2012 CLOSERS THREAD (1ST HALF)

[Justin_Case]

We should discuss a righty/lefty situation that actually has a chance to be a platoon...

What are you guys thinking about Minnesota?

Yeah I have Capps and grabbed Perkins but I'm tempted to swap Perkins for Burton. Most fantasy analysts I've read expected Perkins to fill in as closer but nobody is really sure and Gardenhire announced a committee.

Today the Twins face a lineup that has 3 LHB (#1, #3, #6) so only the top of the order would have 2/3 LHB. So does that mean that as long as the Sox don't start the 9th with their leadoff hitter that we will see Burton because there will be more RHB than LHBs due up?

[West]

If they continue to play strictly matchups Burton would see more chances on average. At this point it's a tossup. Funny thing is, Perkins has actually been stronger vs. RHB this year. (.625 OPS against vs. .605). His splits vs. lefties and righties for his career are also very close.

[Millhouse]

We should discuss a righty/lefty situation that actually has a chance to be a platoon...

What are you guys thinking about Minnesota?

Yeah I have Capps and grabbed Perkins but I'm tempted to swap Perkins for Burton. Most fantasy analysts I've read expected Perkins to fill in as closer but nobody is really sure and Gardenhire announced a committee.

Today the Twins face a lineup that has 3 LHB (#1, #3, #6) so only the top of the order would have 2/3 LHB. So does that mean that as long as the Sox don't start the 9th with their leadoff hitter that we will see Burton because there will be more RHB than LHBs due up?

And Burton has gone a bunch lately, I think, so Perkins should get save chance regardless tonight if it arises.

[SpecialFNK]

if you want to go back and check all of my previous posts (as far as I remember) I don't think I've ever said Frieri couldn't end up being the only closer for the Angles. my main point all along was based on what the actual Angels manager Mike Scioscia was doing, and that was using both Downs and Frieri based on LH/RH match ups. there was a time when Scioscia was using both of them and it was working as they were both successful. it didn't matter what fans or "expecrts" thought the Angles should do, the manager of the team was using 2 guys to close games. I still have not yet seen Scioscia come out sand say Frieri is THE MAN even if it may seem like it now.
I've also never said Frieri couldn't get the job done. I have no doubt that he can be a successful closer. I just don't think he's going to end up being an elite closer based on what he's done for the rest of his career.
just to be clear.
now even if Downs is not closing he could/should still be rostered even in a standard mixed league. he has incredible ERA/WHIP.

[rotoquest]

Axford is pitching in the 8th in a tie game. Interesting

[Bravos of Steel]

Axford is pitching in the 8th in a tie game. Interesting

Precisely my thoughts. Interesting...changing of the guard?

[Crippler]

from June 10th to June 19th Downs was unavailable because of an injury. prior to that he was getting save opportunities.
lets see what happens WHEN Frieri hits a rough spot. he wasn't this dominant when he pitched in the NL for the Padres in one of the best pitchers parks in baseball. there are numbers to suggest that Frieri can't continue this. 93.4 LOB%, .204 BABIP, 27.3 LD%, plus 4.81 BB/9.
Aroldis Chapman was dominant earlier in the season, not so much now eh.

another topic.
when Kylie Farnsworth returns, what will be his role? he was the closer, but right now Fernando Rodney has been pretty damn good.
does Madden return Farnsworth to the closers role once he is healthy? ease him back into the closers role? or keep Rodney as the closer for the rest of the season?

Yeah, including his recent struggles, he's got a 1.98 ERA and 64/14 K/BB ratio through 36 1/3 innings. What a worthless waste of a roster spot he's been for me.

You're definitely the guy I want to listen to when it comes to closer opinions. Downs will get half the saves and Chapman sucks...got it.

And no...Rodney won't be giving up his closer position unless he implodes, and there is no reason to think that he will implode.

[SpecialFNK]

did I say Chapman sucks? did I say he was going to be useless for the rest of the season? no I didn't.
key words.. not so much now. meaning he WAS dominating earlier in the season when he had yet to allow a run.
how do his months break down. lets take a look. not including tonight.
April - 0.00 ERA, 0.73 WHIP
May - 0.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP
June - 7.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP.
in June he has 17 K in 9.1 IP. awesome, but he also has 9 hits and 8 ER.
I'm not suggesting he isn't going to be effective, or that he again can't be dominant.

my whole point was connected with Frieri, who has yet to allow a run with the Angles. Chapman WAS dominating, but then hit a patch where he wasn't, and it wouldn't surprise me that Frieri hits a patch where he allows some runs too.

it's not very often that ANY closer doesn't not only allow runs but also end up with multiple blown saves.
Mariano Rivera is one of the best closers of all time, yet he never had any season in which he did not have a blown save.

[Maris09]

there was a time when Scioscia was using both of them and it was working as they were both successful. it didn't matter what fans or "expects" thought the Angles should do, the manager of the team was using 2 guys to close games.

But it did matter what we were all trying to tell you WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. You just didn't want to see it. Now drop it.

now even if Downs is not closing he could/should still be rostered even in a standard mixed league. he has incredible ERA/WHIP.

Standard? No.
Still just a deeper league option.

[Skin Blues]

Axford is pitching in the 8th in a tie game. Interesting

Precisely my thoughts. Interesting...changing of the guard?

Apparently he was warming up to enter the game because they thought it was the last at-bats for the Reds who were winning 3-0 at the time, and they wanted him to get some work in (hadn't pitched in 4 days). The Brewers ended up tying the game and they brought him in since he was already warm. The result wasn't good, but he had 2 Ks and the only batter to reach base was a home run. I defended him about a week ago when defensive errors turned an otherwise stellar performance into a meltdown, and I still think he's fine. It sucks if you own him (I don't) but for future consideration, I think he's fine. Of course it also matters what the manager thinks, and quite often they don't care how good the performance is if it results in a loss. I think I'd target Axford if I needed saves, though. The onyl real concern to me is the HR rate. The other few games where he's given up runs is just poor luck/sequencing as far as I can tell.