Closer Watch Report 06 08 08

Thursday, June 5, 2008

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

Smoltz has been placed back on the DL and could be facing season or career ending shoulder surgery.

Acosta got the Braves save opportunity last night in a 2 run game and proceeded to allow 2 HR's while taking the blown save-loss.

Soriano was rested after pitching the 2 previous days and 3 of the past 4. The 28-year-old righthander should get the chance to be the Braves' closer as originally planned in Spring Training, assuming his elbow holds up.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

ATLANTA BRAVES
John Smoltz still Closer
Rafael Soriano still 1st in line
Manny Acosta still 2nd in line

Soriano pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout 9th inning last night for his 2nd save of the season in a 5-4 final. Smoltz' shoulder was sore after his 12 pitch blown save effort on Monday.

Smoltz remains an injury risk and Soriano may end up closing this year for the Braves, assuming his elbow holds up.

Soriano has a 1.25 WHIP in 8 IP with 10 K on the season.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Francisco Rodriguez still Closer
Scot Shields still 1st in line
Jose Arredondo to 2nd in line in place of Justin Speier

Arredondo pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout 8th inning to set up Rodriguez in a 5-4 final last night. The hard throwing righthander has a 0.62 WHIP in 9+ IP with 8 K and 2 holds on the season. Arredondo had impressive numbers in AAA prior to his call up; 0.94 WHIP in 17 IP with 15 K and 10 saves.

Speier has been inconsistent this year with a 1.52 WHIP in 21 IP with 14 K and 9 holds.

DETROIT TIGERS
Todd Jones still Closer
Joel Zumaya to 1st in line in place of Francisco Cruceta
Aquilino Lopez still 2nd in line

Cruceta was designated for assignment yesterday after allowing 8 runs and 13 hits in 11+ IP.

Zumaya had a sucessful rehab outing in single A yesterday as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. The hard throwing righthander could be activated from the DL by the end of June.

Monday, June 2, 2008

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

Smoltz is expected to be activated from the DL today and could immediately slide in to the Braves' closer role. The future hall of famer hasn't closed since 2004 when he posted 44 saves, which concluded a stretch of 3 dominant seasons as a closer. Smoltz is attempting to pitch through a shoulder injury, so he'll remain a risk in the short and long term this year.

Soriano is also an injury risk, after spending most of the first 2 months of the season on the DL with an elbow injury. The 28-year-old's last appearance was a blown save outing over the weekend, in his 2nd appearance since coming off the DL.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
Jun 1, 2008
May 25, 2008
May 18, 2008
May 11, 2008
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
2007
2006