Closer Watch: 2011

[cardboardbox]

Salas has 5 saves now. I'd give it one more until I feel comfortable saying a blown save or two wont cost him the closers job.

[Judge Jude]

I think Sanchez was 3 for 3, then couldn't get the last out in a messy outing and was out (admittedly he was less efficient, to be charitable).

LaRussa also point-blank refused last night to name a closer (he did with Sanchez iirc), and said guys have different skillsets so it depends who's coming up in the 7th, 8th, and 9th..

[Judge Jude]

Padilla to the DL, supposedly it's Jansen and Guerrier with MacDougal in the mix (has "proven closer" pixie dust left over from a few years back so there's that).

Move comes 7 hours after my weekly deadline. Only one other owner with a pitching opening, but our website recommending a Guerrer pickup. Can grab him immediately or wait'n' see and maybe lose out on him. Have 4 of my 6 'free' moves left to dump active players (picked up ESanchez and Padilla that way, go figure), so if Guerrier isn't the guy I may have to use another...

[chancellor]

And the Dodger closer death march continues....

[Moonlight J]

meanwhile, Fat Frankie Francisco is 5 for 6 in same opps now

[chancellor]

Neftali blows another save; Mark Lowe now in with the score tied in the 9th.

[Hornsby]

Guerrier used in the 8th inning of a game where the Dodgers were down 3-0...make of it what you will.

[YourPalChrisMal]

Guerrier used in the 8th inning of a game where the Dodgers were down 3-0...make of it what you will.

I'm making of it that Jansen is the closer, just like I said a month ago. It's about time Mattingly listened to me.

[Judge Jude]

Well, your closer came on in the bottom of the 8th today with Dodgers down 3-2 and still having a SV chance on the board.

Jansen threw 2 scoreless, but 32 pitches.
Dodgers then took the lead at 6-3 in the 10th but closer Jansen was done.

Guerrier started the inning but allowed 2 singles and a ground out, then Elbert on to face Dunn LH/LH and got the out. Then MacDougal to finish it.

Big key for Jansen owners: Dodgers not having a small lead in 9th Sat, and MacDougal looking good closing it out with tired Jansen on sidelines.

I have a NL-only opening re Padilla, but not committing to Guerrier or MacDougal yet. I think it's still Jansen overall, but it could be a little messy...

[Judge Jude]

My 3 RPs are Padilla, Sanchez, and DHernandez.

Padilla got off to a good start as a May pickup, then couldn't close the door in a 3-0 game and hit the DL.
Sanchez, ditto, and one strike away, then lost his gig.
The one guy I bought at auction, strong all season, was DHernandez as Putz's 8th inning guy (an injury away!)

Comes in the 9th tonight with a man on and just soils himself with a double and 3 walks.

Probably needed a bullpen jacket around his waist to hide the embarrassing stain as he slinked off with no SV to claim...

[overkill94]

Guerrier just doesn't profile as a closer. He doesn't strike out enough guys and doesn't sport an intimidating fastball. He would've gotten the save tonight with a clean inning, but the only out he got was a shot to the hole that Mitchell made a nice play on. Having Elbert face Dunn was definitely the right decision and MacDougal was the last reliable arm left in the pen.

Jansen's definitely the right man for the job, but who knows what Mattingly will do next. He could continue to mix-and-match based on match-ups and usage, but it would be nice if he just put Jansen in the role and stuck with it.

[Judge Jude]

I agree that's what Mattingly SHOULD do - and I own Padilla and may grab Guerrier or MacDougal if circumstances change....

We speculate based on dumb feedback.

[bweiser831]

does anyone know why jj putz didn't pitch friday night?

[revo]

does anyone know why jj putz didn't pitch friday night?

he already pitched two days in a row?

[bweiser831]

he already pitched two days in a row?

wimp.