Closer Watch Blog Week 9

Sunday, June 4, 2006

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster still Closer
Bob Howry still 1st in line
Scott Eyre to 2nd in line in place of Scott Williamson

Williamson started the 9th yesterday with a 5 run lead, but had to leave the game with an elbow injury with 2 outs and 2 runs allowed. Howry came on to get the final out and record his 1st save of the season. Dempster was rested after throwing 30 pitches on Friday. Howry has a 0.98 WHIP in 26+ IP with 17 K and 7 holds.

Williamson appears to be headed towards the DL. The left handed Eyre has a 1.24 WHIP in 29 IP with 34 K and 6 holds.

Milwaukee Brewers
Derrick Turnbow still Closer
Matt Wise still 1st in line
Jose Capellan still 2nd in line

Turnbow could be headed towards shaky closer ground after blowing a save for the 2nd consecutive game yesterday. The 28-year-old second year closer has a mediocre 1.46 WHIP on the season in 24+ IP with 27 K and 4.74 ERA.

Wise has a 1.09 WHIP in 19+ IP with 14 K and 7 holds.

Detroit Tigers
Todd Jones still Closer
Fernando Rodney still 1st in line
Joel Zumaya still 2nd in line

Rodney got the final out of the 8th in a 1 run game then stayed on for the 9th with the lead pushed to 4 to record his 7th save of the year; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

Jones has shaky numbers on the season, 1.55 WHIP and 5.85 ERA, as Rodney continues to impress, 0.91 WHIP in 26+ IP. The veteran Jones will need to avoid blowing multiples saves in a shot period of time to keep Rodney in a set up role.

New York Yankees
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line
Scott Proctor still 2nd in line

The Yankees lack of late inning depth was proven yesterday as starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang got the final 2 outs in the 10th inning of a 1 run game for his 1st career save. Rivera is day to day with a back injury and Farnsworth has struggled in his place with 2 blown saves. The 5 million dollar a year set up man has a 1.65 WHIP and 4.85 ERA in 26 IP.

Saturday, June 3, 2006

Florida Marlins
Logan Kensing to co-closer
Joe Borowski to co-closer
Carlos Martinez to 2nd in line in place of Matt Herges

Manager Joe Girardi has been looking for a young reliever to step in to the closer picture and Kensing may be his guy. The 23-year-old Kensing pitched a perfect 1 K 8th in a 2 run game last night and then struck out the side in the 9th around a hit batter to record his 1st career save; 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K. Borowski was bypassed despite not pitching the previous 2 days as this could be a similar situation to the youth succeeding the veteran as happened in Cincy with Coffey and Weathers. Kensing has a 1.17 WHIP in 14+ IP with 18 K and had a 0.89 WHIP in 18 AAA IP earlier in the year with 18 K and 2 saves.

Martinez has been activated from the DL. The hard throwing 24-year-old appeared to be the reliever chasing Borowski before going down with an elbow injury, as he had 9 K in 6+ IP with a 1.35 WHIP. Herges has a 1.71 WHIP and 5.63 ERA in 24 IP.

Kansas City Royals
Ambiorix Burgos still Closer
Elmer Dessens still 1st in line
Joel Peralta to 2nd in line in place of Joe Nelson
Mike MacDougal DL

Nelson has been sent back to the minors despite a having 1.29 WHIP in 9+ IP. Peralta has a 1.24 WHIP in 22+ IP with 14 K and 3 holds.

Thursday, June 1, 2006

Cincinnati Reds
Todd Coffey to Closer
David Weathers to 1st in line
Kent Mercker to 2nd in line in place of Matt Belisle

Coffey pitched out of an 8th inning jam and stayed on for the 9th last night in a 1 run game converting his 2nd save of the season; 1 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. After the game manager Jerry Narron indicated that Coffey is the closer. The 25-year-old has a 1.17 WHIP and 1.20 ERA in 30 IP with 25 K, 9 holds and is now 2-2 in save chances.

Belisle was been placed on the DL with a back injury. Mercker recently came off the DL, but only gets this spot by default as the Reds are thin on late inning relievers. Mercker has a 1.88 WHIP and 7.59 ERA in 10+ IP with 8 K, 4 holds and 1 save.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Jorge Julio to Closer in place of Jose Valverde
Jose Valverde to 1st in line in place of Jorge Julio
Brandon Lyon still 2nd in line

Manager Doug Melvin hasn't officially named Julio the closer, but mentioned him as his day to day closer for the past 2 games. There is speculation that Valverde was demoted in a private meeting with Melvin earlier in the week. Julio pitched a perfect, one K 12th inning in a scoreless game last night and has not been scored on his 3 D'Backs' appearances; 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Los Angeles Dodgers
Eric Gagne to Closer in place of Takashi Saito
Takashi Saito to 1st in line in place of Danys Baez
Danys Baez to 2nd in line in place of Jonathan Broxton

Gagne has been activated from the DL and is serving a 2 game suspension from last year. Saito has the potential to be a capable closer if Gagne has more injury problems. The former Japanese Leaguer, Saito has a 0.88 WHIP in 25 IP with 30 K, 6 holds and 2 saves.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Jose Valverde still Closer
Jorge Julio to 1st in line in place of Brandon Lyon
Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line in place of Brandon Medders

Valverde is on shaky closer ground after blowing consecutive saves over the weekend. Manager Doug Melvin announced Julio would close last night if needed with Valverde needing a rest, but didn't clarify if Valverde was being removed from the closers' role. The 26-year old Valverde has a 1.65 WHIP in 20 IP with 26 K and has allowed at least 2 runs in each of his past 4 appearances.

Recently acquired Julio has a 1.37 WHIP in 23+ IP with 36 K, 1 hold and 1 save. The 27-year-old closed for the Orioles from 2002-2004.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Kansas City Royals
Ambiorix Burgos to Closer in place of Elmer Dessens
Elmer Dessens to 1st in line in place of Joe Nelson
Joe Nelson to 2nd in line in place of Andy Sisco lhp
Mike MacDougal DL

The Royals, who have no closer, turned to Burgos yesterday for a 3 run save opportunity. The 22-year-old recorded his 6th save of the season despite allowing a HR; 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Burgos has an ugly 1.74 WHIP & 7.30 ERA on the season and has now been scored on in each of his past 4 appearances. The Royals have no legitimate closer option, but it's hard to see Burgos having much success in the closer role based on his erratic pitching this year.

Texas Rangers
Akinori Otsuka still Closer
Francisco Cordero still 1st in line
Rick Bauer to 2nd in line in place of Joaquin Benoit

Bauer relieved starter John Rheinecker with 1 out in the 9th yesterday in a 2-0 game and got the final 2 outs for the save. Otsuka was rested after pitching on 3 of the past 4 days. The 29-year-old Bauer has a 1.48 WHIP in 26+ IP with 14 K and zero holds on the season.

Monday May 29, 2006

Atlanta Braves
Ken Ray to Closer
Chris Reitsma to 1st in line
Chad Paronto still 2nd in line

Reitsma blew a 9th inning save yesterday with Ray converted one in the 11th inning. Reitsma now has a 1.68 WHIP and 6.55 ERA in 22 IP. It's hard to envision Manager Bobby Cox turning to him in the immediate future for another save chance. Ray pitched a perfect 1 K inning in a 1 run game for his 2nd save of the year. The 31-year-old now has a 1.04 WHIP and 1.44 ERA in 25 IP with 16 K, 4 holds and 2 saves. Ray may have the chance to emerge as the closer here due to Reitsma's struggles.

Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Keith Foulke still 1st in line
Julian Tavarez to 2nd in line in place of Mike Timlin

With Papelbon being rested after pitching on 3 straight days, Tavarez converted an ugly save as the Red Sox nearly blew a 5-0 9th inning lead. Foulke was rested as well as he was riding a 4 day consecutive appearance streak and Timlin was placed on the DL yesterday with a shoulder injury. Tavarez has been a disappointment in Boston this year with a 1.57 WHIP and 4.57 ERA in 21+ IP with 14 K and zero holds.

Oakland A's
Huston Street still Closer
Kiko Calero to 1st in line in place of Santiago Casilla
Chad Gaudin to 2nd in line in place of Kiko Calero

Casilla failed to grab a bullpen role in 2 outings with the A's and was sent back to the minors yesterday. Oakland's set up corps is thin with Justin Duchscherer and Joe Kennedy on the DL. Calero has a 1.55 WHIP and 5.59 ERA in 19+ IP with 19 K and 8 holds. Gaudin has a 1.76 WHIP and 4.70 ERA in 15+ IP with 12 K and zero holds.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
Week 8