Closer Watch Report 04 27 08

Friday, April 25, 2008

COLORADO ROCKIES
Brian Fuentes to Closer in place of Manny Corpas
Manny Corpas to 1st in line in place of Brian Fuentes
Taylor Buchholz still 2nd in line

Fuentes pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout inning to record his first save of the season yesterday in a 4-2 game. Manager Clint Hurdle named Fuentes the teams' closer over the struggling Corpas prior to the game.

Fuentes has a 1.08 WHIP in 12 IP with 10 K on the season. The 32-year-old lefthander saved 31 games for the Rockies in '05, 30 in '06 and 20 in '07 before losing the job.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Eric Gagne still Closer
Derrick Turnbow to 1st in line in place of Guillermo Mota
Guillermo Mota to 2nd in line in place of David Riske

Turnbow pitched a scoreless, 2 strikeout, inning for his first save of the season yesterday in a 5-4 final. Gagne was rested after pitching on 5 of the previous 6 days, with his last 2 outings both blown saves.

Manager Ned Yost commented after the game; "(Turnbow) is a guy that tied the franchise saves record and was an All-Star pitcher, and he's more than capable of picking up the slack when Gagne is down. In my mind, that's what his job is and he did wonderful today."

Turnbow was a forgotten man in the Brewers bullpen this year pitching in a middle relief role. The 30-year-old righthander has ugly numbers on the season; 2.47 WHIP and 7.94 ERA in 5+ IP with more walks 7, than K's 4.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Manny Corpas still Closer
Brian Fuentes still 1st in line
Taylor Buchholz still 2nd in line

Corpas blew his fourth save of the season and second in 2 days yesterday, putting his closer security in jeopardy. Manager Clint Hurdle said after the game; "We might not have as much patience this year as we have in others in developing people".

Corpas has a 1.58 WHIP and 7.50 ERA in 12 IP with 5 K and is 4 for 8 in save chances.

Fuentes set Corpas up last night with a scoreless 8th inning for his 6th hold of the season. The 32-year-old lefthander has a 1.18 WHIP in 11 IP with 8 K. Fuentes lost his closers' job in the 2nd half of last season to Corpas, and now may be on the verge of getting it back.

Buchholz is settling in to a setup role this year with a 0.95 WHIP in 12+ IP with 11 K and 5 holds.

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

Marmol pitched a perfect 10th inning to record his 2nd save of the season in a 7-6 final yesterday. Wood blew a 1 run ninth inning lead.

Marmol remains one of the most attractive next in line closers in baseball. The 25-year-old righthander has a 0.65 WHIP in 15+ IP with 20 K and 7 holds.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Eric Gagne still Closer
Guillermo Mota to 1st in line in place of David Riske
David Riske to 2nd in line in place of Guillermo Mota

Gagne blew his 4th save of the young season yesterday as he continues to be among the shakiest closers in baseball. The veteran righthander now has a 1.62 WHIP and 8.31 ERA in 8+ IP with 12 K, and is 6 for 10 in save chances.

Mota pitched a scoreless 10th and 11th innings yesterday. The veteran righthander has moved up to a setup role after a strong Spring Training. The 34-year-old Mota has a 1.40 WHIP in 10 IP with 10 K and 3 holds.

Riske has struggled of late, including a 3 run outing yesterday. The veteran righthander has a 1.74 WHIP in 10+ IP with 5 K and 2 holds.

The Brewers have 2 other potential late inning options in Salomon Torres and Seth McClung. Torres set Gagne up yesterday with a scoreless 8th inning and has a 1.33 WHIP in 14+ IP with 10 K and 2 holds.

McClung pitched a perfect, 2 strikeout, 12th inning to record the win yesterday. The former Devil Ray has a 1.57 WHIP in 7+ IP with 6 K on the season, with zero holds.

Monday, April 21, 2008

CINCINNATI REDS
Francisco Cordero still Closer
Jared Burton to 1st in line in place of David Weathers
Mike Lincoln to 2nd in line in place of Jared Burton

Weathers was placed on the DL over the weekend with an elbow injury.

Burton picked up the win in extra innings yesterday striking out 2 more batters. The 26-year-old righthander now was 20 K's in 11+ IP with a 1.22 WHIP and 1 hold.

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

Accardo pitched a scoreless inning in a 5-3 final yesterday for his 4th save of the season. Ryan was rested after a 24 pitch save effort on Saturday.

Accardo has been inconsistent this year with a 1.75 WHIP in 8 IP with 4 K and is 4 for 6 in save chances.

SEATTLE MARINERS
J.J. Putz to Closer in place of Mark Lowe
Mark Lowe to 1st in line in place of Ryan-Rowland-Smith
Ryan-Rowland-Smith to 2nd in line in place of Roy Corcoran

Rowland-Smith got the final out in a 4-2 final yesterday for his 2nd save of the season. Lowe turned the game in to a save opportunity after walking the bases loaded in a 4 run game before giving up a 2 run single.

Putz threw a successful simulated game over the weekend and could be activated from the DL tomorrow.

Lowe may not be an option to close for the Mariners if Putz has further injury problems this year. The righthanded Lowe has a 1.93 WHIP in 4+ IP with more walks 5, than strikeouts 3.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
Apr 20, 2008
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