Is Percival Gone?

There is a rumor all over the Tampa Bay Rays message boards that Troy Percival is not on the flight to Miami for tonight's game. Percival has been placed on the DL and Reid Brignac will be called up. It could be the end of Percival's career because rumor is he really has no significant injury and this is a stall move to make a decision on his future.

Now if this is true who will close for the Rays or who should you pickup for the long haul?

There are four choices that the Rays could go with:

1: Dan Wheeler he is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA, he did have 13 saves last season though.

2: Grant Balfour he is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA and only had 4 saves last season.

3: Joe Nelson he is 1-0 with a 5.60 era he had 2 saves last year.

4: Jason Isringhausen he has been active from the DL and has pitched in two games so far. Izzy has yet to give up a run and looks like 2007 Izzy has apposed to 2008 Izzy.

I personally think that it will be Isringhausen who up until last season had averaged over 30 saves a season for four seasons. He was hurt last year and he is now back and will be the closer from now till the end of the year...

The Bay State Scout (bay_state_scout@comcast.net)

Tampa Bay Rays Closer Report

Thanks to Joe Madden and his closer wisdom, many have been confused as to who is the closer for the Rays. Troy Percival is the obvious choice, but since he got hammered on May 13th, and with left-handers hitting .475 he had been benched for a few days to clear his head. JP Howell and Joe Nelson each picked up saves in his absence.

Today Percival went back to closing and pitched a near perfect inning with two strikeouts. He did hit Mark DeRosa and Carl Crawford mad a great catch two save a double. In the end, Percival is back to closing.

Nelson looked as though he could be getting the job, but Percival is their guy and Nelson has had his own problems and isn't much of a closer.

Start Percival at will, but Expect Madden to Howell or Nelson if the 9th inning is loaded with left-handers. If Percival gets the save chance, fasten your seat belt and cover your eyes.