2009 Closers Thread (No Game Commentary Please)

[BitterDodgerFan]

Who is the best potential closer prospect? Poll ended at Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:41 am

Ryan Perry (Det) 76 Votes 53%
Josh Fields (Sea) 38 Votes 27%
Henry Sosa (SF) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Schlereth (Ari) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Bard (Bos) 7 Votes 5%
Mark Melancon (NYY) 4 Votes 3%
Andrew Cashner (ChC) 2 Votes 1%
Henry Rodriguez (Oak) 6 Votes 4%
Carlos Gutierrez (Min) 3 Votes 2%
OTHER 3 Votes 2%

arrrggghhhhh, i've been keeping my eye on perry but thanks to this probably in 2 of my leagues some manager picked him up.

[rookies and cream]

Who is the best potential closer prospect? Poll ended at Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:41 am

Ryan Perry (Det) 76 Votes 53%
Josh Fields (Sea) 38 Votes 27%
Henry Sosa (SF) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Schlereth (Ari) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Bard (Bos) 7 Votes 5%
Mark Melancon (NYY) 4 Votes 3%
Andrew Cashner (ChC) 2 Votes 1%
Henry Rodriguez (Oak) 6 Votes 4%
Carlos Gutierrez (Min) 3 Votes 2%
OTHER 3 Votes 2%

arrrggghhhhh, i've been keeping my eye on perry but thanks to this probably in 2 of my leagues some manager picked him up.

Perry probably has the most potential of closing this year, but I don't think he is the best prospect on this list. I fact, I'd probably put him 4th or 5th behind Fields, Bard, and Rodriguez.

[kab21]

Carlos Gutierrez will be given every opportunity to make it as a starter by the Twins. From what I've heard the only reason that he was a closer in his junior season in college was because he was coming off TJ and wasn't ready for full-time work in the rotation. He also is a sinkerballer (I was impressed with the movement during the WBC - Puerto Rico) which should lead to being a fairly efficient groundball pitcher (important for a starter, less so for a RP). The key for him will be developing a second pitch (possibly a change or a slider) which he would need regardless of being a starter or reliever.

I rambled but I don't really consider him a closer prospect especially right now that he's going to be given every chance to start.

[foeplay]

Who is the best potential closer prospect? Poll ended at Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:41 am

Ryan Perry (Det) 76 Votes 53%
Josh Fields (Sea) 38 Votes 27%
Henry Sosa (SF) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Schlereth (Ari) 2 Votes 1%
Daniel Bard (Bos) 7 Votes 5%
Mark Melancon (NYY) 4 Votes 3%
Andrew Cashner (ChC) 2 Votes 1%
Henry Rodriguez (Oak) 6 Votes 4%
Carlos Gutierrez (Min) 3 Votes 2%
OTHER 3 Votes 2%

arrrggghhhhh, i've been keeping my eye on perry but thanks to this probably in 2 of my leagues some manager picked him up.

Serious? He's only 1% owned on Yahoo so if that's true they are probably the 1%...haha

[T-Bone Costanza]

Did anyone see Casilla and Ziegler pitch last night? Ziegler gave up a run but from the box score it looks like they let Figgins round the bases (fielder's indifference and I assume no throw to the plate), still he gave up 2 hits and was one swing away from a BS after starting with a 3 run lead. Ziegler did K the last 2 outs though. Anyone see both pitch and can comment?

Edit: Also, Casilla had 1 BB in 2IP and threw 26 pitchers with only 14 for strikes. Was he wild or was he just missing the plate by design?

I didn't get to it in time to see Casilla, but Ziegler did absolutely nothing to worry his owners. He gave the solid single up to Figgins,who they left alone and stole uncontested, not sure if was interference. But then (in Anaheim) Ziegler had to get through a gauntlet of Kendrick, Abreu, Vlad, Hunter with only the single to Abreu. It looked like Abreu did a great job of hitting to get the bat on the ball and hitting it on the ground between ss and 3b. But then he locked in and K'd studs Guerrero and Hunter. Pretty interesting delievery Ziegler has, Vlad especially looked quite fooled.

[beezer]

Do you really see Perry jumping over Lyon, Rodney, and Zumaya this year?

[Yoda]

Do you really see Perry jumping over Lyon, Rodney, and Zumaya this year?

It's possible. I think Zumaya has the best shot TBH.

[Yanks_Baby]

Do you really see Perry jumping over Lyon, Rodney, and Zumaya this year?

It's possible. I think Zumaya has the best shot TBH.

Zumaya is the hardest thrower in the mlb, he deserves the closer role. If he could just stay healthy.

[Dan Lambskin]

Do you really see Perry jumping over Lyon, Rodney, and Zumaya this year?

It's possible. I think Zumaya has the best shot TBH.

Zumaya is the hardest thrower in the mlb, he deserves the closer role. If he could just stay healthy.

...and throw strikes

[Zhangman1]

it's almost as if lou wants gregg to lose the game so he can have an excuse to use marmol to close. i mean that situation was where they needed strikeouts, marmol was perfect for that situation yet he doesn't bring him in.

don't understand why lou would try to make gregg fail when he could have just named marmol the closer...then again who knows what lou was thinking

Anyone know if morrow looked good retiring the 1st 2 batters? frankly IMO his job is safe b/c of the lack of anything behind him.

also, lyon blew 2 of his first 3 save ops last year, then proceeded to run off a good first half in arizona....take that for what its worth

jumping ship is a art we have all mastered here, but it's been 2 days of baseball...let's keep that "drop" finger under check

Lyon was already removed as the closer before the season started and now he has shown why. On top of Rodney currently he has competition from Perry and Zumaya coming up later in the season, if not sooner. I would say Lyon has very little value so I don't think it is overreacting to anything to get rid of him. A one trick pony like him when he is closing isn't worth a whole lot anyway.

how was lyon removed from closer when he got the 1st save opp of the season? Sure you can cut bait on him now if you have better options, but rodney and zumaya aren't any better options