2013 CLOSERS THREAD

[Havok1517]

Rock Solid
Solid
Safe
Shaky
Volatile
Current Closer
Sleeper
Top Closer Prospect
Destined for Rotation
Trade Candidate
Looking over his shoulder
Injured/Disabled

Note: This pre-season closers list is subject to quick changes and all assignments are tentative until jobs become more clear.

Note: The purpose of this thread is to denote job security and identify an alternate closer when the regular closer cannot close.

NL EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES – C. Kimbrel RHP , J. Walden RHP, J. Venters LHP , J. Graham RHP
MIAMI MARLINS – S. Cishek RHP, M. Dunn LHP, R. Webb RHP, G. Dayton LHP
NEW YORK METS – B. Parnell RHP , F. Francisco RHP , J. Familia RHP, M. Koch RHP
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – J. Papelbon RHP , A. Bastardo RHP, P. Aumont RHP, E. Martin RHP
WASHINGTON NATIONALS – R. Soriano RHP , D. Storen RHP , T. Clippard RHP , C. Garcia RHP

NL CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS – K. Gregg RHP, C. Marmol RHP, H. Rodriguez RHP, A. Vizcaino RHP
CINCINNATI REDS – A. Chapman LHP , J. Broxton RHP , S. Marshall LHP , A. Simon RHP, Kyle Lotzkar RHP
MILWAUKEE BREWERS – J. Henderson RHP, F. Rodriguez RHP, J. Axford RHP, J. Hellweg RHP
PITTSBURGH PIRATES – J. Grilli RHP , M. Meloncon RHP , J. Wilson LHP, V. Black RHP
SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS – E. Mujica RHP, T. Rosenthal RHP, M. Boggs RHP, T. Jenkins RHP

NL WEST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS – J. Putz RHP , H. Bell RHP, D. Hernandez RHP, J. Barrett RHP
COLORADO ROCKIES – R. Betancourt RHP , R. Brothers LHP , W. Lopez RHP, C. Bettis RHP
LOS ANGELES DODGERS – B. League RHP , K. Jansen RHP , J. Guerra RHP, S. Ames RHP
SAN DIEGO PADRES – H. Street RHP , L. Gregerson RHP, D. Thayer RHP, B. Boxberger RHP
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS – S. Romo RHP , J. Affeldt LHP, S. Casilla RHP , H. Hembree RHP

AL EAST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES – J. Johnson RHP , P. Strop RHP, D. O'Day RHP, M. Price RHP
BOSTON RED SOX – A. Bailey RHP , J. Tazawa RHP, K. Uehara RHP, R. de la Rosa RHP
NEW YORK YANKEES – M. Rivera RHP , D. Robertson RHP , J. Chamberlain RHP, M. Montgomery RHP
TAMPA BAY RAYS – F. Rodney RHP , K. Farnsworth RHP, J. McGee LHP , A. Colome LHP
TORONTO BLUE JAYS – C. Janssen RHP , S. Santos RHP , S. Delabar RHP, M. Stroman RHP

AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND INDIANS – C. Perez RHP, V. Pastano RHP, B. Shaw RHP, N. Hagadone LHP
CHICAGO WHITE SOX – A. Reed RHP , M. Thornton LHP, J. Crain RHP, N. Molina RHP
DETROIT TIGERS – J. Valverde RHP , J. Benoit RHP, O. Dotel RHP , B. Rondon RHP
KANSAS CITY ROYALS – G. Holland RHP , K. Herrera RHP , A. Crow RHP , Y. Ventura RHP
MINNESOTA TWINS – G. Perkins LHP , J Burton RHP, A. Swarzak RHP, L. Bard RHP

AL WEST
HOUSTON ASTROS – J. Veras RHP , H. Ambriz RHP, J. Fields RHP , L. McCullers RHP
LOS ANGELES ANGELS – R. Madson RHP , E. Frieri RHP, S. Burnett LHP, A. Wood RHP
OAKLAND ATHLETICS – G. Balfour RHP , R. Cook RHP, S. Doolittle LHP, S. Gray RHP
SEATTLE MARINERS – T. Wilhelmsen RHP , S. Pryor RHP , O. Perez LHP, C. Capps RHP , C. Ruffin
TEXAS RANGERS – J. Nathan RHP , J. Soria RHP , T. Sheppers RHP , N. Ramirez RHP

Reportedly Out for the Year
J. Hanrahan (Bos - RHP)
K. Fujikawa (ChC - RHP)
J. Motte (Stl - RHP)

Unsigned Relievers of Interest
B. Wilson (RHP)

Possible Future Foreign Imports
Chiba Lotte Marines - Yasuhiko Yabuta (RHP)
Chunichi Dragons - Hitoki Iwase (LHP)
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks - Morifuku Masahiko (LHP), Brian Falkenborg (RHP)
Hanshin Tigers - Shinobu Fukuhara (RHP)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp - Kam Mickolio (RHP)
Nippon-Ham Fighters - Hisashi Takeda (RHP)
Orix Buffaloes - Mamoru Kishida (RHP)
Rakuten Golden Eagles - Koji Aoyama (RHP)
Seibu Lions - Hideaki Wakui (RHP)
Yakult Swallows - Tony Barnette (LHP)
Yokohama BayStars - Shun Yamaguchi (RHP)
Yomiuri Giants - Kentaro Nishimura (RHP)

[Havok1517]

Space

[GiantsFan14]

Kimbrel should get three thumbs up.

Thanks for doing this again Havok, one of the better resources on the cafe.

[BigLebowski]

From the might Rotoworld.

Bobby Parnell - R - Mets

Mets manager Terry Collins said on WFAN on Tuesday that he wants Bobby Parnell to be the team's closer.
Collins admitted that he hasn't even spoken to Parnell about the situation, but that's the way he plans to go now that Frank Francisco has been shut down due to elbow inflammation. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Collins is looking at Parnell as a contingency plan, so it's possible that Francisco will get the role back if he makes progress. Parnell has struggled in sporadic save opportunities in the past, but he has a 2.98 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over the past three seasons. He could emerge as a nice late-round sleeper in mixed fantasy leagues.

Does this change you predictions?

[SpecialFNK]

Frank Francisco is injured.

Frank Francisco is currently shut down due to inflammation in his right elbow.
Francisco had surgery in December to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and isn't back to 100 percent. In fact, when asked Tuesday how close he was to 100 percent, Francisco playfully responded with "zero," since he's not currently throwing. This situation should be monitored carefully this spring, as either Bobby Parnell or Brandon Lyon could emerge as an alternative in the closer role.

Parnell could fill in.

Mets manager Terry Collins said on WFAN on Tuesday that he wants Bobby Parnell to be the team's closer.
Collins admitted that he hasn't even spoken to Parnell about the situation, but that's the way he plans to go now that Frank Francisco has been shut down due to elbow inflammation. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Collins is looking at Parnell as a contingency plan, so it's possible that Francisco will get the role back if he makes progress. Parnell has struggled in sporadic save opportunities in the past, but he has a 2.98 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over the past three seasons. He could emerge as a nice late-round sleeper in mixed fantasy leagues.

[Element]

Over/Under on Fujikawa closing games in Chicago.

25.5

[Havok1517]

From the might Rotoworld.

Bobby Parnell - R - Mets

Mets manager Terry Collins said on WFAN on Tuesday that he wants Bobby Parnell to be the team's closer.
Collins admitted that he hasn't even spoken to Parnell about the situation, but that's the way he plans to go now that Frank Francisco has been shut down due to elbow inflammation. According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Collins is looking at Parnell as a contingency plan, so it's possible that Francisco will get the role back if he makes progress. Parnell has struggled in sporadic save opportunities in the past, but he has a 2.98 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over the past three seasons. He could emerge as a nice late-round sleeper in mixed fantasy leagues.

Does this change you predictions?

Well, I think we have some time before situations clear up which is a danger of posting this now. Francisco had a elbow surgery, Dec. 18th, to remove some bone spurs. So, I don't think it is out of whack that he might still be sore some due that procedure. I personally do not think Francisco, Parnell, and certainly not Lyon will provide All-Star caliber stats. I think Parnell is probably the most talented of the three but as we all know the best pitcher doesn't always close. Now, if Familia gets a shot...they might have something.

[Y`s Guy]

Thanks Havok!

[ensanimal]

Thanks as always for posting this!

One of the best.

[ayebatter]

Thumbs up for your usual stellar thread


BTW tossed a sticky on this and took the sticky off of the 2012 thread.