2009 Closers Thread (No Game Commentary Please)

[theplayer11]

Rodney strikes out the side for the save

[silverZ]

BJ is looking terrible. Velocity is where it was last year but his control is horrible.

[killertofu2222]

uh oh bj is blowing it

no pun intended

[RenPastana]

What else would you expect from someone named BJ besides BLOWN saves? hehehe

[Slow Pitch]

It is clear Scott Downs should be closing.

BJ sucks.

.2 IP 3 runs, 2 hits 3 BBs. This guy is terrible.

Down to be closing by April 20th.

[DaShiz23]

me loves it! I got Downs on two of my teams

[TheBambino]

This is absolutely horrible.... what is up with him? Does anyone know anything.... he was pretty good last year

I dont know what to do ... i have 3 closer spots and have ryan occupying one of them and downs on my bench... who is running with the ball from now on? hes killing my era so far!

[StarsNPinstripes]

Jason Motte Update
From Rotoworld:

Apr. 11 - 4:38 pm et
According to manager Tony LaRussa, Jason Motte will work outside of ninth inning for the next couple of days.

Motte has been very shaky in two appearances, including getting pulled from a save attempt on Friday night. "One of the things we need to do is to get Jason some work," LaRussa said. "So I wouldn't be surprised if, whether it's today or tomorrow, he pitches sometimes other than the ninth. (We're) not going to hold him back when he needs work."

[NittanyLions1]

Jason Motte Update
From Rotoworld:

Apr. 11 - 4:38 pm et
According to manager Tony LaRussa, Jason Motte will work outside of ninth inning for the next couple of days.

Motte has been very shaky in two appearances, including getting pulled from a save attempt on Friday night. "One of the things we need to do is to get Jason some work," LaRussa said. "So I wouldn't be surprised if, whether it's today or tomorrow, he pitches sometimes other than the ninth. (We're) not going to hold him back when he needs work."

From the Cardinals.com Larussa also said...

"That's why closer is one of the things that we tried to work on [during the offseason]," La Russa said. "So what you're seeing is a guy -- and if Chris [Perez] was here, he'd be doing the same thing -- guys that need to work into it. He had an opening-game attempt that didn't work. Yesterday was [difficult]. So that's why I said, 'We'll make sure he gets enough work.' We're very high on both of those guys. But they should be worked in there."

So what does that mean for Perez then...will he be up soon and start 'working in' or are they going to continue to 'work him in' in the minors??

[hookem2003]

Would it be worth dropping Ryan for Downs at this point? Nothing about this situation suggests that this is just a slump.