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.

Drift Wood

Kerry Wood is up to his old tricks again, he has a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle and will start the year on the DL.

Wood has been given a timetable of 6-8 weeks, but we all know he is prone to setbacks so it could be even longer. All this does is force former Cardinals closing hopeful Chris Perez into the ninth inning role.

Chris Perez was acquired from the Cardinals in the Mark DeRosa trade last year. Perez has always had great stuff and no one has questioned his talent. Last year between STL and CLE Perez pitched 61 innings striking out 68 with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

Perez did struggle early last year but once he was comfortable in Cleveland after the all star break he posted strong numbers. he pitched 29 innings striking out 34 with a 3.10 ERA and giving up and opponents batting average against of .184.

Cleveland will be a terrible team but Perez could keep the job all year and possibly give you a cheap 30 saves.

The Bay State Scout

(bay_state_scout@comcast.net)

The Closer Report: May 19, 2009

Saves: 8

Save Opportunities: 9

Wood gets whacked, Papelbon and Broxton look strong

By Todd Farino, www.thecloserreport.com

May 18th was a great days for closers. 8 out of 9 games were successfully closed out today. The only blown save goes to Kerry Wood who after giving up back-to-back home runs to Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen refused to gather it together and get the final two outs. In all Wood gave up 4ER on 3 hits and a walk.

I warned people about Kerry Wood. Wood's problem is he thinks he is Jonathan Papelbon. He thinks batters fear him or at least don't look forward to facing him. When they face Wood, they respect him, but don't fear any part of him. His slider has to break and break hard in the zone. When that isn't happening hitters sit on his soft 94-95 MPH. Expect more of these types of outings from Wood. You should have Lewis in your scopes. He isn't doing well either, and that is probably one reason Wood wasn't relieved.

In other outings, Broxton shutdown the Mets with a perfect innings and a K. Papelbon closed out a big win for the Red Sox, 2-1. He dominated the Blue Jays in the same fashion and striking out Adam Lind in the process.

Trevor Hoffman and Chad Qualls continued there hot starts with saves. Hoffman recorded save 10 with a perfect inning. Qualls has been one of the bigger surprises at closer in 2009. He nailed his 9th save on 2 Ks and lowered his ERA to 2.40.

Brian Fuentes entered a 6-5 game against the Mariners and pulled out his 10th save in outstanding fashion by striking out all three batters.

Finally, Heath Bell kept pace with Broxton notching his 10th save in another perfect inning. Bell has been the best closer overall in 2009. He has pitched 16 perfect innings, 18 Ks, and a WHIP of 0.80. I'm sure Sabermetrics guys are digesting all those numbers, and I will state that the day Sabermetrics can tell me that Heath Bell will do what he's doing, I'll say sign me!

One more note, Fernando Rodney and BJ Ryan both made appearances. Ryan gave up a couple of hits, but no runs. Rodney pitched a perfect inning.

Kerry Wood Gets Abused By Blue Jays

Kerry Wood's fastball was ineffective against the Blue Jays and his command was suspect. He gave up two runs on on two hits and a walk. He did look impressive striking out Wells, but outside of that it was a terrible outing for Wood.

Jensen Lewis got the save in the 12th inning, relieving Perez and striking out Aaron Hill to end the inning. Lewis looked very good, but I do not feel that there is any threat to Wood's job. Yet.

It was his first blown save of the season.

Cleveland Indians Closer Report

Kerry Wood recorded his first save today. While he didn't get any strikeouts, his command looked good and his velocity was average. Jensen Lewis got the win by blowing the save in the 7th.

Kerry Wood still worries up, so keep Lewis and Betancourt on your scout team till further notice.

Closers In Line

With many closers starting off quite poorly, there are a few setup men out there that can evolve into serviceable closers. Manny Corpas(COL)- Huston Street is leaving off right where he left off last year. 5.40 ERA and 2.40 WHIP. When Billy Beane gets rid of you he knows your best days are behind you. Corpas has been lights out so far. Not allowing any runs and has a WHIP under .50. Corpas will be the closer by mid-May. Michael Wuertz(OAK)- Everyone is starting to catch on to Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine has visited Dr. James Andrews which is never good. There are a ton of young arms out there in Oakland but as of right now Wuertz has been the front runner to replace Ziegler assuming he doesn't turn it around. Wuertz only owned in 3% of Yahoo leagues. Jensen Lewis(CLE)- This is a long shot but Kerry Wood is one blister on his finger from being out for the season. Jensen has not been great to start the year but last year he closed 13 of 14 games for the Tribe. Keep Jensen on your watch list he's only owned in 2% of Yahoo leagues. Scout Berardi