2011 CLOSERS THREAD

[wrveres]

Arizona Diamondbacks RP Juan Gutierrez is expected to be the front-runner for the team's eighth-inning role, with RP J.J. Putz ticketed to be the closer, according to Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. RPs David Hernandez, Kam Mickolio and Brian Sweeney could also be counted on to play big roles out of the bullpen

http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=692361 ... ed-bullpen

[Fenris-77]

Wow, how many RPs do the Jays actually need? Now they have Francisco, Rauch, Dotel, Frasor, and Villanueva who all have some closing potential. I have to think another move is coming there...

[Havok1517]

Wow, how many RPs do the Jays actually need? Now they have Francisco, Rauch, Dotel, Frasor, and Villanueva who all have some closing potential. I have to think another move is coming there...

There were rumors that Frasor could be dealt, to the Cubs I last heard.

[dAnzac]

Wow, how many RPs do the Jays actually need? Now they have Francisco, Rauch, Dotel, Frasor, and Villanueva who all have some closing potential. I have to think another move is coming there...

There were rumors that Frasor could be dealt, to the Cubs I last heard.

Did you hear they were interested?

[wrveres]

Wow, how many RPs do the Jays actually need? Now they have Francisco, Rauch, Dotel, Frasor, and Villanueva who all have some closing potential. I have to think another move is coming there...

There were rumors that Frasor could be dealt, to the Cubs I last heard.

Did you hear they were interested?

ftw

[wrveres]

The best general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, said Tuesday, Jan. 25, that newly acquired RP Frank Francisco will get a chance to close in Spring Training, reports Stephen Hawkins, of The Associated Press. "Frank Francisco is a guy we've liked for quite some time," Anthopoulos said. "He has closing experience and will compete for a chance to close. This is going to be an open competition. Francisco is likely to battle offseason acquisitions RPs Octavio Dotel and Jon Rauch for the job
http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=692614 ... closer-job

[wrveres]

Neftali Feliz will have a chance to earn a rotation spot this spring. According to Hardball Talk, assistant general manager Thad Levine explained the situation on Sirius XM on Tuesday night. "[Neftali Feliz] is going to come into spring training stretched out as a starter. Hell get every opportunity to compete for a rotation spot... He's going to have to be awful impressive because I think our manager sure likes him pitching the last three outs of the game."
http://ownersedge.fanball.com/mlb/playe ... tes#174254

[LMack]

Neftali Feliz will have a chance to earn a rotation spot this spring. According to Hardball Talk, assistant general manager Thad Levine explained the situation on Sirius XM on Tuesday night. "[Neftali Feliz] is going to come into spring training stretched out as a starter. Hell get every opportunity to compete for a rotation spot... He's going to have to be awful impressive because I think our manager sure likes him pitching the last three outs of the game."
http://ownersedge.fanball.com/mlb/playe ... tes#174254

If Feliz starts, who closes? Alexi Ogando?

[Havok1517]

Neftali Feliz will have a chance to earn a rotation spot this spring. According to Hardball Talk, assistant general manager Thad Levine explained the situation on Sirius XM on Tuesday night. "[Neftali Feliz] is going to come into spring training stretched out as a starter. Hell get every opportunity to compete for a rotation spot... He's going to have to be awful impressive because I think our manager sure likes him pitching the last three outs of the game."
http://ownersedge.fanball.com/mlb/playe ... tes#174254

If Feliz starts, who closes? Alexi Ogando?

Yes or with some possibility given to Lowe though if Feliz moves to the rotation I gotta think Scheppers could be considered.

[wrveres]

from OC Register.
http://angels.ocregister.com/2011/01/14 ... day/71024/

The Angels will go into camp without what we might call a true closer. Rather, they’ll have at least three, and perhaps five guys who could close but who would be back-to-back blown saves away from losing fans’ faith. Unless one guy takes the job and runs away with it, it has the potential to be a simmering closer controversy, all season long, as fans (and I) flit from one preference to another.

Might as well start now.

Jordan Walden:

* Pros: Ridiculous strikeout rate in MLB last year; 101 mph; closer of the future, so future might as well start now.
* Cons: His minor league stats look like Fernando Rodney, except against Double-A competition; only 15 big league innings.

Scott Downs:

* Pros: Ninth-best ERA in baseball over past three years, ahead of Rafael Soriano, Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, Brian Wilson…
* Cons: He’s 35 but still hasn’t earned his Proven Closer merit badge. He has a pretty big platoon split in his career, though not so bad since he converted to relief.

Hisanori Takahashi:

* Pros: After converting to relief full-time in August, he had a 1.32 ERA in 24 appearances, and went eight for eight in save opportunities.
* Cons: He can throw multiple innings and might even be the Angels’ sixth starter in a pinch, and restricting him to a save-defined role would waste his versatility; no merit badge.

Kevin Jepsen:

* Pros: He’s been burned by unlucky BABIPs the past two years, but his 2.95 FIP the past two years puts him up among the best relievers in the game. Great stuff, another closer-of-the-future type, etc.
* Cons: Yeah, I know. Not one of you is going to vote for Jepsen, not with his 4.43 career ERA and wildness last season. I think he’d be fine, though.

Fernando Rodney:

* Pros: Proven Closer.
* Cons: Proven Not Very Good Pitcher. Hasn’t had an ERA under 4 since 2006, and strikeout rate is plummeting.

cross posted