2009 Closers Thread (No Game Commentary Please)

[JimmyBaseball]

Can anyone with knowledge of the STL situation speculate on Franklin's viability as a closer? If he couldn't get a crack at it today despite Motte looking bad, Perez being sent down, and despite getting 17 SVs last season... does TLR just not have faith in him as a closer?

Pregame on the radio Tuesday night La Russa said that he would likely go to Franklin in a save situaiton. He did mention that Motte threw like 29 pitches in the blown save on Monday.

I get the feel that ideally Motte is the closer here. However knowing Tony, no one is always gonna get that save chance. He loves his odds & matchups. Perez is still rehabbing. I think the idea of Motte & Franklin (& Reyes when there's lefties there) both seeing time is likely. In short.... its clear as mud.

[Slow Pitch]

Not a save situation but Downs looked awesome today pitching the 9th w/ a 4 run lead.

1IP 3K's.

[the ROC]

Dennys Reyes picked up the STL save today. impact?

[deerayfan072]

Percy got the save, but gave up a bomb to varitek. I hate that he is still closing for the rays

[Amazing Oopah]

Dennys Reyes picked up the STL save today. impact?

as some have already mentioned in this thread, it's probably LaRussa just playing the lefty matchup in front of him.... I don't think he cares very much about us and our fantasy stats

[StarsNPinstripes]

Trevor Hoffman Update
From Rotoworld:

Apr. 9 - 11:35 am et
Trevor Hoffman (oblique) said he will extend his daily throwing to 120 feet on Thursday.

Hoffman will try to throw from that distance for a few days. If all goes well, he will move on to bullpen sessions. "It's the effort level that will test it," said Hoffman, "in combination with a little bit of distance is probably going to give me an indication of tolerance level. It's been going great so far." He's likely to be out until early May, with Carlos Villanueva continuing to fill in.

[Yoda]

That would have been crazy to let Motte face all those same lefties.

Yeah but it would have been fun for us to watch.

[DaShiz23]

Not a save situation but Downs looked awesome today pitching the 9th w/ a 4 run lead.

1IP 3K's.

He's making it hard for me to drop him, and for some reason, I'm o.k. with that.

[silverZ]

Downs still has plenty of value as a setup man. Ryan won't be used on back to back days as much as possible.

[Havok1517]

I believe there is a coding problem with the poll. I've contacted the mods on the issue.