Closer Watch Report 07 27 08

Saturday, July 26, 2008

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
John Grabow to Closer in place of Damaso Marte
Tyler Yates still 1st in line
Denny Bautista to 2nd in line in place of Romulo Sanchez

Marte has been traded along with Xavier Nady to the Yankees for 4 prospects, pending physicals. The Pirates have 2 closer candiates to replace Marte in Grabow and Yates. In a losing effort last night Yates pitched the 7th and 8th innings and Grabow appeared in the 9th.

Grabow has a 1.28 WHIP in 50+ IP this year with 41 K and 9 holds. The 29-year-old left hander is equally effective against right hand hitters .652 opposition OPS as left hand hitters .619 opposition OPS.

Yates has been inconsistent this year with a 1.61 WHIP in 52+ IP with 37 K and 12 holds.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Mariano Rivera still Closer
Damaso Marte to 1st in line in place of Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Farnsworth to 2nd in line in place of Jose Veras

Marte adds quality late inning depth to the Yankee bullpen. The 33-year-old left hander has a 1.16 WHIP in 46+ IP this year with 47 K, 15 holds and was 3 for 3 in saves chances after Matt Capps got injured.

FLORIDA MARLINS
Kevin Gregg still Closer
Renyel Pinto still 1st in line
Justin Miller to 2nd in line in place of Doug Waechter

Miller has returned from the DL, elbow, and picked up a win last night with a scoreless two thirds of an inning effort. The 30-year-old right hander has a 1.45 WHIP in 40 IP on the season with 39 K and 7 holds.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Masa Kobayashi still Closer
Rafael Betancourt still 1st in line
Rafael Perez still 2nd in line

Perez pitched out of a 9th inning jam getting 3 straight outs for his first career save in a 5-4 final yesterday. Kobayashi was pulled from the save opportunity after allowing a 2 run HR and a single with out recording an out.

Kobayashi remains 2 for 2 in save chances since Joe Borowski was let go. The 34-year-old right hander has a 1.23 WHIP in 46+ IP on the season with 31 K.

Perez has a 1.23 WHIP in 46+ IP on the season with 43 K and 13 holds. The 26-year-old left hander is more effective against left hand hitters .576 opposition OPS with a .759 mark versus right handers.

Friday, July 25, 2008

CHICAGO CUBS
Kerry Wood still Closer
Carlos Marmol still 1st in line
Bob Howry still 2nd in line

Marmol got the final 4 outs, while walking 3 and striking out 3, for his 4th save of the season in a 6-3 final last night. Wood was placed on the DL yesterday with his blister, but is expected to return next Tuesday as his DL stint was placed retroactively to July 14.

Marmol is the Cubs' future closer, despite some inconsistencies of late. The 25-year-old right hander has allowed 9 runs in 8+ July IP, after giving up 9 runs in 11 June IP. Marmol still has dominant season numbers with a 1.06 WHIP in 55+ IP with 75 K and 22 holds.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Brandon Lyon still Closer
Jon Rauch to 1st in line in place of Tony Pena
Tony Pena to 2nd in line in place of Chad Qualls

Rauch was acquired from the Nationals yesterday for future second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. The D'Backs' have picked up a decent closer to add to their set up corps and provide insurance for Lyon.

Rauch debuted for the D'Backs last night with a scoreless, 2 strike out 9th inning in a 9-2 final. The 29-year-old right hander has a 1.01 WHIP in 49+ IP this year with 46 K and was 17 for 22 in save chances.

WASHINTON NATIONALS
Joel Hanrahan to Closer in place of Jon Rauch
Luis Ayala still 1st in line
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Hanrahan will get a chance to close with Rauch dealt to Arizona as the Nats' kick in to rebuilding mode. The 26-year-old right hander has a 1.33 WHIP in 59+ IP on the season with 65 K and 3 holds. The hard throwing Hanrahan has been scored on in just 1 of his past 11 appearances.

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

Soriano returned from the DL yesterday in struck out 2 in a scoreless 7th inning in a 4-0 loss. The 28-year-old right hander has lost his closers' job while on the DL to Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has a 0.63 WHIP in 12+ IP with 16 K since returning from Tommy John surgery and is a perfect 33 for 33 in save chances since 2005.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Brandon Lyon still Closer
Tony Pena still 1st in line
Chad Qualls still 2nd in line

Qualls pitched a scoreless inning for his 2nd save of the year in a 2-0 final yesterday. Lyon was rested after pitching on 3 straight days. This was Qualls first appearance since the all-star break due to a back injury.

Qualls has a 1.24 WHIP in 45 IP this year with 43 K and 16 holds.

Pena has a 1.28 WHIP in 46 IP this year with 32 K and 18 holds.

Monday, July 21, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
J.J. Putz to Closer in place of Brandon Morrow
Brandon Morrow to 1st in line in place of Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Rhodes to 2nd in line in place of Miguel Batista

Putz was activated from the DL, elbow, yesterday but won't immediately return to his closers' role. However, the veteran closer took a step towards closing Sunday with a perfect, 1 strikeout seventh inning in a 6-2 loss.

Morrow has proven to be a capable closer while Putz has been out converting 7 of 9 save chances and has a 0.85 WHIP on the season in 31+ IP with 42 K.

Putz has poor season numbers as he's dealt with multiple injuries; 1.90 WHIP in 20 IP with 24 K and is 7 for 10 in save chances. The 31-year-old right hander is a candidate to be traded with the Mariners out of contention, coincided with the emergence of Morrow.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
July 20, 2008
July 13, 2008
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
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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
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Nov 26, 2007
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