Closer Watch: 2011

[Msaint]

I have a feeling this guy is going to be a stud. (I've been wrong about just about everything else lately, so you may want to steer clear.)

The Cliffs Notes: "After De La Rosa's impressive Spring Training, management had hoped to give the 22-year-old right-hander a half-season at Chattanooga, where he is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA, having allowed 39 hits in 61 1/3 innings with 59 strikeouts and 19 walks. He was the organization's top Minor League pitcher last year, winning the Branch Rickey Award."

[overkill94]

I have a feeling this guy is going to be a stud. (I've been wrong about just about everything else lately, so you may want to steer clear.)

I only got to see him on TV during the Dodgers' last spring training game, but this kid looked pretty awesome. Nice zip on his fastball and great secondary pitches. He still projects as a starter long-term but could become a factor in the late innings rather quickly if he adapts well to the role.

[cardboardbox]

I wonder if they considered calling up Tolleson who is not expected to be a SP. He's in A+ right now, going nuts like he has all year, 18.26 k/9 on the year including 13 k's in 7 IP at A+.

[Judge Jude]

Rubby was drafted in our farmhand draft in April by my 28th-year rival. Had no idea who he was, and I research pretty deep. Well played.

I still think a Phillies combo of Oswalt with the start and then Rubby closing the deal makes so much sense in a weird 1963 sort of way..

[The Dane]

still think a Phillies combo of Oswalt with the start and then Rubby closing the deal makes so much sense in a weird 1963 sort of way..

Make a little more sense if they were both pitching in Texas, but I see it.

[schlesinj]

Rubby was drafted in our farmhand draft in April by my 28th-year rival. Had no idea who he was, and I research pretty deep. Well played.

I still think a Phillies combo of Oswalt with the start and then Rubby closing the deal makes so much sense in a weird 1963 sort of way..

He was drafted in our league in April by the mother of an original owner of our 26 year old league who was covering for someone who was in South Africa. Beat that!

[madducks]

Of course Valverde isn't available for the save tonight because he pitched in too many blowouts the last few days.

[overkill94]

And the next in a long line of Dodgers to get a save this year is...Javy Guerra?!?!

The guy's been a relief prospect for a few years now, but was never taken serious as a closer-type since he doesn't really have great stuff. I didn't get to see him today, but when watching him recently I saw a decent fastbell at 92-94 and decent breaking stuff. I'm sure Mattingly will just say Jansen needed a day off after throwing so many pitches yesterday, but it wouldn't surprise me if either de la Rosa (2 K's in a perfect inning in his debut) or Guerra were given a chance.

[The Dane]

Really? Kind of surprised by that. He was not only the #3 prospect in the Dodger system according to Baseball America, he was also the Dodgers' minor league pitcher of the year last year as well as the #90 prospect in all of baseball. Not like he's coming out of nowhere.


Edit: He was also my 3rd round pick in the RJEL farm draft

Yeah, he was on my radar and my draft list had only 10 pitchers on it. I hate pitchers, even and especially young ones.

[Judge Jude]

Maybe he wasn't on the top 150 for RJ?


actually I didn't have a 2nd-rd pick (just No. 8) so I didn't look as deep as usual....

meanwhile, I picked up Guerrier last night, and Guerra grabbed by someone else just now.
I also have Padilla. Also owned: Jansen, Broxton, Kuo, Rubby. Elbert was just let go last week...

[Judge Jude]

EduSanchez, LaRussa's preferred, with a 1-2-3 for a 3-2 SV in extras as Salas needed a night off.

Sleep well, Salas owners!

[bweiser831]

just a matter of time until salas loses this job

[Teenwolf]

After blowing a save to the Yanks tonight, Frank Francisco could very well be out of a job closing.

Jon Rauch might get another shot, but that's no sure thing.

The dark horse here is Casey Janssen. Crossing my fingers he gets a shot. He's been awesome this year.

[overkill94]

The dark horse here is Casey Janssen. Crossing my fingers he gets a shot. He's been awesome this year.

That would be awesome for a few reasons:
1. He's a UCLA alum
2. We went to the same physical therapist
3. I've met the dude a couple times since he's a friend of a friend and he's really cool

That being said, it seems like a pretty big long shot considering how many ex-closers are on the team (Francisco, Rauch, Dotel, and Frasor).

[onejayhawk]

I was looking to see if Rubby had been added to Yahoo (not yet) when I saw the Jorge de la Rosa story. Ouch.

J