Closers: Who Closes In These 15 Cities?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:29 am

I'm going through the relief pitchers right now and what a mess it is at this time. There are five top closers, a second tier of maybe 10 after that and then a whole mess of question marks. Fantasy owners certainly didn't overpay for closers last year and the same trend is likely to continue this year, but we'll see.

Okay, take a look at these teams below and give me your thoughts on any of them if you can. Who do you think will close and why?

Arizona: Chad Qualls, Tony Pena, Jon Rauch

Atlanta: Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, John Smoltz

Baltimore: George Sherrill, Chris Ray or both

Chicago Cubs: Carlos Marmol or Eric Gregg or both

Colorado: Manuel Corpas or Huston Street

Detroit: Fernando Rodney or Joel Zumaya or a trade

Florida: Matt Lindstrom, Joe Nelson, Jose Ceda

LA Angels: Jose Arredondo or Scot Shields or a trade

LA Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton or Takashi Saito

Milwaukee Brewers: trade or FA signing??

Oakland: Joey Devine or Brad Ziegler or both

San Diego: Heath Bell or who???

Seattle: Who??

St. Louis: Chris Perez or Jason Motte or Ryan Franklin

Texas: Frank Francisco or C.J. Wilson or who??

Yikes, that's 15 teams. Could be messy at this position this year folks, or it could be a delight for those who know how to pan for gold.

[ December 12, 2008, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Greg Ambrosius ]

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:56 am

Just because you asked nice

and you guys have WAY too much to do (hiring outside help acceptable?)

Arizona: Chad Qualls

Atlanta: Mike Gonzalez

Baltimore: George Sherrill, Chris Ray or both TBD

Chicago Cubs: Carlos Marmol

(and certainly not ERIC Gregg ROFL you are showing your age)

Colorado: Huston Street (if still on the roster - otherwise Corpas)

Detroit: WTHK - it's Detroit

Florida: Matt Lindstrom

LA Angels: Jose Arredondo (unless they sign Fuentes)

LA Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton AND Takashi Saito

Milwaukee Brewers: TBD

Oakland: Brad Ziegler

San Diego: Heath Bell

Seattle: TBD

(they aren't through trading)

St. Louis: FA signing or committee below

(Chris Perez or Jason Motte or Ryan Franklin)

Texas: Frank Francisco (unless they sign FA)

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:13 am

Nice work Capt Hook, but maybe Rauch in ARIZ with Qualls setting him up.Just think this one is closer to 50 ,50 then just Qualls.Unless of course you know someting.Also get ready for the American league auction cause im coming back MAD. BANG......

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:27 am

Originally posted by eddiejag:

Nice work Capt Hook, but maybe Rauch in ARIZ with Qualls setting him up.Just think this one is closer to 50 ,50 then just Qualls.Unless of course you know someting.Also get ready for the American league auction cause im coming back MAD. BANG...... Eddie did you forget where I live?

If they allowed it Rauch after his performance here last season would be strapped to a phone pole and carried out of town....currently they have Qualls in the role, but certainly Rauch is still there and you never know, but...

MadCow Sez · Post by **MadCow Sez** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:16 am

Qualls will be closing for the DBax. Rauch may give them a break now and then but I see Pena as the more likely backup to Qualls.

poopy tooth · Post by **poopy tooth** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:34 am

Even if he didn't give up the bomb to Matt Stairs, Broxton doesn't seem like the right fit for closer. He's been the closer in waiting for at least the last three years now, and even heading into 2009, the Dodgers were looking at Hoffman as a possible 1 year option who could serve as a mentor. It seems to me that Broxton should be ready by now if he was going to close.

I think the Dodgers should look to someone else - there are a couple external options, Hoffman, Fuentes, but I think the bullpen is in trouble this year if they go as-is.

Kuo may not have the same stuff and is more injury prone, but if they go with Broxton, I think we'll find out what Kuo can do as well.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:25 am

Hook got most of those right...

Brewers, Cards, and probably Angels will all sign or trade for closers I believe.. Arredondo will close for Angels and Perez for Cards if they don't. Seattle will (unfortunately) likely use Morrow. Dodgers will just use Broxton, Saito will likely sign elsewhere.

Orioles: looks like Ray/Sherrill will share duties

Orioles manager Dave Trembley suggested Monday that George Sherrill and Chris Ray could share closing duties next season.

"I don't think there will be competition,'' Trembley said. "I think I'm going to be afforded the luxury of having two guys that have done it... I don't think it's inconceivable that we could somehow share that role."

Tigers: looks like Rodney

Having lost out on a few of the available top-tier closers, the Tigers are now considering using Fernando Rodney in the role next season.

A's: looks like Ziegler/Devine will share duties

A's manager Bob Geren indicated he plans to alternate Joey Devine and Brad Ziegler in the closer's role depending on the game situation

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:10 am

Per Jerry Manuel's quote in NY Post today, K Rod and Putz will split save opps 70-30 for the Mutz. Add that to the messy situation.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:28 am

Originally posted by Less than Dave:

Hook got most of those right...

Brewers, Cards, and probably Angels will all sign or trade for closers I believe.. Arredondo will close for Angels and Perez for Cards if they don't. Seattle will (unfortunately) likely use Morrow. Dodgers will just use Broxton, Saito will likely sign elsewhere.

Orioles: looks like Ray/Sherrill will share duties

Orioles manager Dave Trembley suggested Monday that George Sherrill and Chris Ray could share closing duties next season.

"I don't think there will be competition,'' Trembley said. "I think I'm going to be afforded the luxury of having two guys that have done it... I don't think it's inconceivable that we could somehow share that role."

Tigers: looks like Rodney

Having lost out on a few of the available top-tier closers, the Tigers are now considering using Fernando Rodney in the role next season.

A's: looks like Ziegler/Devine will share duties

A's manager Bob Geren indicated he plans to alternate Joey Devine and Brad Ziegler in the closer's role depending on the game situation Why is it, that bottom feeding teams try closer by committee or dual closers?

1.Wishy-washy management afraid to make a decision.

2. Thats the stuff that keeps them bottom feeding.

3. December sound bytes from Managers are, for the most part, meaningless.

If you said 'all of the above', you're a winner.

The key word in Trembley's sentence was "somehow", implying that he doesen't have a clue as to how to go about it.

But it all comes back to #3, Managers comments in December are spoken to promote all rostered players and get them motivated for the coming season, not much in the comments for the fantasy player.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:32 am

I think that Seattle may come around to trying Miguel Batista at closer - I think eventually they will move both Morrow and Heilman into the rotation.

I like Eric Karabell's take on the situation "If you are going to lose 100 games anyway might as well let Batista get 30 saves with a 5 ERA."

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:41 am

Originally posted by Ryan Carey:

I think that Seattle may come around to trying Miguel Batista at closer - I think eventually they will move both Morrow and Heilman into the rotation.

I like Eric Karabell's take on the situation "If you are going to lose 100 games anyway might as well let Batista get 30 saves with a 5 ERA." Why not go the other way and bring a kid up from the Minors? Maybe they can catch lightning in a bottle, instead of giving the duties to a retread.