Closer Watch Report 04 20 08

Sunday, April 20, 2008

ATLANTA BRAVES
Manny Acosta still Closer
Blaine Boyer still 1st in line
Rafael Soriano DL still 2nd in line

Acosta pitched a scoreless inning yesterday for his first career save in a 4-1 final.
Boyer set him up with a scoreless, 1 strikeout, 8th inning.

Acosta has a 1.33 WHIP in 8 IP with 6 K.

Soriano could return from the DL and his elbow injury this coming week.

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

Shields pitched a scoreless inning in a 4-1 final yesterday for his first save of the season. K-Rod was rested after pitching on 5 of the previous 6 days while recording 4 saves.

Shields has a 1.09 WHIP in 6+ IP with 8 K and 3 holds after missing the start of the season with a forearm injury.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

DETROIT TIGERS
Todd Jones still Closer
Denny Bautista to 1st in line in place of Fernando Rodney
Aquilino Lopez to 2nd in line in place of Joel Zumaya

Bautista and Lopez both picked up holds in front of Jones in an 8-4 final last night. Rodney is still experiencing shoulder problems and is out indefinitely, (even though at this time surgery isn't necessary).

Zumaya could return in the second half of the season, barring setbacks from offseason shoulder surgery.

Bautista has a 1.25 WHIP in 8 IP this year with 5 K and 2 holds. The hard throwing righthander has struggled in the majors over the past few seasons; as he looks to settle in to a relief role with Detroit this year.

Lopez has a 0.95 WHIP in 12+ IP with 9 K and 1 hold.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Jon Rauch still Closer
Chad Cordero still 1st in line
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Rauch pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout, ninth to record his 3rd save of the season last night in a 6-4 final. The 29-year-old righthander could have a chance to step up and secure the Nats' closer role this year with Cordero's status in question due to his shoulder injury and drop in velocity.

Rauch has a 1.70 WHIP on the season in 7+ IP with 6 K and has a 3 game scoreless appearance streak after allowing runs in 3 straight.

Friday, April 18, 2008

TEXAS RANGERS
C.J. Wilson still closer
Joaquin Benoit still 1st in line
Jamey Wright to 2nd in line in place of Kazuo Fukumori in minors

Wright pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout 8th, to record his 2nd hold of the season in front of Wilson last night. The veteran righthander is settling in to a relief role in the early season after spending the majority of his career as an inconsistent starting pitcher.

The 33-year-old Wright has a 1.34 WHIP in 9+ IP with 9 K and 2 holds on the season.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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

Manager Manny Acta announced after last nights' game that Rauch would be replacing Cordero as the teams' closer due to an alarming drop in velocity. Cordero pitched a scorless inning in a losing effort, but was reportedley throwing in the 70's.

Rauch has been inconsistent to start the season with a 1.88 WHIP in 5+ IP with 3 K and 2 saves. The tall righthander was amoung the best setup men in the NL last year with a 1.10 WHIP in 87+ IP with 71 K and 33 holds.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Jose Valverde still Closer
Doug Brocail still 1st in line
Oscar Villarreal still 2nd in line

Brocail pitched a scoreless, 2 strikeout, ninth inning in a 2-1 game last night for his first save of the season. Valverde was rested after pitching on 2 of the previous 3 days, including a 4 run blown save effort on Tuesday.

Valverde has put a dent in to his closer security with ugly numbers on the season; 2.53 WHIP and 11.37 ERA in 6+ IP with 8 K and has blown 2 of his 3 save chances.

The 40-year-old Brocail has a 1.30 WHIP in 7+ IP with 8 K and 2 holds.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Joba Chamberlain still 1st in line
Brian Bruney to 2nd in line in place of LaTroy Hawkins

Bruney got the final 5 outs in a 15-9 final last night for his first save of the season.

The 26-year-old righthander has a 1.00 WHIP in 10 IP this year with 11 K and 1 hold.

Hawkins has a 1.56 WHIP and 7.00 ERA in 9 IP with 5 K and zero holds.

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Troy Percival still Closer
Dan Wheeler to 1st in line in place of Al Reyes
Gary Glover to 2nd in line in place of Dan Wheeler

Reyes has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury, which was the cause of the righthanders' lack of velocity this year and inconsistent pitching.

Wheeler has a 0.64 WHIP in 8 IP this year with 5 K and 3 holds.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Rafael Betancourt to Closer in place of Joe Borowski
Masa Kobayashi to 1st in line in place of Rafael Betancourt
Jorge Julio still 2nd in line

Borowski was placed on the DL yesterday with a tricep injury he's been trying to pitch through. Manager Eric Wedge named Betancourt the teams' interim closer.

The 32-year-old Betancourt has a 1.71 WHIP on the season in 7 IP with 7 K and 2 holds. The righthander was a dominating setup man last year with a 0.76 WHIP in 79+ IP with 80 K and 31 holds.

BOSTON RED SOX
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Hideki Okajima still 1st in line
Manny Delcarmen still 2nd in line

Okajima pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout, ninth inning in a 5-3 game last night for his first save of the season. Papelbon was rested after recording saves on 2 of the previous 3 days.

The 32-year-old Okajima has a 0.65 WHIP in 6+ IP with 8 K and 3 holds on the season.

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

Moylan joined Rafael Soriano on the DL yesterday with his own elbow injury. The 29-year-old righthander overcame an elbow injury during Spring Training, but like Soriano, had the injury come back during the season.

Manager Bobby Cox said; "We'll just mix it up and do the best we can to sneak through it, until Soriano comes back". Soriano is to play catch today, which could give an indication as to when the righthander will return.

Acosta has 1.60 WHIP in 5 IP with 4 K and 1 hold. The hard throwing righthander has 4 scoreless appearances since allowing 4 runs in his initial outing this year.

Boyer has a 0.78 WHIP in 7+ IP with 13 K and 1 hold. The 26-year-old is another hard throwing righthander and has showed some promise this year after spending most of last year in AAA coming back from shoulder surgery.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Joe Borowski still Closer
Rafael Betancourt still 1st in line
Jorge Julio to 2nd in line in place of Masa Kobayashi

Borowski blew his second save of the season last night putting his closer security in to question. The 36-year-old veteran velocity was down in the low 80's yesterday and he has ugly numbers on the season; 18.00 ERA and 2.75 WHIP in 4 IP.

Betancourt has been the Indians' next in line closer for the past year, but has been inconsistent in the early going this year. The veteran setup man has a 1.71 WHIP this year in 7 IP with 7 K and 1 hold.

Julio bombed as the Marlins' closer last April, but has pitched well for Cleveland in a middle relief role this year. The veteran righthander has a 1.14 WHIP in 7 IP with 4 K and zero holds. Julio last closed in 2006 when he had 16 saves for the Diamondbacks.

Monday, April 14, 2008

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

Ryan returned from the DL on Sunday and recorded a save with a scoreless 10th inning in a 5-4 final. The veteran closer will look for no further setbacks in his return from Tommy John surgery.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Chad Cordero still Closer
Jon Rauch still 1st in line
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Rauch got the final out Sunday for his second save of the season. Cordero was pulled from the save opportunity after loading the bases. The 26-year-old Cordero will remain a risky closer until he proves to be effective and healthy.

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

Howry pitched a scoreless 10th inning Sunday in a 6-5 final for his first save of the season. Wood pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th during a tie game.

The 34-year-old Howry has struggled so far this year with a 2.04 WHIP in 8+ IP with a 8.59 ERA, 2 K and 3 holds.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
Apr 13, 2008
Apr 06, 2008
Mar 30, 2008
Mar 21, 2008
Mar 11, 2008
Feb 25, 2008
Feb 11, 2008
Jan 28, 2008
Jan 14, 2008
Dec 17, 2007
Dec 10, 2007
Dec 3, 2007
Nov 26, 2007
Nov 12, 2007
2007
2006