Maddon said he "would not be surprised" if Percival decides to retire. Also, Maddon said they will not designate anyone, such as Jason Isringhausen, to replace Percvial but will use "the whole bullpen" to finish games.
Sorry if this has been posted already - this thread has really filled up with too many redundant questions plus silly commentary. Personally, I'd be a little shocked if Izzy wins it. His numbers in a brief stint in AAA this season are quite uninspiring. Unless his arm shows some life (anyone know?), it's hard to imagine he'll be given first shot at it. He'll have to earn it + others ahead of him falter?
Maddon said he "would not be surprised" if Percival decides to retire. Also, Maddon said they will not designate anyone, such as Jason Isringhausen, to replace Percvial but will use "the whole bullpen" to finish games.
Sorry if this has been posted already - this thread has really filled up with too many redundant questions plus silly commentary. Personally, I'd be a little shocked if Izzy wins it. His numbers in a brief stint in AAA this season are quite uninspiring. Unless his arm shows some life (anyone know?), it's hard to imagine he'll be given first shot at it. He'll have to earn it + others ahead of him falter?
Who is ahead of him that has been any good? Maddon loves vets and he said numerous times in Spring that Izzy was going to be needed later in the season. The time has come where Percy is done and Maddon has to go to someone else, which was why Izzy was brought in. His numbers may look uninspiring, but when you look closer it was really one game that made them look bad. He had 7 IP and gave up 4 runs, with 3 coming in one game that he pitched 2 innings in. Like I said before, he may not get the first shot because Maddon will use matchups to start, but over time he will be the guy IMO.
racrzeke wrote:Dan Wheeler who filled in last year for Percival
Wheeler is not very good. He is not a closer. His numbers when put in the closers role are terrible. He is ahead of other guys in the rotation because he is a vet and has done it before, but he is not fit to be the closer.
Maddon's words do make it sound like he's thinking Isringhausen as the long-term closer this year, with a committee approach until he's ready -- or at least that he's hoping Izzy will show he's ready.
And then there's Jason Isringhausen. One of the reasons the Rays signed the veteran closer to a minor-league deal during spring training was to serve as insurance for Percival, but Maddon said Friday he didn't want to "just thrust him into that role; he hasn't been there in a while."
The Rays have yet to see Isringhausen, who was activated from the disabled list Monday, work in a high-pressure situation. But if he shows he can approach the form that helped him accumulate 293 career saves, they will be open-minded.
"It's certainly feasible that he takes the position over and goes out the rest of the year and pitches the ninth inning, but we're not setting those expectations right now," said Friedman. "We're just going to continue to do it the way we have on days that Percy's been down and see if someone emerges."
MissingOakley wrote:Maddon's words do make it sound like he's thinking Isringhausen as the long-term closer this year, with a committee approach until he's ready -- or at least that he's hoping Izzy will show he's ready.
And then there's Jason Isringhausen. One of the reasons the Rays signed the veteran closer to a minor-league deal during spring training was to serve as insurance for Percival, but Maddon said Friday he didn't want to "just thrust him into that role; he hasn't been there in a while."
The Rays have yet to see Isringhausen, who was activated from the disabled list Monday, work in a high-pressure situation. But if he shows he can approach the form that helped him accumulate 293 career saves, they will be open-minded.
"It's certainly feasible that he takes the position over and goes out the rest of the year and pitches the ninth inning, but we're not setting those expectations right now," said Friedman. "We're just going to continue to do it the way we have on days that Percy's been down and see if someone emerges."
Really? I read that and hear Madden begging for Izzy to step up and win the role. But yeah, it doesn't appear that Izzy will get the first shot.
do people still see chris ray getting saves at some point this season? seems like people have given up on him. also, sherill has supposedly found and fixed a flaw in his mechanics and has been tolerable as of late. looks like he'll be the closer for a while.
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by GHirsch516 » Sat May 23, 2009 4:52 pm 
