The Closer Report: June 28, 2010
The Closer Report by Todd Farino, thecloserreport.com
SAVES: Joakim Soria (19), Jose Valverde (18), Octavio Dotel (15), Kerry Wood (7), Hong-Chih Kuo (2).
It wasn't a full slate of games today, but plenty of action on the diamond from closers. There were five saves on the night, and some had some news and drama. Let's start in Minnesota where Jose Valverde was called into the game with one out in the 8th inning and a 3-2 count and Delmon Young. Joel Zumaya fell in pain after his last pitch and was pulled from the game. Valverde entered and calmly struck out Young and then promptly retired the next four batters he faced. In all 1.2 perfect innings, three strikeouts, and his 18th save of the season.
Joakim Soria inched closer to 20 saves with his 19th in a win over the White Sox 3-1. Soria wasn't his sharpest, needing 24 pitches to finish off the White Sox. He walked one and struck out another to get the save. Out in Chicago Octavio Dotel get the Cubs sucking an egg. He earned his 15th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigely. Dotel smoked the Cubs, striking out the side in a perfect inning. If that was sad enough for the Cubs, Lou Pinella felt the need to use Marmol AGAIN in non-save situation. I'm not getting it at this point. 8/11 appearances this month have been in non-save situations and I understand that closers need work, but not the way Pinella is doing it. His closer just got hammered yesterday, try using Sean Marshall in a 2-1 game.
Kerry Wood got his seventh save of the season, striking out two in the process. While it appears that Kerry Wood is pitching great and hoping to attract a team for a trade, he still is a risky fantasy closer. In June he is 6/8 in saves and he surrendered runs in two of those six saves.
On Monday Joe Torre announced that he would be giving closer Jonathan Broxton a couple of days off and it cost his owners a save. Hong-Chih Kuo recorded his second save of the season filling in for the resting Broxton. It's only a big deal because Broxton owners have been starving for a save lately from their stud 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: Joakim Soria (19), Jose Valverde (18), Octavio Dotel (15), Kerry Wood (7), Hong-Chih Kuo (2).
Joakim Soria inched closer to 20 saves with his 19th in a win over the White Sox 3-1. Soria wasn't his sharpest, needing 24 pitches to finish off the White Sox. He walked one and struck out another to get the save. Out in Chicago Octavio Dotel get the Cubs sucking an egg. He earned his 15th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigely. Dotel smoked the Cubs, striking out the side in a perfect inning. If that was sad enough for the Cubs, Lou Pinella felt the need to use Marmol AGAIN in non-save situation. I'm not getting it at this point. 8/11 appearances this month have been in non-save situations and I understand that closers need work, but not the way Pinella is doing it. His closer just got hammered yesterday, try using Sean Marshall in a 2-1 game.
Kerry Wood got his seventh save of the season, striking out two in the process. While it appears that Kerry Wood is pitching great and hoping to attract a team for a trade, he still is a risky fantasy closer. In June he is 6/8 in saves and he surrendered runs in two of those six saves.
On Monday Joe Torre announced that he would be giving closer Jonathan Broxton a couple of days off and it cost his owners a save. Hong-Chih Kuo recorded his second save of the season filling in for the resting Broxton. It's only a big deal because Broxton owners have been starving for a save lately from their stud 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!
