Latroy Hawkins...

[madstork43]

Is there any word if he is going to be the club's close or is Chris Ray the guy in Baltimore?

[checkers]

I have Chris Ray as the closer.. Hawkins the SU guy.. GL!

[madstork43]

thanks for the post...

anyone have anything else?

[TheOmen]

Ray is the closer, but keep tabs on Hawkins if he struggles.

[lefty31mazur]

I think Ray is under-rated...if you are looking for a backup guy that might pick up saves this is not the first bullpen to watch.

[madstork43]

which is the bullpen to watch

[JakeTrain72]

Chris is the closer in Balt. Hawkins will only close if it is a Ray would be pitching 4/5 days in a row situation.

You don't want Hawkins if he closes anyway.

Keep an eye on Seattle and SD that have pretty clear cut guys who will get the saves and be decent if the closer goes down. SF is another that may not turn into a by-committee as well. Most of the other situations: Cin, Atl, Fla, Phi, Bal that may see their closer go down are more probable to be by-committee.

[madstork43]

so are you thinking rafael soriano is seattle and linebrink in san diego?

[The Loveable Losers]

Here's my list off the top of my head of volatile closer situations with definite #2 guys that have the stuff to succeed (in no particular order)

Sea- Rafael Soriano replacing not-so-everyday Eddie due to injury
LAA- Scott Shields replacing KRod due to injury
SD- Scott Linebrink replacing Hoffman due to a local AARP convention
Det- Fernando Rodney replacing Todd Jones due to the same AARP convention
Fla- Bowyer replacing Borowski due to ineffectiveness
LAD- Baez replacing Gagne due to injury
Atl- Devine replacing Reitsma due to ineffectiveness

That pretty much covers my list there. Obviously there are other closers that may lose jobs but I only listed guys that I'd be happy about having on my team (not scrubs like Miceli, Tyler Walker, etc).

[madstork43]

nice list...

i would have to agree with your list...nicely done.

here are a few that you could also consider...

Potential Closers:
Adam Burgos (Royals) for McDougal who is hurt and Affeldt...well...
Jonathon Broxton (Dodgers) outside chance to close in the future
Fernando Cabrera (Cleveland) for Wickman
Craig Hansen (Red Sox) for Foulke/Timlin

among others...