The Inside Pitch Closer Watch Blog |
Saturday, April 14, 2007 Florida Marlins Henry Owens to Closer in place of Jorge Julio Taylor Tankersley to 1st in line in place of Henry Owens Jorge Julio to 2nd in line in place of Taylor Tankersley Manager Fredi Gonzalez announced Friday that Julio has been removed from the closers' role and the team would go with a closer committee. Owens could get the first chance to close in place of Julio. The 27-year-old former Met recorded a save this past Monday when Julio was being rested and Owens has not allowed a run in 6 appearances this year over 7 IP. Tankersley returned from the DL last night and pitched the 9th with the Marlins up 8 giving up 1 run on a HR. Friday, April 13, 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 be activated from the DL today and assume his closers' role right away. The 31-year-old former dominant closer has a lot to prove after being limited to 15+ IP over the previous 2 seasons due to elbow and back surgeries. The Rangers have a good contingency plan in Otsuka if Gagne can not hold up physically. Otsuka closed for Texas last year with 32 saves and converted his only save opportunity of this young season. Kansas City Royals Joakim Soria to Closer in place of David Riske David Riske to 1st in line in place of Joakim Soria Joel Peralta to 2nd in line in place of Octavio Dotel DL Manager Buddy Bell indicated Thursday that Soria would be his current primary closer with Dotel having a setback in his return from a strained oblique (earliest return could be early May). The rookie Soria has 5 scoreless apearances on the season over 6 IP with 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 holds and 1 save. Seattle Mariners J.J. Putz still Closer Chris Reitsma still 1st in line George Sherrill to 2nd in line in place of Arthur Rhodes Rhodes could be out for the season with pending elbow surgery. Sherrill had a 1.43 WHIP in 40 IP last year with 42 K and 17 holds. The left hander dominated left hand hitters with a .409 opposition OPS while right handers were at .790. Sherrill has appeared in just one game this year (1 scoreless IP) with the Mariners having several postponements. Thursday, April 12, 2007 Florida Marlins Jorge Julio still Closer Henry Owens still 1st in line Taylor Tankersley to 2nd in line in place of Lee Gardner With 2 blown saves in 5 appearances and a 14.73 ERA, Julio is on very shaky closer ground. Manager Fredi Gonzalez may already have made a decision to remove the former Oriole from the closers' role based on his comments on Wednesday when asked about Julio's status as the closer; "We'll do what's best for the team, the organization and the individual". Tankersley has been activated from the DL and could be right with Owens as the teams' 1st in line closer. The left handed Tankersley had a 1.44 WHIP in 41 IP with 46 K and 22 holds last year. Gardner was an undeserving demotion to AAA to make room for Tankersley. The 32-year-old Gardner allowed just 1 run in 5 appearances over 6 IP. Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Kansas City Royals David Riske still Closer Joakim Soria to 1st in line in place of Joel Peralta Octavio Dotel DL still 2nd in line Soria pitched 2 perfect innings with 3 K in a 6-3 game to earn his first career save yesterday. Riske was not brought in for the 9th after his 25 pitch blown save effort on Sunday. The 22-year-old Soria is a Rule V selection from the Padres who spent the majority of the past 2 seasons pitching in the Mexican League. Soria has not allowed a run in 4 appearances this year; 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Dotel is expected back later this month, but it appears Riske may have already last his grip on this temporary closer gig. Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Houston Astros Dan Wheeler to Closer in place of Brad Lidge Brad Lidge to 1st in line in place of Dan Wheeler Chad Qualls still 2nd in line Manager Phil Garner demoted Lidge from the closers' role prior to Mondays' game and annointed Wheeler the new closer. Wheeler responded with a perfect 9th yesterday to record his first save of the year in a 2 run game. The 29-year-old Wheeler is an effective enough relief pitcher to secure this role and emerge as a legitimate closer this year. Wheeler had a 1.15 WHIP in 71+ IP last year with 68 K and 24 holds. St. Louis Cardinals Jason Isringhausen still Closer Ryan Franklin to 1st in line in place of Brad Thompson Brad Thompson to 2nd in line in place of Josh Hancock Thompson has struggled in the early going and has been passed over by Franklin for the Cardinals' 8th inning setup role. The 34-year-old Franklin hasn't allowed a run over 4 outings this year; 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K with 2 holds. Thompson has given up 3 runs in 4 1/3 IP over 4 outings this year. The 25-year-old could be a candidate to join the starting rotation with Chris Carpenter ailing, if the righthander doesn't secure a setup role. Florida Marlins Jorge Julio still Closer Henry Owens still 1st in line Lee Gardner still 2nd in line Julio received a schedule day off on Monday following his shaky outing on Sunday and 51 pitches thrown over the weekend. Owens picked up a save in his place in a 2 run game yesterday; 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K. The 27-year-old Owens hasn't allowed a run in 5 outings over 5 IP this year, and could be on the verge of taking over the Marlins' closer role if Julio doesn't settle down over the next couple of weeks. Monday, April 9, 2007 Florida Marlins Jorge Julio still Closer Henry Owens to 1st in line in place of Matt Lindstrom Lee Gardner to 2nd in line in place of Taylor Tankersley Julio is off to a shaky start as the Marlins' closer, getting pulled from a save opportunity on Sunday, following a blown save earlier in the week. The 28-year-old closer has allowed 13 baserunners in 3 IP this year with zero strikeouts. Manager Fredi Gonzalez gave Julio a vote of confidence as the teams' closer following Sunday's outing, but the hard throwing reliever will need to turn it around soon to make it to May as the teams' closer. Gardner got the final 2 outs in relief off Julio on Sunday to record his first career save. The 32-year-old journeyman has 3 scoreless outings on the season; 2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Gardner spent last season as the closer for the Tigers' AAA affiliate; 30 saves and 1.02 WHIP in 61+ IP with 45 K. Owens has been used as the 8th inning set up man to Julio so far this year (including yesterday) and hasn't allowed a run over 4 outings; 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K. The 27-year-old hard thrower had 20 saves in AA last year with a 0.73 WHIP in 40 IP and 74 K. Lindstrom has appeared in only 2 games this year with a total of 1 inning pitched, and was overlooked for Gardner to save Julio yesterday. Tankersley could return from the DL this weekend and could factor in to this closer picture if Julio doesn't settle down. Cincinnati Reds David Weathers to Closer from Committee Kirk Saarloos to 1st in line in place of Mike Stanton Mike Stanton to 2nd in line in place of Todd Coffey As expected, Weathers received both of the Reds' save opportunities last week in manager Jerry Narron's closer committee. Over the past few seasons the Reds have seemed to use any excuse to move away from Weathers as their closer, but for now he appears to be the teams' primary closer once again. Saarloos has assumed the Reds' 8th inning set up role and hasn't allowed a run over 4 outings; 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K with 2 holds. The 27-year-old was a swingman for the A's in 2006 with a 1.67 WHIP in 121+ IP. Arizona Diamondbacks Jose Valverde still Closer Brandon Lyon to 1st in line in place of Tony Pena Tony Pena to 2nd in line in place of Brandon Lyon Manager Doug Melvin went on record just prior to the season that Lyon would be his 8th inning set up man and the veteran has responded with 3 holds in 4 outings with only 1 run allowed; 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K. The 27-year-old was the D'Backs' closer to open the 2005 season before falling to injury. Pena remains a strong future closer candidate with his plus velocity and has been effective in the early going of 2007; 2 G, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K. Atlanta Braves Bob Wickman still Closer Rafael Soriano to 1st in line in place of Mike Gonzalez Mike Gonzalez to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Soriano Gonzalez has struggled in the opening week of the season after missing last September with an elbow injury; 11 baserunners allowed over 3 2/3 IP. Soriano on the other hand has been effective; zero hits or runs allowed over 3 2/3 IP with 2 K, 1 hold, 1 win and a spot save. Los Angeles Dodgers Takashi Saito still Closer Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line Chad Billingsley to 2nd in line in place of Chin-Hui Tsao Manager Grady Little went on record on Sunday that Broxton is his next in line closer if Saito needed a rest and also indicated Billingsley would be third in the closing pecking order. It was a surprise to many that the Dodgers committed the 22-year-old to the bullpen this season due to his potential to evolve in to a plus starting pitcher. Tsao still has decent future closer value, but was demoted to AAA prior to the season. The 26-year-old still has the plus velocity that led him to opening the 2005 season as the Rockies' closer before falling to injury. Tampa Bay Devil Rays Al Reyes to Closer from Committee Brian Stokes still 1st in line Juan Salas still 2nd in line The D'Rays received 1 save opportunity in the opening week for their committee and it went to Reyes who was successful in making his only appearance on the season a save outing; resulting in the 36-year-old becoming the teams' unofficial closer. Manager Joe Maddon is taking a cautious approach with Reyes who is coming back from "Tommy John" surgery, which kept him out for all of 2006. Reyes had an impressive 0.93 WHIP in 62+ innings with 67 K and 16 holds for the Cardinals in 2005. Stokes has been inconsistent in the early going for the D'Rays with 3 runs allowed in 4 IP over 4 outings. Salas has appeared in 2 games with 2 runs allowed over 1 1/3 IP. Toronto Blue Jays B.J. Ryan still Closer Casey Janssen to 1st in line in place of Jeremy Accardo Jason Frasor to 2nd in line in place of Brandon League Janssen has been impressive in the opening week of the season picking up a save in place of the rested Ryan on Sunday. The 25-year-old Janssen hasn't allowed a run over 3 outings this year; 3 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K. Frasor hasn't allowed a run over 3 outings picking up 1 hold; 3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Accardo has appeared in just 1 game striking out 2 in a scoreless 2 inning effort. League remains a decent future closer candidate, but is beginning the year in AAA after being slowed by a strained lat muscle during Spring Training. Minnesota Twins Joe Nathan still Closer Juan Rincon still 1st in line Jesse Crain to 2nd in line in place of Pat Neshek Crain has 2 holds over 3 outings this year with 1 run allowed; 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K. The 25-year-old had a 1.27 WHIP in 76+ IP last year with 60 K and 10 holds. Neshek has appeared in 1 game picking up a win in a scoreless 1 strikeout effort. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 1 2007 Spring Training 2007 Vol II Spring Training 2007 Vol I December 2006 October 2006 2006 Season |
Sign up for Email Alerts for Closer Watch Blog Postings |