Closer Watch Report 05 11 08

Sunday, May 11, 2008

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

Franklin pitched a scoreless inning for his 2nd save of the season in a 5-3 final yesterday.

Manager Tony LaRussa announced Saturday that the struggling Isringhausen would get a "break" from closing. Franklin and Russ Springer were mentioned as the top 2 closer replacements, and Franklin, the major league leader in holds, got the call yesterday.

Franklin has a 1.16 WHIP on the season in 19 IP with 8 K.

Springer has been inconsistent this year with a 2.43 WHIP in 7 IP with 5 K and 1 hold. The 39-year-old veteran pitched a scoreless 8th inning, despite loading the bases, to pick up the win in front of Franklin yesterday.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Eric Gagne still Closer
Guillermo Mota still 1st in line
Salomon Torres still 2nd in line

Gagne didn't blow a save yesterday, but he did allow 2 ninth inning runs in a tie game for his 2nd loss of the season.

Gagne could be 1 blown save from being removed from the closers' role. Manager Ned Yost talked after the game about Gagne still being his closer, but did say a move could be made; "When you've given them every opportunity".

Gagne has a 1.85 WHIP and 6.89 ERA on the season in 15+ IP with 17 K and 5 blown saves.

Mota is the Brewers' primary setup man and pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout 8th inning in front of Gagne on Saturday. The 34-year-old Mota has a 1.50 WHIP in 16 IP with 19 K and 5 holds on the season.

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

Accardo has struggled this year, 6.57 ERA in 12+ IP, and has landed on the DL with a forearm injury.

Benitez was called up from the minors yesterday, after posting a 1.13 WHIP in 8 IP, (7 of those innings were in A ball though). The 35-year-old veteran had a 1.55 WHIP in 50+ IP with 9 saves last year, spending time in San Francisco and Florida.

Frasor has been inconsistent this year and is being used primarily in middle relief. The 30-year-old righthander has a 1.36 WHIP in 11 IP with 11 K and just 1 hold.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Jason Isringhausen still Closer
Ryan Franklin still 1st in line
Kyle McClellan still 2nd in line

Isringhausen blew his second save in 2 days yesterday, putting his closer security in jeopardy. The 35-year-old veteran has 5 blown saves on the season with an ugly 7.47 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 15+ IP.

Isringhausen suggested after the game that the team may need to give him a break from the closers' role, while manager Tony LaRussa didn't elaborate on the situation.

Franklin set Isringhausen up yesterday with a perfect 8th inning while recording his major league leading 13th hold. The 35-year-old righthander has a 1.17 WHIP on the season in 18 IP with 8 K.

MINNESOTA TWINS
Joe Nathan still Closer
Matt Guerrier to 1st in line in place of Pat Neshek
Jesse Crain to 2nd in line in place of Juan Rincon

Neshek has been placed on the DL and could be out for the season with a partial elbow tear.

Guerrier has a 1.40 WHIP on the season in 20 IP with 13 K and 4 holds. The 29-year-old righthander has a current 6 game scoreless appearance streak.

Crain has been inconsistent this year with a 1.50 WHIP in 10+ IP with 9 K and 2 holds.

Rincon has been pitching in middle relief this season, with zero holds in 12 appearances and a 1.31 WHIP in 13 IP.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

OAKLAND A'S
Huston Street still Closer
Santiago Casilla to 1st in line in place of Keith Foulke
Alan Embree still 2nd in line

Casilla pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout inning for his first save of the season yesterday in a 4-2 final. Street was rested after throwing 45 pitches over the previous 2 days.

Casilla continues to build his future closer value, having not allowed a run in 17+ IP this year with 21 K and 7 holds.

Foulke is currently on a minor league rehab and is to return from the DL (neck) later this week.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Jason Isringhausen still Closer
Ryan Franklin still 1st in line
Kyle McClellan still 2nd in line

Franklin got the final 2 outs in a 6-5 final yesterday for his first save of the season. Isringhausen was rested after recording saves each of the previous 2 days.

Franklin has a 1.24 WHIP in 17 IP on the season with 8 K and major league leading 11 holds.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Manny Acosta still Closer
Blaine Boyer still 1st in line
Jeff Bennett to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Soriano

Jeff Bennett got the final out in a 5-3 game yesterday to record his first career save. Acosta started the inning but was pulled after allowing 2 hits.

Acosta has failed to step up in the Braves' closer role with Soriano and Moylan on the DL. The 27-year-old righthander has a 1.53 WHIP in 15 IP with more walks 11, than K's 10.

Soriano is still experiencing elbow soreness and will have a MRI today for further testing.

Bennett has a 1.34 WHIP in 27+ IP this year with 19 K and 2 holds. The 27-year-old swingman has started in 3 of his 13 appearances.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

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

Weathers returned from the DL (elbow) yesterday to pitch a scoreless, 2 strikeout 8th inning while setting up Cordero in a 5-3 final. The 38-year-old has a 2.16 WHIP on the season in 8+ IP with 3 K and 2 holds.

Burton continues to strike batters out, but is also allowing a decent amount of hits. The 26-year-old righthander has a 1.43 WHIP in 14+ IP with 16 H, 21 K and 2 holds.

Monday, May 5, 2008

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

Buchholz retired the last 4 hitters of the game yesterday to record his first career save in a 7-2 final. The 26-year-old righthander is emerging as a solid reliever this year with a 0.85 WHIP in 17+ IP with 13 K and 6 holds.

Fuentes has converted both of his save opportunties since taking over for Corpas, and has a 1.00 WHIP in 14 IP with 11 K on the season.

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

Scott Downs got the final out in a 4-3 final yesterday to record his 2nd save in 3 days. Ryan was rested after an 18 pitch save effort on Saturday, (the Jays still aren't pitching Ryan on back to back days as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery).

Downs has a 1.65 WHIP in 13+ IP with 14 K, 3 holds and 3 saves on the season. The 32-year-old lefthander is more effective versus lefthand hitters, .737 opposition OPS, with a .837 mark against righthand hitters.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
May 4, 2008
Apr 27, 2008
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
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