Closer Watch: 2011

[Judge Jude]

Padilla happy to see DBacks score in the 8th, so now it's within 4-1 as he enters in the 9th for the layup...

walks Upton after being up 1-2 (memo to Padilla: NEVER walk the leadoff guy)
KJohnson singles on 2-2 pitch
Parra groundout on 1st pitch (!) moves meaningless runners up

Montero, down 0-2, two fouls, then 2-run single to center
goes 3-1 on Branyan, 3 fouls, then the K for the second out
down 2-0 on CYoung, 2-2, foul, 3-2, foul, WALK to Young. wow, now at 32 pitches

ALERT: Here comes Jansen. So I watch both Sanchez and Padilla shiat the bed in the same night
guh

And Mora whiffs on 4 pitches to end it, plus no Padilla avail tomorrow night
trying to count up my "one strike away" missed SV this year...

[YourPalChrisMal]

I think the Cardinals will mix in Salas with Sanchez now, although they are totally smitten with Sanchez so Salas will slide with the slightest mistake.

Sanchez a good bench pick in some mixed leagues, even if he doesn't get the next SV try. He's the guy they've chosen, so he'll get more chances.

Salas for NL-only tries, but he's already taken in those. I don't see Salas keeping the job longterm at any point, though, fair or not. Heard the Reds announcers talking about Duncan touting Sanchez as "having that closer stuff." He and LaRussa know what they want, and who they want.

The "Mitchell Boggs is firming up his grip on the closer roll" era that lasted all of a week sure seems like a long time ago now, doesn't it?!

[Southcoast]

The "Mitchell Boggs is firming up his grip on the closer roll" era that lasted all of a week sure seems like a long time ago now, doesn't it?!

"One blown save and you're out".
Signed,
Motte and Boggs

I still can't understand Boggs' situation. Looks great for 3 straight saves including a 4 out save on his last one. Duncan declares him the closer. Then one blown save against the Astros and Boggs' never comes close to another opportunity. Same with Motte the year before. Well last night was Sanchez' first blown save. Good bye Sanchez?

[YourPalChrisMal]

"One blown save and you're out".
Signed,
Motte and Boggs

I still can't understand Boggs' situation. Looks great for 3 straight saves including a 4 out save on his last one. Duncan declares him the closer. Then one blown save against the Astros and Boggs' never comes close to another opportunity. Same with Motte the year before. Well last night was Sanchez' first blown save. Good bye Sanchez?

It was a pretty horrific blown save, but it still was only one save. It's kind of a ridiculous way to operate with young kid relievers really. Do you really want any of the 4 of them - Sanchez, Salas, Boggs or Motte - to think that if they make 1 mistake they are done? Closing is stressful enough for a young reliever. Not sure why the Cards think it makes sense to send the message that it's 1 strike and you're out. But then again, I'm a bitter Boggs owner, so I'm a little biased.

[The Dane]

It's kind of a ridiculous way to operate with young kid relievers really. Do you really want any of the 4 of them - Sanchez, Salas, Boggs or Motte - to think that if they make 1 mistake they are done?

When it comes to St. Louis, I pretty much just let it be. We complain about LaRussa/Duncan as armchair types, but the truth is, is there any team that does more with less, when it comes to pitching? Look what they got out of Franklin? Lohse? Whatever they are doing there, it works pretty well, so just because I can't understand it, doesn't mean I should think it ridiculous. For my money, they have earned a free pass from my criticism. That said, I think Sanchez, for whatever reason, is their man, but I wouldn't count out Salas. I would be surprised if anyone other than those two picks up more than one or two saves the rest of the season.

[YourPalChrisMal]

...That said, I think Sanchez, for whatever reason, is their man, but I wouldn't count out Salas. I would be surprised if anyone other than those two picks up more than one or two saves the rest of the season.

Isn't that what some were saying about Boggs a few weeks ago? "Another save or 2 and he's probably the man for the rest of the year."

[The Dane]

Isn't that what some were saying about Boggs a few weeks ago? "Another save or 2 and he's probably the man for the rest of the year."

I didn't say that. I never thought he'd hold the job. I like him fine as a middle reliever, and if he's LaRussa's "guy" he'll get save opps regardless of what I think. I still think Salas is the guy, long term.

[Hammer]

This is becoming comical



"Pitching coach Dave Duncan said Saturday that Eduardo Sanchez is out as the Cardinals' closer" Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[Sour Masher]

Salas named the man for now. Sanchez is out as closer per rotoworld. I'm saddened as a Sanchez owner, but not surprised. His been wlaking guys ever time out lately.

[Judge Jude]

Salas will keep this gig the rest of the year and beyond - unless he blows a save. Then, all bets are off, ladies (giggles)

Pitching coach Dave Duncan said Saturday that Eduardo Sanchez is out as the Cardinals' closer.
Sanchez has been the Cards' main closer since April 27, but ineffectiveness and a decline in velocity have Duncan concerned. Sanchez has walked at least one batter in each of his last eight outings. Duncan said that Fernando Salas will likely be first up to close games now, but added that Mitchell Boggs will be in the mix as well. Owners in need of saves should roster both, with Salas the first priority as an add. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch May. 14 - 4:38 pm et

[Bodhizefa]

Walden with his third blown save in his last five chances. He actually didn't look bad at all as he struck out two and didn't really have control issues like he has a couple other outings I've seen him. He fell victim to some doink tweener hits just in front of the outfielders as well as Coco Crisp's speed. I think he gets at least one more shot, but those scavenging for saves should look at Scott Downs (who was much less impressive than Walden tonight even though Downs had a "perfect" inning) or Rich Thompson (a personal fave of mine, but Scoscia would probably go with the vet over the youngster).

[Bodhizefa]

Salas will keep this gig the rest of the year and beyond - unless he blows a save. Then, all bets are off, ladies (giggles)

Pitching coach Dave Duncan said Saturday that Eduardo Sanchez is out as the Cardinals' closer.
Sanchez has been the Cards' main closer since April 27, but ineffectiveness and a decline in velocity have Duncan concerned. Sanchez has walked at least one batter in each of his last eight outings. Duncan said that Fernando Salas will likely be first up to close games now, but added that Mitchell Boggs will be in the mix as well. Owners in need of saves should roster both, with Salas the first priority as an add. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch May. 14 - 4:38 pm et

Ya know, it's funny. I usually miss out on guys like Salas because I look at the best skills guy available (like Sanchez) and figure he'll run away with it. But Salas' better control may actually keep him in the role a lot longer than Sanchez owners would like. And it's not like Salas doesn't have decent strikeout ability, too. I lucked out in most of my leagues because Sanchez was already taken and nobody believed in Salas even after his first save. After paying through the wazoo for a bunch of closers who have looked mediocre this season, it would be a nice surprise for Salas to actually hang onto the job for a while.

The most interesting thing to me that's been lost in all this Cardinal closer craziness is that St. Louis actually has a lot of very good options for the 6th-9th innings. This is a team that could really make some noise in the playoffs if they could figure out how to not totally suck on defense, reinvigorate Chris Carpenter, and find one more good starter for the stretch run. Of course that's a long ways from now and we're not even out of May yet. Please forgive my excitement for good MR's

[The Dane]

Ya know, it's funny. I usually miss out on guys like Salas because I look at the best skills guy available (like Sanchez) and figure he'll run away with it. But Salas' better control may actually keep him in the role a lot longer than Sanchez owners would like. And it's not like Salas doesn't have decent strikeout ability, too. I lucked out in most of my leagues because Sanchez was already taken and nobody believed in Salas even after his first save.

Here's the odd thing. After my draft prep, I make a list of great MRs who I think will go under the radar. #1 on my list was Bastardo and Salas was #2. When Franklin blew up, I hurriedly grabbed Salas all around figuring everyone read the same stuff I did. Apparently not. I got him in four out of my five leagues, and could have had him in the last but didn't really need him (overfill of closers and had $1 Kenley Jansen). I have never seen him or Sanchez pitch beyond just a few snippets on MLB Network. I remember Lawr Michaels really touting Salas at the First Pitch Forum and I have two hash marks near his name, so another tout must have concurred.

It weird how there is all this information floating around out there and what one person gets from it and what another one does is so different.

[Southcoast]

Yes, Baseball Prospectus touted Salas and Henry Rodriguez (Wash) as possible closer candidates prior to this season.
I also grabbed Salas. Hope he doesn't blow a save....

[The Dane]

Yes, Baseball Prospectus touted Salas and Henry Rodriguez (Wash) as possible closer candidates prior to this season.
I also grabbed Salas. Hope he doesn't blow a save....

Yeah, I read that, but so did everyone else here. I went into the draft ranking St. Louis saves like this:

1. Franklin to start the season, but will likely lose the job.
2. Salas is the closer of the future, but maybe not this year, at the very least will be a good MR.
3. Motte is LaRussa's whipping boy and will only rarely sniff a save, but is a good MR.
4. Boggs is a good MR.
5. Sanchez is a great arm, but will likely not contribute much this year.
6. Batista could luck into the same kind of situation Contreras has.
7. Miller is a LOOGY.

I laid off Salas in two of my leagues at draft because he didn't make the team out of spring.

I doubt this closer situation is settled, by any means, especially if Salas blows a save in the near future. Saying he has a short leash is an understatement.