2008 Closers Thread

[Havok1517]

CLOSING-IN WEEKLY


Since the injury to Matt Capps (Reportedly out for 2 months), Damaso Marte has laid claim to the closers role in Pittsburgh. He is currently 3-3 in save chances and has yet to give up a hit or run in his outings since becoming the closer, though has had given up 1 walk in each opp. Marte has always had good stuff and even spent time closing with the White Sox before moving to the Pirates. So, if you have the room and are thinking about who the guy in Pit is...its Marte. Something to remember is that the Pirates have a $6 million dollar club option on Marte for 2009 which is a $4 million dollar raise from the $2 million dollars he is earning now. Because of this, and because the Pirates are non-contenders and a low payroll team, Marte is a likely trade candidate and when Capps gets back from his injury he is almost assured to get his job back even if Marte is still on the team or not. If Marte is traded he will more than likely find himself in a setup position on a contending team which will pretty much tank any value Marte currently has.
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Rock Solid
Solid
Safe
Shaky
Volatile
Current Closer
Closer-of-the-Future
Destined for Rotation
Trade Candidate
Looking over his shoulder
Injured/Disabled
Suspended/Bereavement

AL EAST

= G. Sherrill , J. Walker , C. Bradford, J. Johnson, F. Cabrera
= J. Papelbon , H. Okajima, M. Delcarmen, C. Hansen
= M. Rivera , K. Farnsworth, J. Veras
= T. Percival , G. Balfour, D. Wheeler, J. Howell
= B. Ryan , J. Accardo , S. Downs

AL CENTRAL

= B. Jenks , O. Dotel, S. Linebrink, M. Thornton
= M. Kobayashi , R. Betancourt, R. Perez
= T. Jones , J. Zumaya , F. Rodney
= J. Soria , R. Mahay, R. Ramirez
= J. Nathan , J. Crain, D. Reyes


AL WEST

= F. Rodriguez , S. Shields, J. Arredondo
= H. Street , S. Casilla , [color=red]J. Devine
= J. Putz , B. Morrow , A. Rhodes
= C. Wilson , E. Guardado, J. Benoit

NL EAST

= M. Gonzalez , R. Soriano , M. Acosta
= K. Gregg , M. Lindstrom, T. Tankersley, R. Pinto
= B. Wagner , A. Heilman , D. Sanchez
= B. Lidge , R. Madsen, T. Gordon
= J. Rauch , J. Colome, J. Hanrahan


NL CENTRAL

= K. Wood , C. Marmol, B. Howry
= F. Cordero , J. Burton, B. Bray
= J. Valverde , D. Brocail, G. Geary
= E. Gagne, S. Torres, G. Mota, C. Villanueva
= M. Capps , D. Marte , T. Yates, S. Burnett
= R. Franklin , J. Isringhausen, C. Perez ,


NL WEST

= B. Lyon , T. Pena , C. Qualls
= B. Fuentes , M. Corpas, T. Buchholtz
= T. Saito , J. Broxton , H. Kuo
= T. Hoffman , H. Bell, C. Meredith
= B. Wilson , A. Hinshaw, M. Valdez

Extended Injuries

Braves = John Smoltz, Peter Moylan
Nationals = Chad Cordero
Orioles = Chris Ray , Denys Baez
Twins = Pat Neshek

Potential Closers-of-the-Future

Orioles = Jim Hoey (RHP)
Red Sox = Craig Hansen (RHP), Bryson Cox (RHP)
Yankees = Humberto Sanchez (RHP), Mark Melancon (RHP), J. Brent Cox (RHP), Anthony Claggett (RHP), Kevin Whelan (RHP), Gerrit Cole (RHP)
Devil Rays = Chad Orvella (RHP), Eduardo Morlan (RHP), Juan Salas (RHP)
Blue Jays = Brandon League (RHP)

Indians = Tony Sipp (LHP), Jensen Lewis (RHP), Rafael Perez (LHP), Rob Bryson (RHP)
White Sox = Adam Russell (RHP)
Tigers = Ryan Perry (RHP)
Royals = Ryan Bruan (RHP), Yasuhiko Yabuta (RHP)
Twins = Carlos Gutierrez (RHP)

Angels = Warner Madrigal (RHP)
Athletics = Sam Demel (RHP)
Mariners = Josh Fields (RHP)
Rangers = Kazuo Fukumori (RHP), Thomas Diamond (RHP)

Braves = John Smoltz (RHP)
Marlins = Logan Kensing (RHP), Brett Sinkbeil (RHP), Travis Bowyer (RHP), Eulogio De La Cruz (RHP), Taylor Tankersley (LHP)
Mets = Eddie Kunz (RHP)
Phillies = Joe Bisenius (RHP), Scott Mathieson (RHP)
Nationals = Emiliano Fruto (RHP), Zechry Zinicola (RHP), Chris Booker (RHP)

Cubs = Angel Guzman (RHP), Jeff Samardzija (RHP), Andrew Cashner (RHP)
Reds = Thomas Pauley (RHP), Sean Watson (RHP), Josh Roenicke (RHP)
Astros = Felipe Paulino (RHP), Fernando Nieve (RHP)
Brewers = Mark Rogers (RHP), Jeremy Jeffress (RHP)
Pirates = Romulo Sanchez (RHP)
Cardinals = Matt Clement (RHP)

Diamondbacks = Maxwell Scherzer (RHP), Daniel Schlereth (LHP)
Rockies = Casey Weathers (RHP), Juan Morillo (RHP)
Dodgers = Jonathan Meloan (RHP)
Padres = Wynn Pelzer (RHP), Will Startup (LHP)
Giants = Merkin Valdez (RHP)

Possible 2009 Closers (based on current closer being a FA and having a capable incumbent)
SD - Heath Bell
DET - Joel Zumaya
CLE - Masahide Kobayashi
STL - Chris Perez


Possible Future Japanese Imports

Chiba Lott Marines - Kazuya Fukuura (LHP)
Chunichi Dragons - Hitoki Iwase (LHP)
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks - Takahiro Mahara (RHP)
Hashin Tigers - Kyuji Fujikawa (LHP)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp - Katsuhiro Nagakawa (RHP)
Orix Buffaloes - Daisuke Katoh (RHP)
Yakult Swallows - Hirotoshi Ishii (LHP), Ryota Igarashi (RHP), C.Y. Lim (RHP)
Yokohama BayStars - Hayato Terahara (RHP)
Yomiuri Giants - Kiyoshi Toyoda (RHP)

[Snakes Gould]

nice work as always...lets keep the game commentary out of this one

[AussieDodger]

That's beautiful

I have one question/comment....

You have Joaquin Benoit down as safe for Texas , and at the end of last year a lot of fantasy sites were in love with C J Wilson.
I think he was considered the incumbent at season's end , and Yahoo still has him at #1.

You value C.J. and having our own guy that will be here for a long time being in that role, but you don't want to hand the job to young guys," Daniels said. "You want them to earn it.

Texas also just signed Everyday Eddie , so my opinion would be that this one is completely up in the air.

Do you have a good source for your safe rating , or are all your ratings gut feeling?

[Havok1517]

That's beautiful

I have one question/comment....

You have Joaquin Benoit down as safe for Texas , and at the end of last year a lot of fantasy sites were in love with C J Wilson.
I think he was considered the incumbent at season's end , and Yahoo still has him at #1.

You value C.J. and having our own guy that will be here for a long time being in that role, but you don't want to hand the job to young guys," Daniels said. "You want them to earn it.

Texas also just signed Everyday Eddie , so my opinion would be that this one is completely up in the air.

Do you have a good source for your safe rating , or are all your ratings gut feeling?

A little bit of both. Benoit was the main closer at the end of the year and he has better stuff imo. You're are right though, I should adjust the situation though. Guardado is going to be lucky to get on the field. Watching him in Cincy has told me not to trust him until he proves differently.

[os_gamejunkie]

This is a great thread..good work.

Just one note on the Cubs closer though. With the Cubs renting Lieber for a year, I would think Dempster will be closing again this year backed up by Howry then either Wood/Marmol. Marmol does have filthy stuff, but I'm not if he's closer material yet or if Lou does either.

[deerayfan072]

Sticky

Havok - I love Orvella, but I think the Rays have given up on him closing. I think Salas, Eduardo Morlan, and a converted starter would get the shot over him.

Great job with this as usual. Always helps me pick up the guys I need to in my money league

[AussieDodger]

Eduardo Morlan

There's a great dark horse pick. He could turn out to be terrific. But I think he'd need more then 4 innings at AA before he comes up.
Maybe the closer in 2009.

[in10s]

Baseball Season must be on the way since my favorite thread in the entire cafe is back. Great stuff as always Havok.

My only question is why you have Saito as (looking over his shoulder) Last spring everyone said '06 was a fluke, but he did even better in '07.

Are you concerned about his age? (38 on 2/14) Hoffman at 39 was still amazing last year (except in those last games when it counted!) Or is it something else?

[Havok1517]

Baseball Season must be on the way since my favorite thread in the entire cafe is back. Great stuff as always Havok.

My only question is why you have Saito as (looking over his shoulder) Last spring everyone said '06 was a fluke, but he did even better in '07.

Are you concerned about his age? (38 on 2/14) Hoffman at 39 was still amazing last year (except in those last games when it counted!) Or is it something else?

Well, let me first say I'm not concerned about results per say but I am concerned about his age, shoulder, and the fact that he probably has the 2 best guys behind him (Broxton & Meloan) on any teams in terms of future closers.

[Pogotheostrich]

Chris Perez is the closer of the future for the Cardinals.