Tampa Bay Closer Situation -- Who will get the gig?

[Joseph Tweeks]

It looks like Tampa Bay has given Izzy the shot at the job. But he couldn't throw a strike tonight and blew the game. As bad as Izzy was in St. Louis, I don't understand why they would go with him.

Regardless, who does everybody think will get the job and why? Izzy? Nelson? Wheeler? Balfour? Somebody else?

Personally, I think Wheeler is the best of the bunch. He got off to a bad start, but has been great in May.

[mac-unit]

Izzy was bad last year. He still had 8 solid years so I would guess Maddon likes the track record. But Izzy has to work his way back into it after being injured, I don't think he will hold the job for long now but he may take it back eventually.

[AussieDodger]

Howell is the best pitcher in that pen.
Whether or not he has the chops to take the job and run with it is another question.

[JTWood]

You should read daullaz's article.

It was good enough to get linked on Yahoo by Behrens.

[raiders_umpire]

Howell is the best pitcher in that pen.
.

100% correct. Whether or not Maddon names him the closer is a different story though.

[Joseph Tweeks]

Isn't the issue that Howell is the only left in the bullpen? It's hard to make the guy the closer without other lefty options in that pen.

[raiders_umpire]

Isn't the issue that Howell is the only left in the bullpen? It's hard to make the guy the closer without other lefty options in that pen.

Choate is on the 25 man roster right now while Shouse is on the DL.

[Slow Pitch]

How bout Percival????

[Cards07Champs]

I know he's in the rotation right now, but is Niemann still a darkhorse option?

Wade Davis is still knocking on the door. Putting Niemann out there as a long term option and sliding Davis and Price into the rotation with Shields, Garza and Sonnanstine sure would be enticing if I were Freidman.

[deerayfan072]

I know he's in the rotation right now, but is Niemann still a darkhorse option?

Wade Davis is still knocking on the door. Putting Niemann out there as a long term option and sliding Davis and Price into the rotation with Shields, Garza and Sonnanstine sure would be enticing if I were Freidman.

Only problem wit Niemann in that spot is that he tends to struggle early because it takes him a bit to get comfortable. They have been tweaking his pregame routine and have him throwing a simulated inning before he starts to get him in the groove. From his last 2 starts you can see it has worked, but you don't have that much time when you are coming in to close.