The Closer Report: June 10, 2010
The Closer Report by Todd Farino, thecloserreport.com
SAVES: Francisco Corder (17), Bobby Jenks (10), Heath Bell (17), Kevin Gregg (15), Leo Nunez (13), Joakim Soria, David Hernandez (1), Tyley Clippard (1), Brandon Lyon (1).
There was heavy action tonight with save opportunities and closer action. We will start in Cincinnati, where the Reds made a come back and allowed Francisco Cordero to get a save and that he did. He pitched a 1-2-3 ten pitch innings for his 17th save of the season. It was his first scoreless inning in his last three appearances. Over in Minnesota, Joakim Soria had a much tougher time closing out the Twins. Going through the heart of the Twins lineup, Soria gave up two runs on three hits and striking out one. Even the last out was hard and nearly very bad. It wasn't Soria's day.
Like Soria, Kevin Gregg or 3G as I like to call him, gave up a run on two hits and a walk. The run was a lead off bomb to Sean Rodriguez, then a hit and walk. Gregg seems to be on again, off again. This is more of what I expected from him as closer. If you own him then get use to the saves, along with the high ERA and WHIP.
On the brighter side there is some more nice saves. Leo Nunez disposed of the Phillies, only giving up a hit and recorded his 13th save of the season. Nunez has been oustanding for over a month now, not blowing a save since May 4. In that time he has recorded nine saves and a win. Heath Bell continued on his torrid pace, notching his 17th save of the season. He did it on 10 pitches and a perfect inning. Quietly, Bell his been on fire. Though he tends to give up a run now and then and nearly always leaves runners on the bases, Bell his been dominant with ten saves and a win since May 1. His ERA is also sinking fast and now sits at 1.33 with 35 strikeouts.
Bobby Jenks finally got to double-digits in saves with a 3-0 win over the Tigers. After John Danks dominated the Tigers all night, Jenks walked in and finished them off in the ninth giving up a hit and striking out one. Jenks had one of his sharpest outings of the season, needing only 12 pitches and throwing nine for strikes. Then there was Billy Wagner, who didn't get a save, but walked two and gave up a hit in a non-save situation. He did strikeout two.
In funnier news, the "so-called closer" Chad Qualls got crushed tonight for four runs on five hits. Granted it wasn't a save chance, but it was a bruising for your trusted closer. Speaking of low tier closers, Kerry Wood did blow the save against the Red Sox, giving up a two-run home run to Adrian Beltre, but thanks to the Indians offense did get the win.
In other news, the Blues Brothers Matt Capps and Matt Lindstrom got the night off and both missed out on saves. Brandon Lyon and Tyler Clippard both recorded their first saves of the season filling in for the closers, who got some badly needed rest. Both Capps and Lindstrom faced off twice last week and were hammered into four blown saves.
Finally, David Hernandez recorded his first save forthe Orioles tonight, 4-3 over the New York Yankees. When Alfred Simon went on the DL, my favorite for the job was Hernandez, not Ohman. Ohman was given the first chance, but newly minted Juan Samuel sees that Hernandez can be a closer or at least a temporary closer.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
SAVES: Francisco Corder (17), Bobby Jenks (10), Heath Bell (17), Kevin Gregg (15), Leo Nunez (13), Joakim Soria, David Hernandez (1), Tyley Clippard (1), Brandon Lyon (1).
There was heavy action tonight with save opportunities and closer action. We will start in Cincinnati, where the Reds made a come back and allowed Francisco Cordero to get a save and that he did. He pitched a 1-2-3 ten pitch innings for his 17th save of the season. It was his first scoreless inning in his last three appearances. Over in Minnesota, Joakim Soria had a much tougher time closing out the Twins. Going through the heart of the Twins lineup, Soria gave up two runs on three hits and striking out one. Even the last out was hard and nearly very bad. It wasn't Soria's day.
Like Soria, Kevin Gregg or 3G as I like to call him, gave up a run on two hits and a walk. The run was a lead off bomb to Sean Rodriguez, then a hit and walk. Gregg seems to be on again, off again. This is more of what I expected from him as closer. If you own him then get use to the saves, along with the high ERA and WHIP. Bobby Jenks finally got to double-digits in saves with a 3-0 win over the Tigers. After John Danks dominated the Tigers all night, Jenks walked in and finished them off in the ninth giving up a hit and striking out one. Jenks had one of his sharpest outings of the season, needing only 12 pitches and throwing nine for strikes. Then there was Billy Wagner, who didn't get a save, but walked two and gave up a hit in a non-save situation. He did strikeout two.
In funnier news, the "so-called closer" Chad Qualls got crushed tonight for four runs on five hits. Granted it wasn't a save chance, but it was a bruising for your trusted closer. Speaking of low tier closers, Kerry Wood did blow the save against the Red Sox, giving up a two-run home run to Adrian Beltre, but thanks to the Indians offense did get the win.
In other news, the Blues Brothers Matt Capps and Matt Lindstrom got the night off and both missed out on saves. Brandon Lyon and Tyler Clippard both recorded their first saves of the season filling in for the closers, who got some badly needed rest. Both Capps and Lindstrom faced off twice last week and were hammered into four blown saves.
Finally, David Hernandez recorded his first save forthe Orioles tonight, 4-3 over the New York Yankees. When Alfred Simon went on the DL, my favorite for the job was Hernandez, not Ohman. Ohman was given the first chance, but newly minted Juan Samuel sees that Hernandez can be a closer or at least a temporary closer.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
