The Closer Report: August 10, 2010
The Closer Report by Todd Farino, thecloserreport.com
SAVES: Heath Bell (32), Jonathan Papelbon (29), Francisco Rodriguez (25), Billy Wagner (28), Brian Fuentes (23), David Aardsma (22), Ryan Franklin (20), Luke Gregorson (, Sam Demel (1).
A big day of saves in major league baseball. A ton of big name closers hit the mound tonight in what would be a heavy impact night for fantasy managers. We will open in Arlington, where the Yankees and Rangers went to extra innings. Both closers were used in the game. Neftali Feliz pitched two beautiful innings for the win (3-2). He struck out one, while giving up a couple of hits. Mariano Rivera had no bite on his cutter. It looked straight as an arrow as he gave up three hits and an intentional walk. IN the end he took the loss and for the first time this season his ERA is above 1.00 (1.09).
There weren't saves in that game, but gamer Heath Bell secured his league leading 32nd save in a 4-1 win over the Pirates. Bell pitched a quite innings, surrendering only a walk. Bell has been on fire over the last month. Since July 2, Bell has 11 saves and is 2-0. Nobody is pitching better than Bell at this point. Another hot closer, David Aardsma notched his sixth consecutive save of the season. He secured the 2-0 win for Felix Hernandez. Aardsma was nearly left for dead by fantasy owners and the Mariners alike, but with the Mariners getting hot and playing spoiler, I can see Aardsma reaching 35 saves.
Jonathan Papelbon said yesterday that he feels the best he's felt all season. He has showed that lately with 5/6 saves and a win in the month of August. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 28th save of the season. Wagner struck out one on 13 pitches in a game where Matt Lindstrom blew his sixth save of the season by giving up two home runs and three runs in the top of the ninth inning. Lindstrom is pitching terrible and Brandon Lyon could be called up on to close the next chance the Astros get. If you own Lindstrom, I'd own Lyon at this point.
Ryan Franklin hit the 20 save marker tonight with a 4-run save as the Cardinals beat the Reds 8-4. After Kyle McClellen put a couple of runners on, Franklin entered for the one out save and threw four pitches to get Brandon Phillips to ground out. They don't come much easier.
Sam Demel earned his first career save, closing out the game for the resting Aaron Heilman. Heilman had pitched three out of the last four days, so it's not a new closer, but a stolen save for Demel.
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 (32), Jonathan Papelbon (29), Francisco Rodriguez (25), Billy Wagner (28), Brian Fuentes (23), David Aardsma (22), Ryan Franklin (20), Luke Gregorson (, Sam Demel (1).
A big day of saves in major league baseball. A ton of big name closers hit the mound tonight in what would be a heavy impact night for fantasy managers. We will open in Arlington, where the Yankees and Rangers went to extra innings. Both closers were used in the game. Neftali Feliz pitched two beautiful innings for the win (3-2). He struck out one, while giving up a couple of hits. Mariano Rivera had no bite on his cutter. It looked straight as an arrow as he gave up three hits and an intentional walk. IN the end he took the loss and for the first time this season his ERA is above 1.00 (1.09).
Jonathan Papelbon said yesterday that he feels the best he's felt all season. He has showed that lately with 5/6 saves and a win in the month of August. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 28th save of the season. Wagner struck out one on 13 pitches in a game where Matt Lindstrom blew his sixth save of the season by giving up two home runs and three runs in the top of the ninth inning. Lindstrom is pitching terrible and Brandon Lyon could be called up on to close the next chance the Astros get. If you own Lindstrom, I'd own Lyon at this point.
Ryan Franklin hit the 20 save marker tonight with a 4-run save as the Cardinals beat the Reds 8-4. After Kyle McClellen put a couple of runners on, Franklin entered for the one out save and threw four pitches to get Brandon Phillips to ground out. They don't come much easier.
Sam Demel earned his first career save, closing out the game for the resting Aaron Heilman. Heilman had pitched three out of the last four days, so it's not a new closer, but a stolen save for Demel.
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!
