Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat

Closer Hot Seat

May 9, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Ryan Dodson

Welcome to KFFL's Closer Hot Seat. We'll forecast every sketchy closer situation in the majors each week, and we'll let you know who is next in line for the job in the very volatile closer situations across baseball. So sit back, relax and put your feet up as we fire up this week's Closer Hot Seat.

KEY

Durability grade: 1 (very injury-prone) to 10 (extremely durable)

Job security grade: 1 (very shaky) to 10 (firm grasp)

HOT SEAT STATUS: INJURY QUESTIONS

Atlanta Braves

Closer: Rafael Soriano (Bob Wickman is on the disabled list)

Next in line: Mike Gonzalez

Other possibilities: Tyler Yates

Analysis: Wickman remains sidelined, and the Braves designated reliever Steve Colyer for assignment. The Wickman news, well, that's obvious. Why tell us about Colyer, though? His exit means that Gonzalez is the only left-hander in the Braves' bullpen right now. He has a 1.26 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings so far, to go along with 11 strikeouts. He recorded his first save of 2007 Sunday, and last night he picked up a win. Nailing down that win, though, was Soriano. The righty earned Atlanta's first save after Wickman hit the disabled list, and he does have three on the season. Since the team lost Wickman, Soriano has pitched four scoreless innings, allowing only one hit in that time. Manager Bobby Cox is enjoying the luxury that a stacked bullpen brings, and he probably won't be too reluctant to play matchups. Soriano appears to be the one to own in Atlanta, at least for the short term.

Durability grade: 7

Job security grade: 6

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer: Jason Frasor (B.J. Ryan is on the disabled list)

Next in line: Jeremy Accardo

Other possibilities: Casey Janssen

Analysis: The Blue Jays have admitted that they purposely misled folks about the nature of Ryan's injury this past spring. General manager J.P. Ricciardi also wondered out loud about his fill-in closer, Jason Frasor, suggesting that perhaps he needs a stint in the minors. Manager John Gibbons doesn't believe so, stating that he has full faith in the righty. Frasor has allowed seven earned runs, seven hits and seven walks in his last three innings, so the doubts are understandable. Since recording a save April 28, he has blown one and lost another. To be fair, the Blue Jays have been bad all around. Accardo, though, is an exception, seeing as he hasn't allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings. He has also fanned 13. Frasor sticks for now, but keep an eye on Accardo.

Durability grade: 10

Job security grade: 7 (Last week: 8)

Texas Rangers

Closer: Eric Gagne

Next in line: Akinori Otsuka

Other possibilities: Joaquin Benoit

Analysis: The Rangers activated Gagne from the disabled list Tuesday and immediately reinstated him as closer. He didn't see action that night however. As expected, Otsuka filled in just fine while Gagne was out. He recorded two saves and blew another, but he salvaged the blown save with a win. He also notched a save the day before Texas lost Gagne. Otsuka owners still recognize the value here. Gagne owners should consider giving up something of value for Otsuka now.

Durability grade: 1

Job security grade: 7

Philadelphia Phillies

Closer: Brett Myers (Tom Gordon is on the disabled list)

Next in line: Geoff Geary

Other possibilities: Antonio Alfonseca

Analysis: Last week the Phillies placed Gordon (shoulder) on the disabled list with inflammation in his right rotator cuff. While the Phillies await the results of Gordon's MRI, they may have found their closer of the future. As expected, Brett Myers took over the role, and it's hard to say that he doesn't appear to be suited for it - at least right now. The powerful right-hander recorded two straight saves this past week, allowing only one walk while striking out two in two innings. Nevertheless, Myers hasn't had this job for very long, and it may only be a short-term thing. Signs are encouraging: As a reliever in 2007, Myers has a 0.87 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. The .275 BAA is disconcerting, but his career BAA is .262. Given Gordon's injury history, Myers will remain a fantasy commodity even if Gordon returns in the near future.

Durability grade: 9

Job security grade: 9

HOT SEAT STATUS: LACKLUSTER PRODUCTION

New York Yankees

Closer: Mariano Rivera

Next in line: Kyle Farnsworth

Other possibilities: Scott Proctor

Analysis: Still don't believe that Mo Rivera's name doesn't belong on this list? The 37-year-old saved three in a row recently, including both ends of a doubleheader May 3. However, Monday he took a loss when he gave up a solo shot to Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre in the ninth inning of a tied game. Rivera's ERA stands at 8.44; his record, at 1-3. He has blown two saves. Is this the end of an era? One of the all-time greats looks pretty vulnerable. Observers note that his cutter isn't cutting. His velocity is long gone. Rivera owners should at least be nervous. Farnsworth blew the save Monday, marking the second time that he has done so this year. He's not a great alternative at this point, which is yet another reason that manager Joe Torre will be letting Rivera work things out.

Durability grade: 6

Job security grade: 9

Houston Astros

Closer: Dan Wheeler

Next in line: Chad Qualls

Other possibilities: Brad Lidge

Analysis: Wheeler hasn't missed a beat (sort of) in the past week. Beginning May 2 he has saved four games in four chances, and they have come in four consecutive appearancesHe has had his share of troubles at times, and there aren't many that expect him to be the long-te. Monday's outing, however, was a bit rocky. The right-hander gave up two earned runs on a walk and a homer before recording the three outs it took to shut down the Cincinnati Reds. Tuesday wasn't much better; Wheeler gave up a solo home run before sealing the deal. Lidge, meanwhile, has steadily improved. He has dropped his ERA from 10.13, where it hovered April 22, to 4.40, thanks to only one earned run allowed in his last nine innings. Lidge has, in addition, struck out 14 batters during that stretch. He also picked up a win Tuesday. Wheeler is still the man for Houston, but there may come a time in the not-too-distant future when Lidge gets the call again.

Durability grade: 10

Job security grade: 5

Pittsburgh Pirates

Closer: Salomon Torres

Next in line: Matt Capps

Others: Damaso Marte

Analysis: Since hearing the mad townsfolk of Fantasy Baseball Village screaming for his head, Torres has done a serviceable job, saving four straight games in as many opportunities. The right-hander has had two save chances in the past week, allowing a total of one walk in them. Torres' ERA is still a very poor 5.79, and he's not delivering the strikeout rate that even some other borderline closers are at this stage. Meanwhile Capps, the heir apparent, has two wins and a 2.00 ERA this year. Tuesday he was on his game, allowing one walk and one hit in two scoreless innings. In his previous two appearances, though, the 23-year-old allowed three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Capps didn't record an out in his outing May 5, when he gave up two hits, including a home run, and two runs. Torres tightens his grip just a bit, but Capps may still be able to pry it away from Torres down the road.

Durability grade: 8

Job security grade: 6

Washington Nationals

Closer: Jon Rauch (Chad Cordero is on the bereavement list)

Next in line: Jesus Colome

Others: Micah Bowie

Analysis: Our condolences to Cordero, who has been pitching with a heavy heart. His grandmother is suffering from brain cancer, so the club placed Cordero on the bereavement list and allowed him to be with her in California. Cordero must miss a minimum of three games and a maximum of seven. The tall (6-foot-ll), nasty Rauch fills in for the time being. The right-hander is sporting a 4.67 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 2007; he has only fanned 10 in 17 1/3 innings this year. Last year, though, he struck out 86 in 91 1/3 innings, while saving two contests. Colome has five career saves, but Rauch should be fine in the role until Cordero comes back. Rauch has had shoulder problems in the past, though.

Durability grade: 6

Job security grade: 7

HOT SEAT STATUS: COMMITTEE SITUATIONS

Cincinnati Reds

Closer: David Weathers

Next in line: Mike Stanton

Others: Todd Coffey

Analysis: Before Sunday, Weathers hadn't been in a save situation since April 19, when he blew the chance and took a loss. Against the Colorado Rockies this last time out, though, he had little trouble getting the job done. He went 1 1/3 innings, fanning two and not allowing a hit, walk or run. In fact, in that blown save mentioned, his lone such outing this year, neither of the runs he allowed were earned. He has given up only four of them this year. His 12 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings are remarkable, for him. Stanton has been horrific in the past week; Coffey hasn't been much better, although he did pitch a perfect innings Tuesday. Can Weathers remain the closer all season?

Durability grade: 8

Job security grade: 7

Kansas City Royals

Closer: Joakim Soria (Octavio Dotel is on the disabled list)

Next in line: David Riske

Other possibilities: Jimmy Gobble

Analysis: Dotel is supposed to begin his rehab assignment in one or two weeks. Meanwhile, KC has done OK with Soria at the controls. He did blow his last opportunity, which came Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. During the past week, Soria saved two games prior to that, so he isn't likely to relinquish the role until Dotel returns. The main problem for fantasy owners is, of course, that the Royals don't win many games. Be patient, though; while Soria doesn't earn a ton of saves, he has been providing a boost to your strikeout rate and, to a degree, has been helping your ratios. Riske has gone four straight appearances without allowing a run.

Durability grade: 8

Job security grade: 7

Florida Marlins

Closer: Henry Owens

Next in line: Matt Lindstrom

Others: Taylor Tankersley

Analysis: Owens appears to be manager Fredi Gonzalez's man. Saturday, though, Owens did let one get away. He allowed three hits and two runs, neither of which were earned, as Florida handed a game to the San Diego Padres with two fielding errors in the ninth frame. Owens, however, has a 1.96 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 12 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings; he picked up his second win Tuesday night. Gonzalez is likely to stick with Owens until he falters. Tankersley seems to be gaining steam as the man who will be the likely successor to the role, according to some reports from Florida. The Marlins activated former closer Jorge Julio from the disabled list Friday. He won't be considered for the job anytime soon, but keep an eye on him. In his first outing, which came Monday, he pitched two innings without allowing a hit or a walk. He also struck out two. That's already his best appearance of 2007.

Durability grade: 8

Job security grade: 5