Crippler wrote: I'm not sure what you would really expect though...doesnt a coach always need to have someone warming up in the pen just in case? I mean if Howell walks the bases loaded, it would be nice to have someone warm enough to replace him...
Since he didnt struggle at all (retiring 4 straight batters), I think its safe to call him the closer. As with just about every team, they will have another option to take over (izzy) if he struggles a lot in the future.
I dont see anyone warming when Papelbon, Krod, Nathan, Jenks, Capps, Broxton, Rivera, etc. are pitching. If someone is the "closer" i don't typically see a coach warming someone. You go with a guy.
As far as Howell, he is def pitching the best and hopefully that means Maddon gives him more shots, but he still likes his matchups.
That's just it, it's not like Maddon has annointed Howell as "closer." Maddon just doesn't think that way. He's certainly a better manager than Acta's annointing MacDougal out of nowhere (that's a disaster waiting to happen). Plus, why would Maddon want to put added pressure on Howell if Howell hasn't really even had an opportunity to take the role by the horns?
I think what Crippler, I, and other Howell advocates are saying is that it looks like Howell is basically the one that Maddon wants to take this thing. Hell, the whole TB community seems to want this, so if Howell keeps pitching like he has over the past two years (and you all should really see that he's been the best bullpen arm not just this year, but last year really too, especially when you factor in consistency), he looks like the guy to beat.
Does anyone seriously think if Howell's pitching alright, Maddon's going to go to Wheeler if a righty comes up, or Choate if a lefty comes up? The point is, even granting that Maddon likes his matchups (his pulling Wheeler for Choate a couple of times confirms this), he does not seem to think this way with Howell, which makes Howell a somewhat clear favorite at this point.
As for the whole "guy warming up" business, I don't think anyone's seriously claiming that Howell is the closer like Papelbon, Rivera, and Krod are closers. Jenks definitely pitching sometimes with people warming up behind him, lest we forget Ozzie Guillen's notorious lack of confidence. Same with Gregg, Rodney, others. While these warm up aren't necessarily as the inning begins, the point is that when someone's trying to take the closer's role in an open situation, that someone is warming up behind them shouldn't be a surprise, or a cause to say, "he's not a legitimate contender." In the mind of any manager with a closer situation, a pitcher won't jump from closer candidate to no-questions-asked closer in a day.
And back when Capps, Jenks, hell, Papelbon and Rivera (likely, someone would have to do the research) were in the process of taking the closers role, that another pitcher may have been warming up behind them wouldn't be shocking.
Jason Isringhausen was pulled in the top of the ninth inning Saturday with an apparent right arm injury. Izzy hurled an extremely wild pitch and almost immediately headed for the dugout with his arm dangling. It sounds like he'll be headed back to the disabled list.
Jason Isringhausen was pulled in the top of the ninth inning Saturday with an apparent right arm injury. Izzy hurled an extremely wild pitch and almost immediately headed for the dugout with his arm dangling. It sounds like he'll be headed back to the disabled list.
A day earlier and a whole lot of conversation would have been prevented. A "dangling" arm just does not sound good.
Rockies reliever Taylor Buchholz suffered a setback in his return from a right elbow injury according to Patrick Saunders, and could be out for the year. Could Buchholz's injury impact the Rockies' decision to move closer Huston Street if they maintain their current hot streak?
I imagine that the Astros wanted to ease Valverde back into things without plunging him into a pressured save situation immediately. Not as though there was a real rush to get Hawkins out of the role.
Rockies reliever Taylor Buchholz suffered a setback in his return from a right elbow injury according to Patrick Saunders, and could be out for the year. Could Buchholz's injury impact the Rockies' decision to move closer Huston Street if they maintain their current hot streak?
So if/when Street gets traded, does this make Corpas the lock to close now in Col?
The Rays have placed Isringhausen on the 60-day DL with a strained right elbow, the team's official site reports. Spin: Isringhausen will have an MRI on Monday, which should provide more clarity on his injury. Either way, it looks like the veteran reliever will be out for some time.
Rangers placed RHP Frank Francisco on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 4, with right shoulder tendinitis. His throwing session today must not have gone very well. Francisco could return as soon as Friday, but the Rangers would be foolish to let him rush back again. C.J. Wilson will close in his absence
Taylor Buchholz
Taylor Buchholz will undergo Tommy John surgery for the damaged ligament in his right elbow. That Buchholz tried to rehab after initially being diagnosed with a sprained ligament on March 5 will likely cost him half of 2010. "I was hoping this could be avoided. That’s why we waited this long,’’ Buchholz said. "Looking back, I guess you could say I could have had this done three months ago. But we were hopeful.’’
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by Crippler » Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:53 pm 
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