Closer Watch Report 06 15 08

Sunday, June 15, 2008

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

Isringhausen was activated from the DL yesterday but may have to show some consistency before returning to his closer role.

Franklin pitched a perfect inning in a 3-2 final yesterday for his 6th save in 7 chances since becoming the Cards' closer. The 35-year-old righthander has a 1.37 WHIP on the season in 30+ IP with 20 K, 8 saves and 12 holds. Franklin could end up closing for the remainder of the season, if Isringhausen fails to turn himself around.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Jeff Bennett to Closer in place of Rafael Soriano
Blaine Boyer to 1st in line in place of Mike Gonzalez
Mike Gonzalez to 2nd in line in place of Blaine Boyer

Soriano returned to the DL yesterday with his elbow problem. The Braves' have no obvious closer replacement and could go with a true closer committee in the short term.

Mike Gonzalez is still on a minor league rehab as he works his way back from Tommy John elbow surgery.

Bennett converted a save for the Braves on Friday night and may get the Braves' next opportunity as well. The 28-year-old righthander has a 1.41 WHIP in 52+ IP with 41 K and 5 holds on the season.

BOSTON RED SOX
Jonathan Papelbon still Closer
Hideki Okajima still 1st in line
Manny Delcarmen to 2nd in line in place of Mike Timlin

Craig Hansen pitched a scoreless 10th inning in a 6-4 final yesterday for his first career save. Papelbon blew his 3rd save of the season an inning earlier on an Edwin Encarnacion HR. Okajima and Delcarmen appeared earlier in the game as well.

Hansen has a 1.39 WHIP in 18+ IP with 15 K and 4 holds on the season.

Delcarmen has a 1.31 WHIP on the season in 28+ IP with 25 K, 8 holds and has a current 8 game scoreless appearance streak.

Timlin has been inconsistent this year with a 1.70 WHIP in 20 IP with 10 K and zero holds.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
Brandon Morrow to Closer in place of J.J. Putz
Miguel Batista to 1st in line in place of Brandon Morrow
Mark Lowe still 2nd in line

Putz was placed on the DL yesterday with his elbow injury. Morrow could be used as the Mariners' primary closer in the interim, but manager John McLaren did say, "we're going to mix and match".

Morrow has a 1.06 WHIP on the season in 18 IP with 25 K.

Batista was removed from the rotation this week and brings his ugly numbers to the bullpen, 1.89 WHIP and 6.00 ERA. However, the veteran righthander did save 31 games for the Blue Jays back in 2005.

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

Percival returned from the DL yesterday (hamstring) to pitch a perfect, 2 strikeout ninth inning in a 7-3 final.

Reyes has been placed back on the DL with additional shoulder problems.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth to 1st in line in place of Joba Chamberlain
Joba Chamberlain to 2nd in line in place of Kyle Farnsworth

Farnsworth pitched a scoreless, 1 strikeout inning in a 2-1 final yesterday for his first save of the season. Rivera was rested after pitching on 5 of the past 6 days.

Farnsworth has a 1.48 WHIP on the season in 30+ IP with 26 K and 5 holds.

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

Dolsi retired all 6 batters he faced in a 5-0 final yesterday to earn his first career save. The hard throwing rookie has moved up to a setup role in the Tiger bullpen with a 1.41 WHIP in 16+ IP with 10 K and 3 holds on the season.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Rafael Soriano still Closer
Mike Gonzalez still 1st in line
Jeff Bennett to 2nd in line in place of Jeff Bennett

Bennett pitched a scoreless inning in a 5-2 final yesterday for his second save of the season. Soriano remains unavailable with a sore elbow and his status for the remainder of the season is in question.

Bennett has a 1.33 WHIP in 34+ relief IP on the season with 27 K and 5 holds.

Friday, June 13, 2008

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Matt Capps still Closer
Damaso Marte still 1st in line
Tyler Yates still 2nd in line

Marte pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout inning for his first save of the season yesterday in a 7-5 final. Capps was rested after pitching on 4 consecutive days.

Marte has a 1.14 WHIP in 31+ IP on the season with 33 K and 13 holds.

Capps is having a solid first half with a 0.98 WHIP in 31+ IP with 20 K and is 16 for 17 in save chances.

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

Soriano remains unavailable with the recurring elbow problem, having not appeared in a game in over a week.

Boyer received the Braves' save opportunity yesterday but blew the 1 run lead on a Jim Edmonds' HR.

Acosta took the loss Thursday in extra innings and has really struggled of late allowing 8 ER in 5 May innings.

Gonzalez is in AAA on a minor league rehab as he works his way back from Tommy John elbow surgery. The former Pirates' closer could be activated from the DL within the next week.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
J.J. Putz still Closer
Brandon Morrow still 1st in line
Mark Lowe still 2nd in line

Putz had to leave a save opportunity yesterday with a sore elbow. Morrow came on to pitch a perfect, 1 strikeout inning for his first save of the season in a 2-1 final.

The extent of Putz' injury is to be determined and it's possible he ends up on the DL in the next couple of days.

Morrow has solid numbers on the season with a 1.06 WHIP in 18 IP with 25 K and 3 holds. The hard throwing righthander has a current 7 game scoreless appearance streak; 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
June 8, 2008
Jun 1, 2008
May 25, 2008
May 18, 2008
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