Closer Watch Report 08 17 08

Sunday, August 17, 2008

NEW YORK METS
Aaron Heilman to Closer in place of Billy Wagner
John Maine to 1st in line in place of Aaron Heilman
Eddie Kunz still 2nd in line

Pedro Feliciano got the final 2 outs to record his 2nd save of the season in a 7-4 final yesterday. Heilman wasn't used after throwing 37 pitches over the previous 2 days.

Feliciano has a 1.43 WHIP in 45+ IP on the season with 43 K and 16 holds. The 31-year-old left hander dominates left hand hitters with a .534 opposition OPS to go with a poor .916 mark against right hand hitters.

Wagner had an unsuccessful rehab outing on Saturday and will not return from the DL-elbow on Monday as scheduled. This news prompted more rumors of Maine moving out of the starting rotation to be the teams' closer.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Salomon Torres still Closer
Eric Gagne still 1st in line
David Riske to 2nd in line in place of Guillermo Mota

Riske pitched a scoreless 10th inning while allowing 2 hits with 2 strike outs to record his 2nd save of the season in a 4-3 final yesterday. Torres blew the 1 run save in the 9th but was credited with the win.

Riske has a 1.51 WHIP in 37+ IP on the season with 26 K and 11 holds.

Torres has recorded 22 of 25 save opportunities since taking over the role from Gagne. The surprise closer has a 1.24 WHIP in 62+ IP on the season with 42 K.

DETROIT TIGERS
Fernando Rodney still Closer
Kyle Farnsworth still 1st in line
Todd Jones to 2nd in line in place of Joel Zumaya

Rodney pitched a scoreless inning for his 4th save of the season in a 5-3 final yesterday. The 31-year-old right hander has now 3 for 3 in save chances after manager Jim Leyland spoke of using a closer committee last week.

Rodney has a 1.31 WHIP in 26 IP on the season with 30 K.

Jones returned from the DL-shoulder yesterday while Zumaya-shoulder was placed on it earlier in the week.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Grant Balfour to Closer in place of Troy Percival
Dan Wheeler to 1st in line in place of Grant Balfour
Chad Bradford to 2nd in line in place of Dan Wheeler

Percival was placed on the DL yesterday with his knee injury that could keep him out over a month. The Rays didn't name a replacement closer but it's expected that Balfour will again get the chance to emerge as the primary closer while Percival is out.

Balfour has impressive numbers on the season with a 0.80 WHIP in 37+ IP with 55 and hasn't allowed a run over his past 6 appearances.

NEW YORK METS
Billy Wagner to Closer in place of Eddie Kunz
Aaron Heilman to 1st in line in place of John Maine
Eddie Kunz to 2nd in line in place of Duaner Sanchez

Heilman pitched a scoreless inning for his 3rd save of the season in a 2-1 final yesterday. Wagner is scheduled to be activated on Monday after a second minor league rehab outing today.

Heilman has a 1.45 WHIP in 66+ IP on the season with 74 K and is now 2 for 3 in save chances since Wagner went on the DL.

Kunz surprisingly hasn't appeared in a game after manager Jerry Manuel talked about him being a closer candidate earlier in the week.

Friday, August 15, 2008

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Troy Percival still Closer
Grant Balfour still 1st in line
Dan Wheeler still 2nd in line

Trever Miller got the final out in the 12th inning for his first save of the season yesterday in a 7-6 final. Percival left the game earlier with a knee injury that could require another DL stint for the veteran closer. The Rays have 2 closer options if Percival does return to the DL.

Balfour relieved Percival in the 9th yesterday and proceeded to blow the 1 run save. The 30-year-old right hander did emerge as the Rays' closer during Percival's last DL stint going 3 for 3 in save chances. Balfour has an impressive 0.80 WHIP in 37+ IP on the season with 55 K and has allowed just 1 run over his past 15 appearances.

Wheeler has a 0.99 WHIP in 51+ IP on the season with 34 K and 26 holds.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Jonathan Broxton still Closer
Hong-Chih Kuo still 1st in line
Chan Ho Park still 2nd in line

Kuo pitched 2 scoreless innings with 2 strike outs for his 1st career save in a 3-1 final yesterday. Broxton was rested after throwing 42 pitches in 2 outings over the past 3 days as Kuo bids to emerge as a co-closer with Takashi Saito potentially out for the season with an elbow injury.

Kuo has emerged as a quality late inning reliever this year while building future closer value. The 27-year-old left hander has a 0.93 WHIP in 70+ IP on the season with 82 K and 9 holds.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
B.J. Ryan still Closer
Scott Downs still 1st in line
Brandon League to 2nd in line in place of Jeremy Accardo

League recorded his first save of the season, despite allowing 1 unearned run in an inning pitched with 2 strike outs of a 4-3 final yesterday. Ryan was rested after throwing 33 pitches over the previous 2 days.

League has a 1.53 WHIP in 19+ IP on the season with 11 K and 1 hold. The 25-year-old right hander has a current 8 game scoreless appearance streak.

Accardo remains on the DL-forearm, which he was placed on 3 months ago.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

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

Lewis pitched a perfect, 2 strike out inning for his 2nd save of the season in a 7-5 final yesterday. The Indians' closer spot has been in flux since Joe Borowski was released, and Lewis may now be stepping up to secure the role.

Lewis has a 1.52 WHIP in 47+ IP on the season with 33 K and has not allowed an earned run over his past 7 appearances.

OAKLAND A'S
Brad Ziegler still Closer
Huston Street still 1st in line
Santiago Casilla still 2nd in line

Ziegler pitched a scoreless inning for his 2nd save of the season in a 2-1 final yesterday. The new A's closer extended his scoreless streak to begin his career to 38 IP.

Ziegler has a 0.84 WHIP in those 38 IP with 17 K.

NEW YORK METS
Eddie Kunz still Closer
John Maine still 1st in line
Duaner Sanchez still 2nd in line

Pedro Feliciano pitched a perfect, 2 strike out inning for his 1st save of the season in a 4-3 final yesterday. The Mets closer spot remains in flux with Billy Wagner on the DL-forearm, but the veteran closer could return early next week.

Feliciano has a 1.43 WHIP in 44 IP on the season with 42 K and 15 holds. The 31-year-old left hander dominates left hand hitters with a .513 opposition OPS versus a poor .935 mark against right hand hitters.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Chris Perez still Closer
Ryan Franklin still 1st in line
Kyle McClellan still 2nd in line

Perez pitched a scoreless, 2 strike out inning for his 2nd save of the season in a 4-2 final yesterday. Isringhausen's ineffectiveness has left the Cardinals' closer spot open and Perez could be on his way to securing the role.

Perez has a 1.35 WHIP in 27+ IP on the season with 27 K. The hard throwing right hander was considered the Cardinals' future closer entering 2008 and posted a 1.18 WHIP in 25+ AAA IP this year with 38 K and 11 saves.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
John Grabow still Closer
Craig Hansen still 1st in line
Tyler Yates still 2nd in line

Grabow pitched a scoreless inning for his 2nd save of the season in a 7-5 final yesterday. With Matt Capps on the DL, Grabow could be emerging as the Pirates' leader of the closer committee.

Grabow has a 1.31 WHIP in 57+ IP on the season with 47 K and is 2 for 2 in save chances since Capps went down.

NEW YORK METS
Eddie Kunz to Closer in place of Aaron Heilman
John Maine to 1st in line in place of Duaner Sanchez
Duaner Sanchez to 2nd in line in place of Joe Smith

Manager Jerry Manual indicated after a Heilman blown save last night that Kunz would get the next save opportunity; "I have to give him a shot - I have to see what he looks like."

Kunz was considered a future closer after the Mets drafted him in the 1st round from Oregon State last year. The 22-year-old right hander has a 1.29 WHIP in 2+ IP with 1 K since being called up from the minors last week. Kunz had a 1.32 WHIP in 48+ AA IP prior to his call up with 43 K and 27 saves.

Manager Jerry Manuel also indicated that Maine could close after his initial start off the DL-shoulder which is scheduled for Wednesday.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Jose Valverde still Closer
Doug Brocail still 1st in line
LaTroy Hawkins to 2nd in line in place of Wesley Wright

Hawkins pitched a perfect, 2 strike out 8th inning for his 2nd hold of the season in a 3-1 final yesterday. The veteran right hander has pitched well for the Astros after disappointing with the Yankees for most of the season.

Hawkins has a 0.82 WHIP in 3+ IP since being traded to the Astros with 8 K, 1 save and 2 holds.

Monday, August 11, 2008

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

Street allowed 3 runs in a middle inning appearance yesterday, confirming the speculation that Ziegler is now the A's closer.

Ziegler is coming off a 2 inning save on Friday and has yet to allow a major league run in 37 IP with a 0.86 WHIP and 17 K.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Brad Lidge still Closer
Chad Durbin still 1st in line
Ryan Madson still 2nd in line

Madson pitched a perfect inning for his 1st save of the season yesterday in a 6-3 final. Lidge was unavailable with a shoulder injury which he doesn't believe is serious.

Madson has a 1.27 WHIP in 60 IP on the season with 43 K and 8 holds.

Durbin has a 1.13 WHIP in 65+ IP on the season with 52 K, 9 holds and picked up a spot save on Saturday.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
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