Belisle is OFFICIALLY the new Closer

[Secret Avatar]

Reds.MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports Cincinnati Reds P Matt Belisle is the team's new closer.

If you need saves, go get him if you haven't already. His skill set shows he's unlikely to be a top-tier closer, but he has been throwing very well lately and could post decent-to-solid closer numbers in the second half.

[Box]

Of all the guys who have come out of nowhere to close this season, I think he scares me the most. 9 longballs in only 53 IP.

[ab]

Yeah, I'm not picking him up just yet...and I'm pretty desperate for saves.

[phunkadelic]

You have to take into account, he's been shuffled around more this season than a 20-year old deck of cards.

He's been in long relief, a set-up guy, a starter, a closer, you name it. His stast have suffered becuase of his PT instability.

He's by no means, an ace pitcher, but his skill is higher than his numbers indicate. I've actually been pushing for the last couple of months for the Reds to at least give him a shot at closing. He's a much better pitcher than Weathers ever will be.

That said, I still wouldn't put anymore stock in him keeping a full-time job than I do in Tyler Walker or Chris Reitsma right now.

[macca]

I don't know if you can really look at those numbers to tell whether or not he will be an effective closer. Yes, he has given up alot of runs, but most came when he was a starter. And if you look at his numbers since Gullet(the pitching coach) was fired and Narron took over as manager, he is pretty lights out. He has given up 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 run and 3 Ks in 6.1 innings of work over 6 appearances. The lone run he gave up(along with one of the hits and the only walk) came in a non save situation. If you are desperate for saves, I see no reason not to add him.

[Philliebuster]

May I suggest at least you pick him up and put him on your bench....with your mentality....by the time you determine that he is worthy of your squad....he'll be gone.

Yeah, I'm not picking him up just yet...and I'm pretty desperate for saves.

[cordscords]

He's a former starter moving into a closing gig. History tells me that makes for a great closer

So I'll throw this out there- Why no Schilling for closer love?

[ravenmad22]

I waited on Dempster, MacDOugal, Turnbow and all the other out of nowhere closers because the "sucked" according you many people on this board. Screw that, I've already added this guy. He can't be any worse than my current closers (Bruney and Ty Walker)

[go_jays_go]

I think this kid will be decent. I'm glad he was officially named closer because I picked him up in most of my leagues.

But I was wondering one thing, How do you pronounce his last name?

Does it sound like Be-LIE-ul?

[mamorris]

Yeah, you got the pronunciation right, but I think it's much cooler if you say it like Snoop would ("Belizzle").