Closer hot seat: Ziegler closing for A's
by Buck Davidson, KFFL
KFFL: Over a dozen expert league championships — a proven source of player news and fantasy content.
KEY
Durability grade: 1 (very injury-prone) to 10 (extremely durable)
Job security grade: 1 (very shaky) to 10 (firm grasp)
Hot Seat: Injury Concerns
Chicago Cubs
Closer: Carlos Marmol
Next in line: Kerry Wood (finger, back)
Other possibilities: Jeff Samardzija, Bob Howry, Chad Gaudin
Marmol is technically still the Cubs' closer, and he has pitched very well in that role, but the word is that Wood's return to the closer's chair is imminent. The Cubs haven't had a save situation in more than a week, and Wood's battle with back stiffness (on the heels of his return from the DL due to a blister) clouds the picture a bit. Wood has pitched since experiencing the back problems, but any injury regarding the fragile right-hander must be taken seriously.
It's clear the Cubs intend to move Wood back into the closer's role sooner rather than later, with Marmol resuming his setup duties. Look for this move to take place within the next week.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 2
Los Angeles Dodgers
Closer: Jonathan Broxton
Next in line: Chan Ho Park, Hong-Chih Kuo
Other possibilities: Joe Beimel
Disabled list: Takashi Saito (elbow)
Broxton blew his first save since assuming the closer's role Saturday, August 9, then surrendered two runs before nailing down the save two nights later. Even though he has been rather hittable of late, Broxton should keep the Dodgers job at least until Saito returns.
And what of Saito? The 38-year-old played catch Thursday, August 7, but he still hasn't yet decided whether to undergo season-ending surgery on his sprained elbow ligament. Saito may return very late in the season, but there is considerable doubt as to whether he would be able to supplant Broxton should he make it back onto the field.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 9
New York Mets
Closer: Aaron Heilman
Next in line: Eddie Kunz, Scott Schoeneweis
Other possibilities: Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano
Disabled list: Billy Wagner (forearm)
Heilman blew his third save in five chances Monday, August 11, and the reliever's performance has Mets fans counting the days until Wagner is ready to return. That day looks to be August 18, but in the meantime the situation in the Mets pen is ugly indeed. Heilman's ERA is a lofty 10.05 since the All-Star break, but most of his bullpen mates have also had a hand in blowing leads over the past several games. Mets manager Jerry Manuel said after Monday's meltdown that changes will be made, but he hasn't specified what those alterations might be.
A committee approach seems most feasible, as Manuel had originally suggested, with the situation dictating who would get the ball in the ninth inning. Rookie Kunz was once considered a sleeper for save chances, but he has yet to receive an opportunity despite the considerable struggles of those around him. Feliciano recorded the save Tuesday, August 12, but he's best suited to duty as a lefty specialist.
Wagner is scheduled to go on a short minor league rehab stint and then rejoin the team Monday, August 18, if all goes well. Until Wagner returns, fantasy owners would be best served to surround the Mets bullpen with crime scene tape and heed its warning: Remain at a safe distance.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 3
Philadelphia Phillies
Closer: Brad Lidge (shoulder)
Next in line: Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson
Other possibilities: J.C. Romero
Lidge has been dealing with a sore shoulder recently and missed a few games because of it. Both Durbin and Madson converted saves in Lidge's stead, but the Phillies closer stated he was ready to pitch again Tuesday, August 12. Lidge is 28-for-28 in save chances this year, but his situation is worth watching until he shows that he's healthy and back to form. Durbin, Romero and Madson lack fantasy appeal unless Lidge lands on the disabled list, which doesn't seem likely.
Lidge should be considered day-to-day for now, but obviously this situation bears close watching over the next week or two.
Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 10
Pittsburgh Pirates
Closer: John Grabow, Craig Hansen
Next in line: Tyler Yates
Other possibilities: Denny Bautista, Romulo Sanchez
Disabled list: Matt Capps (shoulder)
Grabow converted a save Monday, August 11, after Yates blew a save the day before. Yates has surrendered nine earned runs in his past 2 1/3 innings, and he may have pitched himself out of the closer mix as a result.
Hansen notched a save Friday, August 8, and he and Grabow will likely be the top ninth-inning options until Capps returns.
Capps is currently on a Double-A rehab assignment and appears to be on track to return in the next week or two. Capps is recovering from shoulder bursitis, and he figures to step back into the closer's role almost immediately upon his return.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 3
Texas Rangers
Closer: Eddie Guardado
Next in line: Frank Francisco
Other possibilities: Jamey Wright, Joaquin Benoit
Disabled list: C.J. Wilson (elbow)
Wilson has elected to have season-ending surgery to clean up bone spurs and bone chips from his left elbow, so he won't be a part of the Rangers' plans until next season. Guardado, meanwhile, is now firmly entrenched as the Texas closer and worth a waiver wire grab if he's somehow still available in your fantasy league.
Guardado should have the job as long as he remains healthy, but the Rangers may also choose to give the 37-year-old lefty an occasional break. If that happens, Francisco figures to be first in line for stand-in duty.
Durability grade: 6
Job security grade: 8 (last week: 7)
Hot Seat: Lackluster Performance
Arizona Diamondbacks
Closer: Brandon Lyon
Next in line: Jon Rauch
Other possibilities: Tony Pena, Chad Qualls
Lyon has converted his last five save opportunities, but his performance in those dreaded non-save situations has inflated both his ERA and WHIP. Rauch has been the solid setup man the D-Backs hoped he'd be, and he should be there to pick up the slack should Lyon stumble.
Lyon's job looks to be safe for now, but his history of streakiness makes him a closer worth watching. Even in the best of times, Lyon's lack of dominant stuff relegates him to the low tier of fantasy closers.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 8 (last week: 7)
Baltimore Orioles
Closer: George Sherrill
Next in line: Jim Johnson
Other possibilities: Jamie Walker
Disabled list: Chris Ray (elbow)
Sherrill has been a great source of saves this season, but the lefty has struggled of late, managing only a 7.27 ERA in eight appearances after the break. Sherrill is still 31-for-37 in save opportunities this year, but his recent struggles - and a rather unforeseen potential challenger - win him a place of dishonor on the Closer Hot Seat.
The situation to keep on your radar screen is the reappearance of Ray, the club's former closer, who was thought to be out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August, although some in the organization think it's unrealistic. Ray is currently on a minor league rehab assignment and may be back with the team by the end of August. Once he's back in town, Ray could make a push for his old job, especially in view of Sherrill's recent ineffectiveness.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 9
Cleveland Indians
Closer: Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez
Next in line: Masahide Kobayashi
Other possibilities: Rafael Betancourt
Perez has been the Tribe's most effective relief pitcher of late, but he has not received many save opportunities. Meanwhile, Cleveland watched Kobayashi post a 15.19 ERA in his first eight appearances after the break, and the team may finally have moved the former Japanese League star out of his part-time closer's role.
Lewis is the newest name in the ninth-inning mix, and the hard-throwing right-hander racked up saves Friday, August 8, and Tuesday, August 12. It wouldn't be surprising to see Lewis get a turn as the closer in Cleveland, though the Tribe's mediocrity figures to limit whatever value their closer might have. Lewis warrants adding in AL-only and deep mixed formats.
Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 6
Detroit Tigers
Closer: Fernando Rodney
Next in line: Kyle Farnsworth
Other possibilities: Freddy Dolsi, Ryan Perry
Disabled list: Todd Jones (shoulder), Joel Zumaya (arm)
Remember that banner tape we told you to put around the Mets bullpen? You'd better save some for the situation in Detroit as well. Zumaya has not recorded a save since being named the Tigers' closer, and now he has been placed on the disabled list. That is not good news for owners who scrambled to grab Zumaya off waivers after it appeared he would see the majority of the save opportunities.
Rodney originally lost the closer's job due to control problems, while Farnsworth has done nothing to distinguish himself since being acquired from the New York Yankees. Rodney did garner saves Thursday, August 7, and Sunday, August 10, so perhaps he'll get another turn in the chair now that Zumaya is on the shelf for a while.
Things are so topsy-turvy in Detroit that Jones might actually reclaim his old job when he's activated from the disabled list. The veteran tossed a bullpen session Monday, Aug. 11, and may be back in action as soon as Friday, August 15. Jones could get a shot at closing again given the ineffectiveness of the bullpen during his absence, though manager Jim Leyland has yet to indicate what role Jones would fill upon returning.
Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 4
Oakland A's
Closer: Brad Ziegler
Next in line: Huston Street, Jerry Blevins
Other possibilities: Santiago Casilla, Joey Devine
Ziegler nailed a two-inning save Friday, August 8, and notched another save Tuesday, August 12; the rookie appears to have claimed the closing duties in Oakland for the time being. Street, meanwhile, pitched himself out of the closer's job with three losses and three blown saves since July 13. It's tough to define Street's role at this point, but it's safe to say that he's no longer the top option for saves in Oakland.
Grab Ziegler if he's available on your mixed league waiver wire as the youngster has not allowed a run yet this season and is now seeing save opportunities to boot. The submariner doesn't have a powerful strikeout pitch, but his groundball-inducing stuff has baffled hitters so far.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 5
St. Louis Cardinals
Closer: Chris Perez
Next in line: Ryan Franklin, Jason Isringhausen
Other possibilities: Kyle McClellan
The Cardinals' bullpen woes have haunted the team all season long, but hope has sprung anew now that Perez has recorded two saves in his first three appearances since being recalled August 6. Perez posted 11 saves at Triple-A Memphis and was generally regarded as the team's closer of the future. The future may be now for Perez, and he makes a great speculative addition in NL-only and deep mixed leagues.
Isringhausen remains in the picture, but his health woes and ineffectiveness have made him a very shaky option with the game on the line.
The Cards had indicated that pitcher Adam Wainwright (finger), who closed for St. Louis late in 2006, was rehabbing with the idea that he'd return as a late-inning reliever. However, he's now scheduled to start at Triple-A Memphis Saturday, Aug. 16, and throw 65-70 pitches, suggesting he'll remain a starter. Stay tuned.
Durability grade: 9
Job security grade: 4
Seattle Mariners
Closer: J.J. Putz
Next in line: Sean Green
Other possibilities: Mark Lowe
Putz has shown signs of his old self lately, and it's likely only a matter of time before he's back in form. Whether he will resemble the dominant closer who forged a 1.38 ERA last season, though, remains to be seen. For now, just know that Putz is once again Seattle's closer, and as such he's worthy of ownership in every fantasy format.
Green and Lowe would likely be in the mix if Putz succumbed to another injury, but neither figures to have fantasy value so long as Putz is healthy.
Durability grade: 7
Job security grade: 9 (last week: 8)
Washington Nationals
Closer: Joel Hanrahan
Next in line: Saul Rivera
Other possibilities: Jesus Colome, Luis Ayala
Hanrahan had a rather productive day Thursday, August 7, notching saves in both games of a doubleheader. Unfortunately, Hanrahan's twin killing eclipsed the number of saves he recorded in two previous weeks as the Nats closer. He also suffered his first blown save Sunday, August 10. Though the 26-year-old right-hander appears to have nailed down the closer's job in Washington, his fantasy value is limited by the fact that the Nationals just don't win very many games.
Durability grade: 8
Job security grade: 8
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