The Closer Report: April 15, 2010 3 Saves, 1 Blown Save

SAVES:
Mariano Rivera (4) - Chalk up another easy save for Rivera.  He entered the 6-2 game with two outs in the ninth inning and two runners on.  He got his batter and recorded his fourth save of the season on four pitches.

Matt Capps (4) - Capps is on fire.  He recorded his fourth save of the season for the Nationals.  It wasn't easy.  He was needed for 1.2 innings and gave up a run on three hits, including a home run to Shane Victorino.  While he notched a strikeout and the save, Capps has been scary at best.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Trevor Hoffman (3) - Hoffman was roughed up again, but notched the save.  He gave up a run on two hits and his ERA has skyrocketed to 12.60 to start the season. 

BLOWN SAVES:

Chad Qualls (BS 1) - Qualls just doesn't have the stuff to close.  He pitched well, but gave up three hits (one should have been an error on S. Drew) and gave up two runs. He threw 26 pitches and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks.  It's easy to say that Qualls will not close tomorrow if needed.


APPEARANCES:
Billy Wagner - Looked outstanding again, striking out two on 13 pitches (9 strikes).

Matt Lindstrom - Came into the game with a 5-1 lead and disposed of the Cardinals on 12 pitches and recorded a strikeout.

Ryan Madson - Entered the game in a losing situation just to get work and got touched up for two runs on two hits and a walk.

Francisco Rodriguez - Still no saves, but notched two more strikeouts while getting some work.

Jonathan Broxton (1-0) - Entered the game in the 10th inning and had an easy 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.

Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!

The Closer Report: April 5, 2010 - 4 Saves, 1 Win, 12 Appearances

By Todd Farino, http://www.thecloserreport.com/

Baseball is here and the closers are coming out to play.  Here is the report from April 5, 2010. 

Note: since there are days off early in the season we are seeing lots of closers just getting work in, but not coming in for a save opprotunity.

SAVES:

Franklin Morales (1)- Pitching for the injured Huston Street, Morales looked good, but still got roughed up my the Brewers. He opened up the ninth a bit nervous and hit Rickie Weeks. He then gave up a double to Carlos Gomez, but settled done after that getting the next three batters out on hard line drives. Morales looked good, but he was hit hard. Let's hope he can improve on that and rack up the strikeouts.

Brian Wilson (1) - Wilson entered the game with one out in the ninth after Brandon Medders gave up a couple of runs.  Wilson looked very sharp getting out both batters he faced, striking out Manzella.  In all, he needed seven pitches to end the game.

David Aardsma (1) - Aardsma got a save thanks to the Kevin Kouzmanoff.  Aardsma shaked off a shakey spring to mow down three batters, striking out two.  His command owas a little off, but his fastball was shapr and looked much better than it did just a week ago.

Brian Fuentes (1) - Fuentes started off strong with a 1-2-3 perfect inning save.  He struck out one on 10 pitches.  He was setup nicely by Fernando Rodney and her looked in mid-season form already.

BLOWN SAVES:

Jason Frasor (1, 0-1) - Frasor blew his first save of the season and looked awful against a tough Texas lineup. Frasor was hit hard, giving up 2 doubles and a game winning long single to Saltalamacchia. The line isn't pretty, .1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1 IBB, 1K. Frasor's pitches looked week. His velocity wasn't there and his breaking ball was flat. He should be fine and get better with time.

CLOSER WINS

Frank Francisco (1-0) - Francisco pitched a near perfect ninth and ended up with the win for Texas. On 17 pitches he struck out two and gave up one hit.

APPEARANCES

Ryan Franklin - Here is the Ryan Franklin I know.  Granted it's his first appearance of the season and the score was 11-4 when he came in, he still didn't pitch well.  His pitches were flat and very hittable.  He got lucky bad swings form Gnomes and Cabrera for outs, but gave up three hits to
Dickerson, Votto, and Phillips.  The end result was 2 runs and no strikeouts in a wasted appearance for the Cardinals closer.

Andrew Bailey - Bailey looked healthy, but he wasn't his sharpest.  He got screwed on an error by Kevin Kouzmanoff and them gave up a 2-1 base hit to Casey Kotchman that scored two unearned runs.  Regardless of the outcome, Bailey owners can let out a sigh of relief that their closer is alright.  Brad Ziegler took the loss.

Francisco Rodriguez - Pitched a perfect and quiet ninth inning for the Mets.  He showed excellent command, only needing 14 pitches to take out the Marlins.

Octavio Dotel - Faced three batters, striking out one.  He only needed 10 pitches to end the game and looked outstanding.

Billy Wagner - Wagner made his first appearance as a Brave and looked like the Wagner of old.  He struck out two on 11 pitches.  He faced the minimum three batters.

Jose Valverde - Valverde came into the ninth inning with a 4-run lead and he was pumped up as only Valverde can be.  He wasn't his sharpest as he needed 24 pitches to close out the game.  He did have to work around a walk and a error, but in the end a strong inning.  He recorded one strikeout.

SIDE NOTES:

Matt Thornton - Thornton looked great for the White Sox pitching a perfect ninth.  He struck out two and needed 10 pitches, throwing all strikes.  He's my odds on favorite to get the job if Jenks fails to hold onto it.

Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report  or download the podcast on ITunes!

Top 10 Closer Stories Of Spring Training 2010

So far it's been an active spring for closers and injuries.  Several jobs are still undecided and some top closers are out and will not be ready for the start of the season.  Here are the top ten closer stories this spring.

1.  Twins Closer - At this point the Twins are claiming they will go with a closer by committee by using anyone of their late inning relievers like Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain, etc...  I'm not buying it.  Gardenhire has never been that kind of manager.  Going back to Eddie Guardado, he has preferred to go to one guy in the ninth inning and stick with him.  Knowing that, I'd consider the first two weeks an interviewing process for Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier.  Jesse Crain is completely out coming back from arm surgery and Jose Mirares is a bit young, though he could be a dark horse closer.  He hasn't proved much this spring either. 
If Rauch or Guerrier come out of the gate dominant then that is who will get the job.  My money is on Matt Guerrier.  Rauch is a far better setup man and Gardenhire has far more confidence in his 31-year old pitcher who has been with the Twins since Nathan took over as the closer (2004).  Setting up his bullpen, Gardenhire would prefer Crain in the seventh, Rauch and Pat Neshek in the 8th, Guerrier in the ninth, and Mirares as his left-handed specialist.  My money is on and has been on Matt Guerrier even with Rauch getting the first look.
2.  Colorado Rockies - Huston Street will start the season on the DL with inflammation in his elbow.  It's no big deal, but it will sideline him till at least late April.  Franklin Morales will take over the duties to start the season.  He took care of the job last season while Street was hurt and he should have no problem in 2010.  He is a hard throwing lefty with some good movement and forces strikeouts or ground balls most of the time.

 3. Philadelphia Phillies - Brad Lidge is still recovering from elbow and knee surgery in the off-season. He has only thrown one inning this season and looked ok, but it was against minor leaguers. Ryan Madson will be the Phillies opening day closer and should be the closer for at least two weeks. However, if Lidge doesn't show significant progress they could ease him back into the role delaying him till May or mid-May. Now the konudrum. What if Madson has been lights out closing? Does Charlie Manuel remove him or keep him in the role? Do you allow your recently surgically repaired closer with confidence issues back into the role or your closer of the future who is doing a great job? We will see...

4.  Cleveland Indians - With Kerry Wood out 6-8 weeks with back issues, Chris Perez with take over the closer role.  Not only will he close for at least 6 weeks, but if he is dominant he won't give the job back.  Wood is getting old and in the last year of a two year deal.  The Indians traded for Perez for this exact reason, so expect Chris Perez to be the closer all season.  Perez is coming off a great spring with a 1.00 ERA in 9 innings and logged 10 strikeouts.

5.  Oakland Athletics - Andrew Bailey was shut down for a week with a minor case of tennis elbow.  Since then he has done some long toss and had a successful bullpen session.  He should pitch Monday to test the elbow and if all goes well he will be ready to start the season.  If not, expect Brad Ziegler to open the season for a week or so as the A's closer.

6.  San Francisco Giants - Brian Wilson signed a two year extension today for a total of $15 million and he's locked up through 2012.  That should stop any worries or rumors that Wilson could be trade bait at the trade deadline this season.

7.  Chicago Cubs - Let me be the first to say, what is all the worrying about Marmol?  Sure he loses control once and awhile, but overall he is an outstanding pitcher with some of the best stuff amongst closers.  His spring ERA was 5.00, but if you remove the one three-run appearance he's looking at a ERA below 2.00.  He also recorded 16 strikeouts in nine innings, but the 5 walks are a cause for concern.  However, minor concern.

8.  Houston Astros - In the off-season, the Astros traded for Matt Lindstrom and signed Brandon Lyon.  Lyon has been shelved most of spring training with a cyst and Matt Lindstrom has been lights out with a 0.00 ERA in 7.2 innings and six strikeouts.  Without a doubt the job belongs to Lindstrom and the only is risk is if he can hold onto the job.

9.  Chicago White Sox - Bobby Jenks had a rough spring and also suffered from a sore calf.  Over his past two appearances he has struck out two and surrendered no runs.  Everything looks to be ok for now, but if you own Jenks then you need to own Matt Thornton as well.

10.  New York Mets - Francisco Rodriguez had a great spring and he did while developing a new pitch for his arsenal. Over the years, we've gotten use to seeing KROD throw a nasty curveball and a hard fastball. Now he has worked in a changeup that is clocked around 79-80. I watched him use it frequently in a two inning stint against the Nationals and he struck out the side using it. With the additional pitch it makes KROD allot better, and a dominant closer again for 2010.

Bonus: 
Matt Capps has had two straight scoreless innings.  Right now he has the closer job in Washington, but he will be on a short lease.  Drew Storen WILL NOT be the closer for the Nationals if Capps fails.  Storen is at best a September call up as he still needs to work on his changeup and develop all his pitches for major league hitters.  He isn't even part of their 40-man roster.  If Capps fails, expect Brian Bruney to get a chance at the job.

2010 Closer Profile: Francisco Rodriguez, NY Mets

By Todd Farino, www.thecloserreport.com

Team: New York Mets

Projections: 44-5-3.02-1.20-79 (SV-WIN-ERA-WHIP-K)

Average Draft Position: 83rd pick

Recommended Draft Round: 6

Team Saves Projection: 57

Injury Risk/Stability: 9/8

Top 50 Rank: #8

Check out the entire draft kit by clicking here

Francisco Rodriguez had a bad year in 2009 and it wasn't the first in his career. I've heard all the reasons like Mets did him in, not use to the National League, or he was injured. Sure those can be reasons, but the facts are he stunk in 2009. Rodriguez has battled consistency various times in his career. When he is on, he is the most confident closer in MLB and dominates any opponent. When is is off, he misses spots, looks wild, and lacks the eat or be eaten philosophy. Considering his past and talent, KROD will come back in 2010. He will have a great season with the Mets, but I'm not saying the Mets will have a great season. The Mets offense will flourish with out all the injuries and their pitching will ONLY get better. My projections are conservative, but he could get 50 if he gets hot this season.


The True Guru Strategy: His ADP has him going in the seventh round. I feel he's a safe pick as early as the sixth round. Draft him with confidence, he will produce for your fantasy team.

You Putz!

J J Putz picked up his second save of the season for the Mets last night in Boston. Was K-Rod getting a night off? No, he was taken to the hospital last night due to severe back spasm's. K-Rod is back with the team today and might avoid a DL stint, however, Back pain is very fickle and could pop up all throughout the season. Grab Putz as a handcuff for K-Rod and if K-Rod goes on the DL Putz will be the Primary closing option for the Mets.

The Bay State Scout

(bay_state_scout@comcast.net)