Closer Watch Report 07 13 08

Saturday, July 12, 2008

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

Corpas' prior closing experience is expected to give him the nod on closing over Buchholz if and when Fuentes gets traded. The 25-year-old right hander has pitched better the past two months after struggling the first two. Corpas has a 1.53 WHIP on the season in 46+ IP with 32 K and has been scored on in just 1 of his past 11 appearances with 3 holds in has past 6 outings.

Buchholz has an impressive 0.86 WHIP on the season in 44+ IP with 35 K and 15 holds. The 25-year-old right hander hasn't had a hold since June 19 and has been scored on in 3 of his past 5 outings.

Friday, July 11, 2008

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Brad Lidge still Closer
Ryan Madson to 1st in line in place of Tom Gordon
Tom Gordon to 2nd in line in place of Ryan Madson

J.C. Romero got the final 2 outs in a 4-1 game yesterday for his first save of the season. Lidge was rested after pitching each of the previous 2 days.

Romero has a 1.44 WHIP in 36 IP this year with 31 K and 10 holds. The 32-year-old left hander is ineffective against right hand hitters with a 1.034 opposition OPS with a dominating .305 mark against left hand hitters.

Gordon hit the DL again earlier in the week, this time with an elbow injury.

Madson has a 1.17 WHIP in 47+ IP this year with 36 K and 6 holds. The 27-year-old right hander has a current 6 game scoreless appearance streak.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Octavio Dotel to Closer in place of Scott Linebrink
Scott Linebrink to 1st in line in place of Octavio Dotel
Matt Thornton still 2nd in line

Dotel struck out the side for his first save of the season yesterday in a 7-6 final. The 34-year-old veteran may now be the White Sox' primary closer while Bobby Jenks is out after this impressive outing.

Dotel has a 1.24 WHIP in 42 IP this year with 60 K and has a current 8 game scoreless appearance streak.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Scott Linebrink to Closer in place of Bobby Jenks
Octavio Dotel to 1st in line in place of Scott Linebrink
Matt Thornton to 2nd in line in place of Octavio Dotel

Jenks is to be placed on the DL today with a strained muscle in his upper back, the injury isn't expected to keep the Sox closer out for long.

Linebrink has received each of the White Sox past 2 save chances, which included a 2 run blown save effort yesterday. Manager Ozzie Guillen mentioned after the game that he will use a "committee" in Jenks' absence.

Dotel has a 1.27 WHIP in 41 IP on the season with 57 K and 12 holds. The veteran right hander closed for the Royals in the first half last year recording 11 saves.

Thornton has a dominant 0.84 WHIP in 35+ IP on the season with 45 K and 9 holds. The 31-year-old left hander shuts down left hand hitters with a .427 opposition OPS and also has an impressive .560 mark against right hand hitters.

Monday, July 7, 2008

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Bobby Jenks still Closer
Scott Linebrink still 1st in line
Octavio Dotel still 2nd in line

Linebrink recorded his first save of the season yesterday despite allowing 1 ninth inning run in a 4-3 final. Jenks was still unavailable with a shoulder blade injury, but could return later this week.

Linebrink is having a dominant season as a setup man with a 0.86 WHIP in 37 IP with 32 K and 19 holds.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Mike Gonzalez still Closer
Blaine Boyer to 1st in line in place of Jeff Bennett
Royce Ring to 2nd in line in place of Blaine Boyer

Bennett was placed on the DL yesterday with a shoulder injury.

Boyer has a 1.32 WHIP in 47+ IP with 41 K and 10 holds on the season.

Ring has a 1.15 WHIP in 18+ IP with 13 K and 4 holds on the season.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
July 6, 2008
June 29, 2008
June 22, 2008
June 15, 2008
June 8, 2008
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
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