Closer Watch Report 09 07 08

Sunday, September 7, 2008

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Joel Hanrahan still Closer
Steven Shell to 1st in line in place of Saul Rivera
Saul Rivera to 2nd in line in place of Steven Shell

Shell pitched a perfect 10th inning to record his 2nd save of the season in a 8-5 final yesterday. Hanrahan received the blown save-win allowing 2 ninth inning runs.

Shell is having a solid rookie campaign with a 1.06 WHIP in 41+ IP with 33 K and 5 holds. The 25-year-old right hander has not allowed a run over his past 8 appearances.

Hanrahan has allowed 4 runs over his past 2 outings but did record 4 straight save opportunities prior to those outings. The 26-year-old right hander has a 1.35 WHIP in 78+ IP on the season with 86 K and is 7 for 10 in save chances; as he attempts to secure the job heading in to next season.

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

Franklin got the final 2 outs to record his 15th save of the season in a 5-3 final yesterday. Perez wasn't used after blowing saves on 2 of the previous 3 days.

Franklin hadn't recorded a save since the middle of July and has a 1.57 WHIP in 67+ IP on the season with 45 K.

Perez has a 1.27 WHIP in 35+ IP on the season with 37 K and is 6 for 8 in save chances since emerging as the teams' closer last month. The 23-year-old right hander could remain in the closers' role despite his recent struggles due to his future closer status.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

FLORIDA MARLINS
Joe Nelson still Closer
Matt Lindstrom still 1st in line
Kevin Gregg still 2nd in line

Lindstrom pitched a perfect 11th inning to record his 1st career save in a 4-1 final yesterday. Nelson pitched a perfect 9th inning when the game was tied.

Lindstrom may have moved in to a co-closers role with this successful outing and has a 1.58 WHIP in 50 IP on the season with 38 K.

Gregg could throw a bullpen this weekend to test his knee, but there's no guarantee he closes again this year even if he returns.

Friday, September 5, 2008

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

Wheeler got the final out for his 11th save of the season in a 7-5 final yesterday. Percival wasn't used after throwing 25 pitches in his first outing off the DL the day before.

Wheeler is becoming a legitimate closer option behind Percival with a 0.91 WHIP in 59+ IP on the season with 46 K.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Joakim Soria still Closer
Ramon Ramirez still 1st in line
Ron Mahay still 2nd in line

Ramirez pitched a perfect 2 strike out inning to record his 1st save of the season in a 9-6 final yesterday. Soria wasn't used after picking up the win in the first game of the doubleheader throwing 2 innings and 25 pitches.

Ramirez has a 1.29 WHIP in 65 IP on the season with 66 K and 17 holds. The 27-year-old right hander hasn't allowed an earned run over his past 7 appearances.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

FLORIDA MARLINS
Joe Nelson to Closer in place of Matt Lindstrom
Matt Lindstrom to 1st in line in place of Joe Nelson
Kevin Gregg still 2nd in line

Nelson pitched a perfect 1 strike out inning for his 1st save of the season in a 5-3 final yesterday. Lindstrom wasn't used after throwing 42 pitches over the previous 2 days. This successful outing may warrant Nelson getting the next save opportunity as well. Gregg remains shut down with his knee injury.

Nelson has a 1.22 WHIP in 42+ IP on the season with 50 K and 8 holds. The 33-year-old journeyman has emerged as a quality late inning reliever for the Marlins this year after posting a 0.90 WHIP in 25+ AAA IP with 36 K and 11 saves earlier in the year.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

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

Percival was activated from the DL-knee yesterday and manager Joe Maddon indicated the veteran would immediately return to his closers' role. The 39-year-old right hander has a 1.03 WHIP in 39 IP on the season with 36 K and is 27 for 30 in save chances.

Wheeler was 6 for 8 in save opportunities with just 2 runs while filling in.

Monday, September 1, 2008

SEATTLE MARINERS
J.J. Putz still Closer
Roy Corcoran still 1st in line
Randy Messenger still 2nd in line

Corcoran pitched a scoreless 9th inning, despite walking the bases loaded, to record his 2nd save of the season in a 6-4 final yesterday. Putz was rested after pitching the previous 2 days.

Corcoran has a 1.36 WHIP in 59+ IP on the season with 34 K and 7 holds. The 28-year-old right hander has not allowed a run over his past 5 appearances.

Closer Watch Report Archive:
Aug 31, 2008
Aug 24, 2008
Aug 17, 2008
Aug 10, 2008
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