Closer Watch Report 08 10 08

Sunday, August 10, 2008

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

Durbin recorded his first save of the season despite allowing 1 run in a 4-2 final yesterday. Lidge was rested after throwing 52 pitches over the previous 2 days.

Durbin is emerging as a quality set up man this year with a 1.13 WHIP in 65+ IP with 52 K and 9 holds. The 30-year-old right hander had not allowed over his previous 12 outings.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

OAKLAND A'S
Huston Street still Closer
Brad Ziegler to 1st in line in place of Alan Embree
Santiago Casilla still 2nd in line

Ziegler pitched 2 scoreless innings to record his first career save in a 4-2 final yesterday. The 28-year-old rookie extended his remarkable scoreless streak to begin his career to 37 innings. Street wasn't used after a blown save-loss effort earlier in the week.

Ziegler has a 0.86 WHIP in 37 IP with 17 K and 9 holds on the season. The right hander has emerged as a next in line closer to the inconsistent Street.

Street has a 1.28 WHIP in 49+ IP this year with 47 K and has 6 blown saves in 24 chances. The 25-year-old veteran has been scored on in 4 of his past 9 outings.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Jensen Lewis to Closer in place of Rafael Perez
Rafael Perez to 1st in line in place of Masa Kobayashi
Masa Kobayashi to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Betancourt

Lewis pitched a scoreless inning for his 1st career save yesterday in a 5-2 final. The Indians closer spot has been in flux since Joe Borowski was released in early July. Manager Eric Wedge indicated after the game that Lewis could "get more opportunities."

Lewis has been inconsistent this year with a 1.57 WHIP in 45+ IP with 31 K and 4 holds. The 24-year-old right hander has not allowed an earned run over his past 5 outings.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
John Grabow to Closer in place of Tyler Yates
Craig Hansen to 1st in line in place of John Grabow
Tyler Yates to 2nd in line in place of Denny Bautista

Hansen pitched a scoreless 12th inning, despite 2 walks, to record his 3rd save of the season in a 2-0 final. The Pirates have gone with a closer committee since Matt Capps went on the DL back in early July.

Hansen was inconsistent with the Red Sox and was scored on in each of his initial 2 outings with the Pirates. The 24-year-old right hander has a 1.69 WHIP in 34+ IP on the season with more walks 26, than strike outs 25. Hansen has been considered a future closer for the past few years, but needs to be more effective to warrant the projection.

Grabow pitched a perfect 9th inning during a tie game yesterday. Yates wasn't used after his 5 run outing earlier in the week.

Capps is currently on a minor league rehab and could return from the DL-shoulder later this month.

NEW YORK METS
Aaron Heilman still Closer
Duaner Sanchez still 1st in line
Joe Smith still 2nd in line

Heilman pitched 2 scoreless innings to record his 1st save of the season in a 3-0 final yesterday. Manager Jerry Manuel had indicated that the right hander would be his primary closer while Billy Wagner was on the DL-forearm.

Heilman is having an inconsistent season with a 1.43 WHIP in 63 IP with 71 K and 13 holds. The 29-year-old right hander closed for the Mets in the final month of 2005 picking up 5 saves.

Friday, August 8, 2008

DETROIT TIGERS
Fernando Rodney still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line
Joel Zumaya still 2nd in line

Rodney got the final 4 outs for his 2nd save of the season yesterday in a 8-3 final. Manager Jim Leyland talked earlier in the week about using a committee of Rodney, Farnsworth and Zumaya to close going forward, after current closer Rodney blew 2 consecutive saves.

Rodney has a 1.41 WHIP in 22+ IP this year with 26 K. The 31-year-old right hander responded to Leyland's talk of a closer committee on Tuesday with 3 scoreless innings in an extra inning effort.

Zumaya pitched in a set up role last night with a scoreless 7th inning for his 5th hold of the season. The 23-year-old right hander has a 1.84 WHIP in 22+ IP on the season with 21 K. Zumaya took the blown save-loss in the 14th inning of that extra inning game on Tuesday.

Farnsworth has blown saves in each of his past 2 outings. In that same Tuesday extra inning game the former Yankee blew an 8th inning save on a HR and blew another middle inning save over the weekend allowing 3 runs on 2 HR's. Farnsworth has a 1.36 WHIP in 47+ IP on the season with 47 K and 11 holds.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

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

Perez got the final 5 outs, 2 via strike out, for his first career save in a 9-6 final last night after being recalled from the minors earlier in the day. Isringhausen was demoted from the closers' role after his 3 run bomb outing the night before creating a closer committee in St. Louis. Perez may have the chance to emerge as the primary closer after this impressive outing.

Perez has a 1.38 WHIP in 25+ IP with 24 K and 5 holds. The 23-year-old future closer had a 1.18 WHIP in 25+ AAA IP with 38 K and 11 saves.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

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

The Mariners have decided to convert Morrow in to a starting pitcher and have sent him to AAA to stretch out. That allows Putz to move back in to his closers' role.

Putz blew an 8th inning save chance last night, but pitched a scoreless 9th to record the win in a 8-7 final. The veteran right hander has an 1.88 WHIP in 27+ IP this year with 32 K and 7 saves.

TEXAS RANGERS
Eddie Guardado to Closer in place of C.J. Wilson
Joaquin Benoit to 1st in line in place of Eddie Guardado
Jamey Wright still 2nd in line

Guardado pitched a scoreless inning for his 3rd save of the season yesterday in a 8-6 final. Wilson is headed to the DL with an elbow injury that could require surgery and make the left hander out for the season.

Guardado has responded well to Tommy John surgery with a 0.96 WHIP in 44+ IP this season with 26 K and 23 holds.

NEW YORK METS
Aaron Heilman to Closer in place of Billy Wagner
Duaner Sanchez still 1st in line
Joe Smith still 2nd in line

Scott Schoeneweis got the final out for his 1st save of the season in a 6-5 final yesterday. Wagner was placed on the DL prior to the game with a forearm injury that he believes will only require the 15 day minimum to come back from.

Manager Jerry Manuel indicated that Heilman would be his primary closer while Wagner is out. However, Heilman may have changed that last night after turning a 4 run 9th inning game in to a scramble save opportunity after allowing 3 runs.

Heilman has been inconsistent this year with a 1.49 WHIP in 60+ IP with 67 K and 13 holds.

Sanchez has a 1.28 WHIP in 47 IP this year with 36 K and 16 holds.

Smith has a 1.24 WHIP in 45 IP this year with 34 K and 9 holds. The 24-year-old rookie struggles against left hand pitching with a .805 opposition OPS with an impressive .623 mark against right hand hitters.

The Mets did promote their future closer over the weekend in Eddie Kunz who made his major league debut on Sunday with a scoreless inning. The 22-year-old right hander had a 1.32 WHIP in 48+ AA IP this year with 43 K and 27 saves.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Rafael Perez to Closer in place of Masa Kobayashi
Masa Kobayashi to 1st in line in place of Rafael Betancourt
Rafael Betancourt to 2nd in line in place of Rafael Perez

Perez pitched a perfect 8th and 9th innings with 2 strike outs to record his 2nd save of the season in a 5-2 final yesterday. Kobayashi wasn't used despite not pitching since last Thursday. Perez has received both of the Indians past 2 save chances as the 26-year-old may have at least moved in to a co-closer situation.

Perez has a 1.13 WHIP in 54+ IP on the season with 52 K and 15 holds. The left hander is tough on left hander hitters with a .583 opposition OPS, but is also effective against right hander hitters with a .691 mark.

Monday, August 4, 2008

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

Marmol pitched a perfect, 1 strike out inning for his 6th save of the season in an 8-5 final yesterday. Wood remains on the DL with his blister, but is targeted to return this coming weekend.

Marmol has a 1.03 WHIP in 61+ IP on the season with 85 K and is 3 for 3 in save chances since Wood has been unavailable.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Joel Hanrahan still Closer
Luis Ayala still 1st in line
Saul Rivera still 2nd in line

Hanrahan received his first chance for a save yesterday since Jon Rauch was traded and converted it despite allowing 1 run in 4-2 final. The 26-year-old right hander has a 1.31 WHIP in 63+ IP with 72 K.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
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