The Closer Report: July 23, 2010
The Closer Report by Todd Farino, thecloserreport.com
SAVES: Heath Bell (28), Brian Wilson (28), Francisco Cordero (27), Neftali Feliz (27), Jonathan Papelbon (22), Alfredo Simon (14), John Axford (14).
I want to open this closer report with a happy birthday to my beautiful daughter Elizabeth. Happy 3rd birthday baby. Papa loves you.
John Axford continues to impress everyone including other potential trade deadline suitors. He saved his 14th game in 14 chances beating the Nationals 7-5. He needed only ten pitches to finish them off.
A night after the Red Sox bullpen blew a five run lead in the 9th, Papelbon came in to secure a one-run lead and recorded his 22nd save of the season. He struck out two and gave up a double and an intentional walk to Ichiro Suzuki. Papelbon looked excellent and struck out Josh Wilson with a great splitter to end the game. If his confidence grows in his splitter, he will dominate even more and hopefully shake the inconsistency that has plagued him this season.
On the bad side, Billy Wagner continues with a bad week. Tonight he gave up two runs in in the ninth inning to lose 7-6 to the Marlins. It as Wagner's fifth blown save of the season and in a night where something just didn't seem right with Wagner. Not only was his velocity down, but his control wasn't there. Hopefully this is a short lived phase for Wagner or he may need some much needed rest.
Oh, and Francisco Cordero got his 27th save.
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: Heath Bell (28), Brian Wilson (28), Francisco Cordero (27), Neftali Feliz (27), Jonathan Papelbon (22), Alfredo Simon (14), John Axford (14).
I want to open this closer report with a happy birthday to my beautiful daughter Elizabeth. Happy 3rd birthday baby. Papa loves you.
Now to closers. Brian Wilson and Heath Bell are simply on fire. No matter who tough the save is, these guys are pulling them out. They sit atop the league tied with 28 saves and both closes are adding saves and a high speed rate. Wilson notched his seventh save of July and his third of the week. He was needed for 1.1 innings and struck out one. His counterpart Heath Bell also recorded his 28th save of by mowing down the Pirates on 17 pitches. It was Bell's seventh save of July, where he is 1-0, 7/7 in save chances, and has 13 Ks.
John Axford continues to impress everyone including other potential trade deadline suitors. He saved his 14th game in 14 chances beating the Nationals 7-5. He needed only ten pitches to finish them off.On the bad side, Billy Wagner continues with a bad week. Tonight he gave up two runs in in the ninth inning to lose 7-6 to the Marlins. It as Wagner's fifth blown save of the season and in a night where something just didn't seem right with Wagner. Not only was his velocity down, but his control wasn't there. Hopefully this is a short lived phase for Wagner or he may need some much needed rest.
Oh, and Francisco Cordero got his 27th save.
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!
