Closer Watch Report 04 13 08

Sunday, April 13, 2008

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Chad Cordero to Close in place of Jon Rauch
Jon Rauch to 1st in line in place of Chad Cordero
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Cordero has been activated from the DL and coud immediately return to the closers' role. The Nats, in a 9 game losing streak, haven't had a save opportunity in a while and Rauch has been inconsistent over the first two weeks of the season.

The 29-year-old Rauch has a 2.00 WHIP in 5 IP with 3 K and was 1 for 2 in save chances.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Jason Isringhausen still Closer
Ryan Franklin still 1st in line
Anthony Reyes to 2nd in line in place of Kyle McClellan

Reyes pitched a scoreless, 2 strikeout, 10th inning for his first career save yesterday. Isringhausen took his first blown save of the season allowing 2 ninth inning runs.

The 26-year-old Reyes has been a disappointment as a starting pitcher over the past 2 seasons, but is having success in a relief role this year. The righthander has a 0.71 WHIP in 5+ IP with 6 K, 2 holds and a save.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Brian Wilson still Closer
Tyler Walker still 1st in line
Merkin Valdez to 2nd in line in place of Brad Hennessey

Hennessey has really struggled this year with 18 hits allowed in 5+ IP resulting in a 3.88 WHIP and 17.47 ERA.

Valdez has a 1.11 WHIP in 6+ IP with 5 K and 2 holds. The hard throwing righthander has some future closer value, if he can stay healthy; (currently returning from Tommy John surgery).

TEXAS RANGERS
C.J. Wilson still Closer
Joaquin Benoit to 1st in line in place of Eddie Guardado
Kazuo Fukumori still 2nd in line

Guardado has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury.

Benoit has a 1.67 WHIP on the season in 3 IP with 7 K and 1 hold.

Fukumori has been a disappointment allowing 6 runs in 1+ IP this year with a 6.00 WHIP and zero holds.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
Mark Lowe still Closer
Ryan Rowland-Smith still 1st in line
Roy Corcoran still 2nd in line

Lowe pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st career save last night in a 8-5 final. The 24-year-old righthander has a 1.88 WHIP on the season in 2+ IP with 1 K. Lowe could continue to be the Mariners' primary closer while Putz is out, as long as he's effective in the role.

Putz played pain free catch on consecutive days this week and could be a couple of weeks away from returning.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Jeremy Accardo still Closer
B.J. Ryan DL still 1st in line
Jason Frasor still 2nd in line

Scott Downs got the final 2 outs in a 8-5 final yesterday for his first save of the season. Accardo was given extra rest after a blown save effort on Thursday, (also pitched on Wednesday).

Ryan is currently on a minor league rehab assignment and could return next week.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Peter Moylan still Closer
Manny Acosta still 1st in line
Blaine Boyer still 2nd in line

Moylan struck out 2 in a perfect inning last night for his 1st save of the season. The 29-year-old righthander has a 1.06 WHIP in 5+ IP on the season with 5 K. Moylan could be a capable closer for however long Soriano is out.

NEW YORK METS
Billy Wagner still Closer
Aaron Heilman still 1st in line
Joe Smith to 2nd in line in place of Duaner Sanchez

Smith pitched a scoreless 7th last night to pick up a hold in front of Heilman and Wagner. The 23-year-old righthander has a 1.07 WHIP in 4+ IP this year with 2 K and 2 holds.

Sanchez remains on the DL, currently on a minor league rehab assignment, as he works his way back from last years' shoulder surgery.

Friday, April 11, 2008

OAKLAND A'S
Huston Street still Closer
Keith Foulke still 1st in line
Santiago Casilla still 2nd in line

Foulke allowed 1 run in the 12th inning while recording his first save of the season in a 3-2 final. Street was rested after recording saves each of the previous 2 days.

The veteran Foulke has pitched well since coming out of retirement. The righthander has a 0.86 WHIP in 7 IP with 6 K and 4 holds, while emerging as the A's next in line closer.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

ATLANTA BRAVES
Peter Moylan to Closer in place of Rafael Soriano
Manny Acosta to 1st in line in place of Peter Moylan
Blaine Boyer to 2nd in line in place of Manny Acosta

Soriano has been placed on the DL with the same elbow discomfort he had earlier in Spring Training. The Braves' don't believe the injury is serious, but this does put in to question Soriano's health for the remainder of the season.

Moylan was not officially named to close with Soriano out, but he is the teams' top setup man. The righthanded Australian has a 1.29 WHIP in 4+ IP this year with 3 K and 4 holds.

Acosta has a 1.75 WHIP this year in 4 IP with 4 K and just 1 hold.

CHICAGO CUBS
Kerry Wood still Closer
Carlos Marmol still 1st in line
Bob Howry still 2nd in line

Sean Marshall pitched a scoreless 15th inning to record his first career save in a 6-4 final last night. The lefthander has been a starting pitcher most of his professional career, but got the call last night for the save as the last man standing in the bullpen.

Wood blew his first save of the year earlier in the game, allowing 1 ninth inning run. The veteran righthander has a 1.00 WHIP on the season in 5 IP with 6 K and 3 saves.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Joakim Soria still Closer
Leo Nunez still 1st in line
Ramon Ramirez still 2nd in line

Jimmy Gobble got the final 2 outs, 1 via strikeout, in a 4-0 final for his first save of the season yesterday. The lefthander came on to face the lefthanded hitting Jason Giambi after Yasuhiko Yabuta put a couple of runners on in a non save situation.

Soria wasn't used after pitching 2 of the previous 3 days. The Royals' closer has a 0.45 WHIP on the season in 5 IP with 7 K and is 4 for 4 in save chances.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
Mark Lowe still Closer
Ryan Rowland-Smith to 1st in line in place of Sean Green
Roy Corcoran to 2nd in line in place of Miguel Batista

Rowland-Smith retired all 5 batters he faced last night, including 2 strikeouts, to record his first career save in a 6-5 final. The 25-year-old lefthander faced 4 out of 5 lefthanded hitters in the outing. Rowland-Smith has a 1.00 WHIP in 2 IP on the season with 2 K.

Lowe had a blown save outing on Sunday and has a 6.00 WHIP in just 2\3 IP on the year over 3 outings with 1 run allowed.

Manager Jon McLaren did call this a closer committee when Putz went on the DL and 3 different Mariners' have received save chances since; Batista, Lowe and now Rowland-Smith.

Putz is scheduled to play catch today for the first time since his ribcage injury and the results may give an indication as to when the veteran closer will return.

Corcoran set Rowland-Smith up yesterday with a scoreless 1 1\3 IP. The 27-year-old righthander has a 0.50 WHIP in 4 IP with 4 K and a hold since be recalled from the minors last week.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Joakim Soria still Closer
Leo Nunez to 1st in line in place of Yasuhiko Yabuta
Ramon Ramirez still 2nd in line

Nunez pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout, 8th inning to setup up Soria last night. The 24-year-old righthander has a 0.64 WHIP on the season in 4+ IP with 6 K and 2 holds.

Yabuta has just 1 appearance on the season, which came in a middle relief role.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Brad Lidge still Closer
Tom Gordon still 1st in line
Ryan Madson still 2nd in line

Gordon pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout, inning in a 5-2 final yesterday for his first save of the year. Lidge was rested after throwing 45 pitches the previous 2 days.

Gordon has responded well after a poor debut outing. The 40-year-old veteran has a 2.18 WHIP in 3+ IP with 4 K and 1 hold on the season.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Francisco Rodriguez still Closer
Scot Shields still 1st in line
Justin Speier still 2nd in line

Rodriguez left a blown save effort last night with an ankle injury and said after the game; "I think I need to go on the disabled list". Manager Mike Scioscia indicated a decision my not come immediately; "We might have to sit him for three or four days before we make a decision".

Shields has filled in for K-Rod at the closers' spot in the past, but was slowed to start the season by a forearm injury. The 32-year-old righthander has 2 scoreless outings and did pick up the win after relieving Rodriguez yesterday.

Speier has 2 holds in as many appearances this year with a 1.20 WHIP in 1+ IP with 0 K. The 34-year-old righthander had 24 holds for the Angels last year and did briefly close for the Blue Jays back in 2004.

CHICAGO CUBS
Kerry Wood still Closer
Carlos Marmol still 1st in line
Bob Howry still 2nd in line

Marmol pitched a scoreless 12th inning in a 10-8 final yesterday for his first save of the season. Wood was rested after picking up saves each of the previous 2 days.

The 25-year-old Marmol has high future closer value and could close this year if Wood has any injury problems. The hard throwing righthander has a 0.67 WHIP in 6 IP with 7 K and 2 holds.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Matt Capps still Closer
Damaso Marte still 1st in line
Tyler Yates to 2nd in line in place of Franquelis Osoria

Yates pitched 2 perfect innings yesterday in a tie game and has now allowed just 1 run in 5 appearances. The Pirates had a void at righthander setup duty enter Spring Training and Yates may be stepping up for the job after coming over from Atlanta prior to Opening Day. The 30-year-old righthander has a 0.71 WHIP in 5+ IP with 5 K and 1 hold on the season.

Osoria has a 1.67 WHIP in 6 IP with a 6.00 ERA, 4 K and zero holds.

Monday, April 7, 2008

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Brandon Lyon still Closer
Tony Pena still 1st in line
Chad Qualls still 2nd in line

Qualls pitched a scoreless 10th inning to record a save Sunday in a 5-2 final. The former Astro has a 1.13 WHIP in 5+ IP with 4 K and 2 holds this year.

Lyon blew his second save of the young season in the 9th on a Matt Holliday solo HR. The veteran righthander had a terrible Spring Training and now has a 2.00 WHIP and 12.00 ERA in 3 IP after the first week of the season.

Pena could be the D'Backs' next in line closer and has 3 scoreless outings to start the season; 1.33 WHIP in 3 IP with 3 K and 2 holds. The hard throwing righthander threw 27 pitches on Saturday and may not of been available yesterday; which allowed Qualls to get the second chance save opportunity.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
Apr 06, 2008
Mar 30, 2008
Mar 21, 2008
Mar 11, 2008
Feb 25, 2008
Feb 11, 2008
Jan 28, 2008
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