Get Your Close On

Two of the battles for the closer role have been decided - at least for now. Unless you are the Red Sox or the Yanks, no position is more transient then the major league closer. Jason Motte has secured the role in St. Louis as their opening day closer. He has had a fantastic spring and has a good chance of keeping the role all year. That is huge, a closer who can keep his job all year - yea, pick him up. St. Louis had way too many blown saves last year, many of them at the hands of Ryan Franklin, that has to change this year. It will with Motte. His closest competition was/is Franklin (I have a hard time believing that St. Louis was ever going to hand him the ball in the ninth again) and Chris Perez. Perez has been a little dinged up but is pitching alright now - still, he may not even make the opening day roster. Motte is fairly safe and should bring a nice end game that St. Louis desperately needs. Kevin Gregg has been named the closer in Chicago. Marmol was seen to be the favorite at the start of spring but Gregg has pitched better. This one scares me a little. Marmol has better stuff - hands down - which is why he was the favorite. Gregg however knows how to handle his stuff better. With Marmol waiting in the wings with his filthy pitches, I believe that Gregg will be on a short leash. Any injury and he will probably lose the role for the season (barring a complete meltdown of Marmol). Any prolonged struggle and Gregg will probably lose the role for the season. Marmol is the future closer of the Cubs. If you need closes, pick up either of these two if available. Motte is my first choice as I see him keeping the ninth inning. Gregg might keep the job, but Marmol is very appealing and I don't know if the Cubs can keep him out of the spotlight too long. I don't have the strength to talk about Seattle. Maybe to-'Morrow'. (oooh that was bad) -Scout Monkey (scout_monkey@gmx.com)