16+ IP and 21 K. The 26-year-old failed to make the D'Rays' out of Spring Training despite allowing just 1 run in 9 games with a 1.06 WHIP. Orvella was a disappointment in the majors last year with a 7.40 ERA and 2.30 WHIP in 24+ IP. Closer Watch Blog Archive: 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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