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Sunday, May 27, 2007 Kansas City Royals Octavio Dotel to Closer in place of Joakim Soria Zack Greinke to 1st in line in place of Octavio Dotel David Riske still 2nd in line Soria has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury. Manager Buddy Bell said Dotel and Greinke would now share the closers' role. Dotel was, and it appears still is, being eased back in to the closers' role after spending the first month and a half of the season on the DL with a strained abdominal muscle. The 33-year-old Dotel made his second appearance of the season Friday night; 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Dotel hasn't had a healthy season since 2004 when he recorded 36 saves split in Houston and Oakland. The 23-year-old Greinke has made 7 relief appearances since losing his starting job; 11 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 11 K with 3 holds. Philadelphia Phillies Antonio Alfonseca to Closer from committee Ryan Madson to 1st in line from committee Geoff Geary to 2nd in line from committee Tom Gordon and Brett Myers still DL Alfonseca pitched a scoreless 9th in a 6-4 game last night for his first save since 2002 when he had 19 for the Cubs. Manager Charlie Manuel talked about Alfonseca being the lead candidate for saves when Myers was injured this past week. The 35-year-old veteran doesn't have pretty numbers on the season; 1.66 WHIP in 21+ IP with just 9 K. Gordon has yet to begin throwing from his shoulder injury and it's to be determined when he can return. Myers just when on the DL this week with a shoulder injury as well. Saturday, May 26, 2007 San Diego Padres Trevor Hoffman still Closer Scott Linebrink still 1st in line Heath Bell to 2nd in line in place of Cla Meredith Linebrink pitched a perfect, 1 strikeout 9th in a 8-6 game last night to record his first save of the season. Hoffman was not available with arm soreness and is considered day to day; (specifics of the injury would not provided). Linebrink has been the Padres' firm next in line closer for a few years behind the aging Hoffman. The 30-year-old Linebrink has a 0.92 WHIP in 21+ IP this year with 13 K and 9 holds. Meredith has allowed runs in 4 of his 7 May outings and hasn't been nearly as impressive this year (1.35 WHIP in 23 IP) following up his surprise rookie campaign (0.71 WHIP in 50+ IP). Bell set Linebrink up last night retiring all 5 batters he faced, striking out 3 of them. The 29-year-old is emerging as a quality setup man this year with a 0.79 WHIP in 29 IP with 32 K and 5 holds. Atlanta Braves Bob Wickman still Closer Rafael Soriano still 1st in line Tyler Yates to 2nd in line in place of Mike Gonzalez Gonzalez is to have reconstructive elbow surgery, ending his season. The former Pirate closer has been dealing with the elbow issue since last September. Yates has a 1.04 WHIP in 23 IP with 24 K and 6 holds on the season. Cincinnati Reds David Weathers still Closer Mike Stanton still 1st in line Eddie Guardado DL to 2nd in line in place of Kirk Saarloos Guardado is close to a minor league rehab on his way back from reconstructive elbow surgery. Barring any setbacks, Everyday Eddie could join the Reds sometime in June. The Reds seem to never accept Weathers as their closer, and Guardado could assume the role if he returns healthy and effective. The 36-year-old Guardado recorded 8 saves in 15 games with the Reds last year before falling to the elbow injury. Saarloos has moved back in to a swingman role joining the starting rotation after showing some promise as a setup man earlier this month. The 28-year-old has a 1.39 WHIP and 5.09 ERA in 23 IP with 13 K and 4 holds on the season. Thursday, May 24, 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Ryan Madson to Closer Committee Antonio Alfonseca to Closer Committee Geoff Geary to Closer Committee Brett Myers potentially to DL Tom Gordon still DL Myers walked off the mound last night with what could be a serious shoulder injury after giving up a four run 9th inning lead. The Phillies do not have an obvious closer option beyond Myers and could turn to a closer committee if the former ace is placed on the DL. Madson was recently activated from the DL and a strained oblique. The 26-year-old has a 1.14 WHIP in 19+ IP with 16 K and zero holds on the season. Alfonseca has been inconsistent this year with a 1.69 WHIP in 20+ IP with 9 K and 6 holds. Geary has a 1.35 WHIP in 23 IP with 14 K and 5 holds. Gordon has yet to begin throwing and currently has no timetable for his return from a shoulder injury. Los Angeles Dodgers Takashi Saito still Closer Jonathan Broxton still 1st in line Yhency Brazoban to 2nd in line in place of Chin-Hui Tsao Tsao has been placed on the DL with a shoulder injury putting a halt to his surprising season; 1.00 WHIP in 18 IP with 15 K and 3 holds. Brazoban was called up from AAA yesterday and made his first appearance since April of last year after having reconstructive elbow surgery. The hard throwing Dominican struck out the side around 1 walk pitching the 9th in a 5-1 game. The 26-year-old Brazoban closed for LA in 2005 picking up 21 saves. Detroit Tigers Todd Jones still Closer Fernando Rodney still 1st in line Tim Byrdak to 2nd in line in place of Jose Mesa Mesa continues to struggle giving up 3 more runs last night with his ERA now up to 12.46 with a 2.31 WHIP in 8+ IP. Journeyman, left hander Byrdak has a 0.88 WHIP in 5+ IP with 9 K and 2 holds since being called up from AAA 10 days ago. Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Kansas City Royals Joakim Soria still Closer Octavio Dotel to 1st in line in place of David Riske David Riske to 2nd in line in place of Brandon Duckworth Dotel has been activated from the DL, however manager Buddy Bell said the former Astro will be eased back in to the closers' role initially pitching in middle relief and setup over the next week or two Soria pitched a perfect 1 strikeout 9th for his 10th save of the season last night in a 4-3 game. The Rule V pick has emerged as a legitimate closer option if needed to fill the role long term. The 23-year-old Soria has a 1.37 WHIP in 22+ IP with 25 K Oakland A's Alan Embree to Closer in place of Justin Duchscherer Kiko Calero still 1st in line Jay Witasick still 2nd in line Justin Duchscherer to DL Huston Street still DL Duchscherer has been placed on the DL with a hip injury that has prevented him from filling the closers' role while Street has been out. The A's have been using a closer committee over the past 10 days with Embree recording the only save in that time period. Manager Bob Geren indicated yesterday that the left handed Embree could be his primary closer with Duchscherer joining Street on the DL. The 37-year-old Embree has a 1.58 WHIP in 18+ IP with 14 K, 8 holds and 1 save on the season. The veteran has never had a season with more than 2 saves. Street has not resumed throwing yet from his elbow injury that landed him on the DL. Monday, May 21, 2007 Chicago Cubs Ryan Dempster still Closer Angel Guzman to 1st in line in place of Bob Howry Bob Howry to 2nd in line in place of Mike Wuertz The Cubs are discussing moving Dempster to the starting rotation, potentially in the very near future. Guzman, who was recently moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen, is a candidate to replace Dempster in the closers' role. As is the hard throwing Carlos Marmol. Howry, a third candidate, entered the season as the Cubs' firm next in line closer, but the 33-year-old has been inconsistent this year with a 1.57 WHIP in 21+ IP. Marmol was called up from the minors this past week and had a scoreless outing on Friday and yesterday, with just 2 IP on the season; 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. The 24-year-old started in 7 of his 8 outings in AAA this year with a 1.02 WHIP in 41 IP with 48 K. Manager Lou Piniella talked about Guzman having the potential to be an effective late inning reliever when discussing the right handers move to the bullpen this past week. The 25-year-old has a 1.37 WHIP in 22+ IP with 21 K on the season, starting 3 of 7 games. Guzman may be considered the teams' future closer and could get the opportunity to succeed Dempster as the closer if a switch is made. Detroit Tigers Todd Jones still Closer Fernando Rodney still 1st in line Jose Mesa still 2nd in line The left handed Bobby Seay came on to face the left handed Chris Duncan in a 6-3 game yesterday with 2 outs and proceeded to record his first save of the year. The 28-year-old Seay has a 1.05 WHIP on the season in 13+ IP with 8 K and 3 holds. Jones was not used after throwing 29 pitches on Satuday while recording his 14th save of the season in a shaky outing. Closer Watch Blog Archive: Week 7 2007 Week 6 2007 Week 5 2007 Week 4 2007 Week 3 2007 Week 2 2007 Week 1 2007 Spring Training 2007 Vol II Spring Training 2007 Vol I December 2006 October 2006 2006 Season |
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