Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat

June 19, 2009
11:01:01

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Tim Heaney

Also see: Fantasy baseball closer depth charts

In fantasy baseball, the closer position remains volatile. Rarely does every closer hang on to the job for the entire season - injuries, poor performance and managerial decisions can cloud a team's bullpen picture.

Should you be concerned about a struggling stopper? Which setup men are climbing the depth chart? Any lingering injuries popping up? KFFL.com's Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat series keeps you informed when you're looking for saves.

Key

Job Security (JS) score	Health (H) score
1 (unstable) to 5 (untouchable)	1 (injury-prone) to 5 (durable)

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer: Jason Frasor

Next in line: Jeremy Accardo, Brandon League

Other possibilities: Jesse Carlson, B.J. Ryan

Disabled list: Scott Downs

So Accardo earned the save last night? What about Frasor, who was tabbed by manager Cito Gaston as the ninth-inning option with Downs (toe) out? Well, Frasor came on to clean up a mess in the eighth inning; he gave up one hit that allowed Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins to score from second.

Why didn't he stay in for the ninth? His spot in the lineup was due up, and manager Cito Gaston opted to pinch hit with catcher Rod Barajas, who hit a game-winning homer. Last night Gaston didn't intend to use Accardo, who had traveled across the country to be called up, but he used all of his pen options except for Accardo and Ryan.

Frasor still looks to be the interim closer here.

The real news: Gaston doesn't feel comfortable using Ryan as his closer. The tall lefty still has to lock down his control. Accardo is a sneaky option for saves, if you missed out on Frasor. The righty recorded 30 saves in 2007 and said his elbow, which limited him to 16 games last year, finally started feeling better in the last few weeks. Just don't say we didn't give you a heads-up if you missed out on him.

Job security score: 3

Health score: 5

Mound meetings

• The Los Angeles Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton (toe) was sidelined for a second straight day as he recovers from a cortisone shot in the big toe of his push-off foot. He's expected to be ready for this weekend series, however. In Broxton's place, Ramon Troncoso locked it down for the Dodgers in the ninth last night.
• Could we have a Frank Francisco (shoulder) sighting in a Texas Rangers uniform this weekend? The righty needed just nine pitches to work through the first inning of a rehab appearance with Double-A Frisco yesterday. He needed just another 13 to finish the second inning. He is eligible to return today.
• The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen might be getting a boost early next week. Injured closer Brad Lidge (knee) threw 42 pitches during a bullpen session yesterday and said his knee feels as good as it has in months. A rehab stint with Double-A Reading could be in the cards today, and he might return as early as Tuesday. The fluid isn't completely gone from his knee, but it is down to where it's manageable, according to Lidge. Ryan Madson, Lidge's replacement, gave up a game-winning homer in the ninth last night in a tied game.
• Houston Astros stopper Jose Valverde recorded his first save last night since coming off the DL. Still, it's too early to drop LaTroy Hawkins considering all the trade speculation around these two players.

Also see: Fantasy baseball closer depth charts

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