Closer Watch: 2011

[overkill94]

I think it was desperation more than anything that drove the Dodgers to activate Kuo. I wasn't able to watch the game today, but it sounds like it's similar to his rehab outings. As long as there's no other injury in play, Kuo should be fine once he finds his way. Broxton still scares the crap out of me so I hope Kuo figures it out sooner than later (especially since I have him for a buck in my NL-only league).

[Judge Jude]

Right now it's surely Broxton-Padilla-Kuo if you're betting (Jansen to minors), but it could change quickly...

[Jimmy Colorado]

Boggs in for the 8th, tie game, gives up a three-bagger to Stanton and then FLA immediately cashes it in on a sac fly. Man, at this point, I'm done chasing the Cards' pen for saves. You win LaRussa. If all those pen arms are anytime/anywhere RP, I'd rather have a great reliever like Mike Adams, who won't get me saves, but is otherwise an assassin on the mound.

[Judge Jude]

Boggs has pretty clearly been out as closer for nearly a week.

It looks like:
Sanchez
Salas
Franklin a bizarro wild card
Boggs
Batista
TMiller lefty specialist
Motte

The only head-scratcher for me of late was the Franklin appearance yesterday. Stumped by that. Otherwise, not so much, although it's hardly settled lol

[Big Tymer]

It is looking like Sanchez might be getting the next look as while Salas is getting attention I think both of his saves were not the boiler plate variety and for at least one Sanchez was not available. Boggs deserves more of a chance then he seemed to get but agree with the general sentiment that this could be a long season trying to speculate on StL saves.

[Bodhizefa]

Lost in all this talk about the Cardinals' closer situation is the fact that they actually have a bevy of good pitchers in that pen these days. Salas and Sanchez are both very good, and when you add in Boggs and Motte, that's a nice clump of late-inning arms.

I have my bets in on Salas, although that's more because I missed out on Sanchez in my leagues than anything else. Sanchez looks like he's the best pitcher, although that doesn't always mean much. Salas is actually pretty good, too, though.

[cardboardbox]

All four of those pitchers could run with the closer job and hold it all year. This isnt a case where we can easily speculate on the best pitcher. Boggs didnt look so good last night, lots of pitches in the dirt. If Rasmus catches that ball, Boggs looks great. If Rasmus doesnt dive and holds Stanton to a single, Boggs gets out of the inning with no damage.

[primetime]

All four of those pitchers could run with the closer job and hold it all year. This isnt a case where we can easily speculate on the best pitcher. Boggs didnt look so good last night, lots of pitches in the dirt. If Rasmus catches that ball, Boggs looks great. If Rasmus doesnt dive and holds Stanton to a single, Boggs gets out of the inning with no damage.

Not a big deal, but there was pretty much no way that shot was going to be a single. Rasmus made a diving attempt to catch the ball inthe gap. If he doesn't dive, he probably holds him to a double.

[cardboardbox]

Not a big deal, but there was pretty much no way that shot was going to be a single. Rasmus made a diving attempt to catch the ball inthe gap. If he doesn't dive, he probably holds him to a double.

you are probably right.

[joncarlos]

Kimbrel has blown 2 in a row himself ... any rumblings yet?

[Bases Loaded]

As a Braves fan, I haven't heard anything. Fredi has been making questionable calls all year though, so who really knows what's going to happen game to game. But as far as what I read on the few Braves blogs that I keep up with, there are no plans as of now to replace him. Might not be a bad idea to pick up Venters is he's available though.

[Judge Jude]

As we expected here, Sanchez the man in the 9th tonite with the imperfect SV (but gets red-hot Gaby with a fly and whiffs Stanton off a 2-0 count) to end it. Boggs watched from the bullpen, Salas in the 6th and 7th of tie game that he yielded the lead, Motte got the setup 8th spot after Cardinals rallied.....

[Jimmy Colorado]

As we expected here, Sanchez the man in the 9th tonite with the imperfect SV (but gets red-hot Gaby with a fly and whiffs Stanton off a 2-0 count) to end it. Boggs watched from the bullpen, Salas in the 6th and 7th of tie game that he yielded the lead, Motte got the setup 8th spot after Cardinals rallied.....

Yeah, rotoworld makes it sound more impressive than it was with their "Sanchez mows down fish" header, as he opened the frame with a HBP, got Infante to fly out (not sure how deep), walked Hanley, got Gabby to fly out and finally K'd Stanton. Franklin was nowhere to be seen, either.

[Judge Jude]

agreed, but LaRussa is just the kind of manager to be amped up by the K of big-guy Stanton off a 2-0 count to end it.

I own Sanchez and he is in the lead, but he is in that "wild colt who is tempting to bet on" phase, but..

This one is still fluid for sure.

[overkill94]

Ugh, after actually showing some progress last night, Broxton is back to his shaky ways. Started off by getting ARam to pop up, but proceeded to walk Byrd and Pena on 8 pitches and gets pulled. His fastball only topped out at 93 and his slider has lost its bite. If Kuo shows any semblance of being back to his old self he'll have the closer gig for as long as he's healthy.