The Closer Report: April 23, 2010

CLOSER NEWS:

SAVES:

Brian Wilson (3) Wilson finally recorded a save.  It was his first save since April 6, and he went out there with a vengeance.  Besides a simple single, Wilson struck out the side for his third save of the season.  His ERA remains at 0.00.

Jonathan Papelbon (4) - Paps had another tough outing.  He did get the save, but in the process looked wild walking two batters and giving up a hit.  To put a positive spin on the save, he did intentionally walk Wiggington and he struck out Lugo to end the game.  That is how expereinced closers do it.

Francisco Rodriguez (2) - Recorded his second save in as many days.  He is still lacking his trademark sharpness that we haven't sen in awhile.  He needed 22 pitches to close he game and gave up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. His WHIP rose to 1.27, but his ERA lowered to an impressive 1.04.

Kevin Gregg (5) - Gregg was needed for 1.1 innings, but got a clean save. He looked great giving up a hit and striking out two.

Matt Lindstrom (5) - Another 12 pitch save for Lindstrom.  No hits and a strikeout.  Lindstrom has clearly found his closer niche.

Briean Fuentes (2) - Fuentes was back in the closer role and frankly it was a shocker.  When I saw Fernando Rodney coming into the eighth inning I was thinking someone got screwed.  I did assume that since the Yankee lineup is loaded with lefties and switch hitters that maybe Scioscia went with his lefty.  Thames did pitch hit for Johnson and Fuentes turned Teixeira around.  Will see what he does next.

Chad Qualls (3) - Qualls had a hefty three run lead to work with and he didn't even need it.  Why?  He only needed one out.  It was 7-3 going into the ninth and after Heilman gave up a run, Qualls entered the game with two outs and a runner on second.  He dispatched of Polanco on five pitches.


BLOWN SAVES:

Neftali Feliz (1-0 BS1) - Feliz got rocked tonight and badly.  Well, maybe not that badly, but he gave up three hits, including a wacky shallow double to Johnny Damon.  He couldn't close the deal on Magglio Ordonez who with two outs got the big hit to tie the game at 4-4 and blow the game for Feliz.  He did manage to get the win, so it wasn't all bad.

APPEARANCES:

Carlos Marmol - Pitched 1.1 innings for some odd reason in a blowout.  Still, he struck out three out of the four batters he retured.

Jim Johnson - Gave up a hit in 1/3 of an inning against the Red Sox.

Rafeal Soriano - Got some work in against the Blue Jays.  Struck out two in an inning of work. His WHIP has gone down to 1.14 and his ERA is loking much better at 2.57.

The Closer Report: April 22, 2010

SAVES:

Andrew Bailey (2) - Bailey ruled the New York Yankees with a 12 pitch save.  He didn't record any strikeouts, but one hit.  His ERA  is still at 0.00 and he's healthy.

Francisco Cordero (6) - Cordero nailed his sixth save of the season.  He gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs. 

Franklin Morales (3) - Morales recorded his first save in 11 days.

Darren Oliver (1) - Looked good, recording two strikeouts.  He got the save because Frank Francisco and Neftali Feliz needed rest.

Francisco Rodriguez (1) - KROD finally recorded his first save of the season.  He pitched 1.2 perfect innings and struck out three batters. This was an excellent appearance for the stud closer.  His ERA and WHIP were lowered 1.17.

Jose Valverde (5) - I Watched an excited Valverde close out the Angels.  He was wild at first, walking Bobby Abreau.  After that he calmed down and got Tori Hunter to bang into a double play and then got Matsui to ground out to first to end the game.  In all it took ten pitches.  Great appearance for Valverde.


Appearances:

Leo Nunez - Struck out the side in a non-save situation.  He is looking outstanding!

The Closer Report: April 21, 2010

SAVES:

Matt Lindstrom (4) - Lindstrom threw a near perfect 12 pitch inning giving up a lone hit.  His WHIP (1.14) and ERA (3.86) are still a bit high, but both are coming down.

Mariano Rivera (6) - Rivera is absolutely unhittable.  He recorded his sixth straight save, but showed a chink in his armor.  He gave up a hit and needed 26 pitches to close out the game.  His season ERA is still 0.00.

Jose Valverde (4) - Valverde made quick work of Angel hitters needing only 10 pitches to get his fourth save.   He got one strikeout and lowered his WHIP to 1.00.

Joakim Soria (4) - SOria got back on track with his fourth save of the season beating the Blue Jays 4-3.  He had a quite 1-2-3 inning and struckout one closing out the game.

Matt Capps (7) - Capps recorded his league leading seventh save of the season and did it in wow fashion.  Capps struckout the side, raising his strikeout total from 5 to 8 in one appearnce.  He did give up a hit and a walk, but an overall very impressive outing for Capps.

BLOWN SAVE:

Brian Fuentes (BS1) - Fuentes made his first appearance since coming off the DL and he entered the game in the eighth inning as expected and blew the lead.  Before his work was done, he gave up two runs on two hits and two walks.  The big blast was a solo homerun to Miguel Cabrera.  He also took the loss 4-3.

APPEARANCES:

Brain Wilson - Pitched a quite inning in a losing cause.  He only threw 10 pitches, so he should be fine for tomorrow.

Jonathan Papelbon - Pitched a strong two innings in a 7-7 game with Texas.  He gave up one hit and struckout one.  There is no chance he will pitch tomorrow.  Since Bard also went two innings, I'm not sure who will get the call to close if the Red Sox lead going into the ninth inning.

Carlos Marmol - Worked one inning in a 9-3 blow out.  Walked one and struck out one. 

Neftali Feliz - Another impressive outing for Feliz.  He pitched two innings for the Rangers in an extra inning game.  He threw 23 pitches and struck out three batters, while giving up no hits or walks.  His WHIP is now at a microscopic 0.75.

Feliz To Close In Texas

Texas Rangers - Neftali Feliz

Feliz has been named the Rangers' closer after Frank Francisco blew 2 consecutive saves in the opening week, allowing 3 runs in each outing.
Manager Ron Washington, "Feliz is going to get the chance to get those last three outs in the ninth."

Feliz has allowed 1 run in 3 appearances this year with 2 holds and 5 K's in 2+ IP. The 21-year-old hard thrower has the stuff to emerge as a dominant closer and not just a temporary replacement.

Sin City Scout

Another Week of Wilson

It looks like CJ Wilson will be the closer for the Rangers for another week. Francisco is eligible to come off of the DL but he has pneumonia. Wilson has shown himself to be reliable in the role, so there is no need for Texas to hurry Francisco back. With that said, there is no light at the end of the CJ Wilson tunnel, he will not be the closer when Francisco is healthy. This will not be a magic pickup that will carry you through the playoffs (barring injuries of course) So until Francisco is fully healthy Wilson is a good source of cheap saves. Looks like you'll get a week out of him. -Scout Monkey

( scout_monkey@gmx.com)

Francisco out this weekend, could be DL bound.

Texas Rangers' closer Frank Francisco, who hasn't pitched since April 29th, will likely be out until early next week. Francisco, who has 9 saves, 13:4 K:BB ratio, and sparkling 0.00 ERA, has been battling biceps tendinitis recently, and may ultimately end up on the disabled list. C.J. Wilson, (owned in 4% of Yahoo Leagues), is next in line for the save chances, and is worth a short term add. Scout C.P. Staley