Close to Being The Closer
Written by B-Dub, Saturday May 22 2010
No position in baseball is more volatile than the closer position. Guys can lose their job quickly and then get it back just as quickly. Some guys are groomed for the position, while others find success after failing in another role. The only thing we know for sure about closers is that we never know.
With that in mind I'd like to share a few thoughts on guys who just might be closing for their teams before the year is over.
Brad Lidge (PHI) and Huston Street (COL)
Let's start with the obvious guys who will be coming off the disabled list in a few weeks. Both Lidge and Street will immediately get their jobs back closing games as soon as they are off the DL. Why? It's the money stupid. Both guys are paid to close games, so that's what they'll do. If Charlie Manuel stuck with Lidge last year, I'm not sure what he could possibly do to lose his spot as the Phillies closer.
Fernando Rodney (LAA)
Not quite as obvious as the last two guys, but Rodney is sure to get his shot at closing sooner rather than later. Not only does he have a 2.65 ERA, while going 5 for 5 in save opportunities, but current closer Brian Fuentes (5.90 ERA) just isn't that good.
Matt Thornton (CHW)
He probably isn't still available in your league since he is already in a committee with Bobby Jenks (5.79 ERA). If he is available you need to do two things. First, pick up Thornton and his 2.12 ERA and 26:3 K:BB in 17 innings. And second, you need to invite me to join your league so that I can win some easy money in a league with such clueless owners.
Carlos Villanueva (MIL)
Trevor Hoffman has been "temporarily" taken out of the closer role due to his 13.15 ERA and the fact that he's old (42, like me and I'm not closing games in MLB) and he should retire already. The man is a Hall of Famer and he's only tarnishing his own reputation. Villanueva is the most logical choice to close with Todd Coffey struggling and LaTroy Hawkins hurt, but the Brewers would actually have to generate a save opportunity before anybody could get an actual save.
Frank Francisco (TEX)
I know Francisco already coughed up the job and I trashed him before, but like I said, anything can happen with the closer's job. Neftali Feliz is doing very well as the closer, but I've read that the team doesn't see him as a closer, whatever the hell that means. Plus Francisco has a 2.45 ERA in the 14.2 innings since he lost the closer job.
Koji Uehara (BAL)
When the team's manager says that a guy is a potential closer he has to be on your fantasy radar. Mike Gonzalez was terrible then landed on the DL. Same for Jim Johnson. Currently Alfredo Simon is closing for the Orioles, but he has no track record as a closer and just gave up 4 runs in a game this week.
Aaron Heilman (ARI)
I only mention him because the rest of the Diamondbacks bullpen absolutely sucks (7.90 ERA). Current closer Chad Qualls has a 7.07 ERA, while Heilman is sporting a 3.78 ERA. This one is just pure speculation.
Joel Hanrahan or Evan Meek (PIT)
It's too close to call between which of these guys will be the closer once Octavio Dotel either gets traded since the Pirates stink, or he just loses the job because he stinks (6.23 ERA). Meek has a 0.69 ERA, but Hanrahan has experience as a closer and an impressive 24:6 K:BB in 16 innings.
Dan Bard (BOS)
No, I'm not just saying this because I want the Red Sox to trade Jonathan Papelbon to the Phillies for OF Raul Ibanez and his huge contract so they can keep Jayson Werth after this season. That would be nice, but there are other reasons. Paps is walking too many batters (4.50 BB/9 vs. career mark of 2.5) and he seems to have lost a few MPH on his fastball. Why Do I want my Phillies to trade for him again? Anyway, the real problem in Beantown is that the Sox suck and Papelbon wants a ton of money in a long-term contract. The Phillies just need him for this season, to cover whatever injury Lidge is still hiding and the Sox want Bard to close eventually. This one is more a dream scenario than anything, but I thought it was a good way to end the article.
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