A Closer Look - May 31, 2007

For the first time this season, there no major changes to report in this week’s Closer Look. All of the pitchers who held the primary closer roles for their teams last week at this time are still seated, but there are still some things to talk about. 

In Boston, with the Red Sox sitting on a sizeable lead in the AL East they will probably back off of the throttle on Jonathan Papelbon. They will be cautious with Jonathan for most of the summer and that will lead to more than the usual amount of save opps for set up man Hideki Okajima.

Okajima has been tremendous as the Sox setup man and he presents a viable closing option. Last season Papelbon’s shoulder gave way to a subluxation (essentially a partial dislocation … I’ll pause while you wince in empathic pain … ready?) and during the offseason the Sox felt that Jonathan should return to the rotation to save wear and tear. Their big lead will help them do that controlling his workload during the year. Okajima had become a valuable reliever in most formats already but the added save opps will up his value in all formats. 

In Florida, Henry Owens is expected back next week but manager Fredi Gonzalez has already committed the closers role to veteran Kevin Gregg who is an effective 6- for -6 in save opps since taking over.

Henry Owens was effective in his time as the Marlin’s closer as well and this situation continues to be subject to change without notice. Owens is expected to make one last rehab appearance this weekend. 

Brad Hennessey collected his second save of the season last night in relief of Armando Benitez who is down for a bit after having fluid drained from his knee. 

Benitez’s hold on the closer role is always shaky and once we add knee issues into the equation it becomes obvious that we need to keep track of who is second in line in San Francisco. Right now that is Brad Hennessey who we have discussed at length in this space. Brad  is not the prototypical closer but when Benitez isn’t the guy by the Bay, Brad is and that increases his value at this point.

Right now there is not a significant challenge to Hennessey’s status as Plan B. Kevin Correia would be a distance third. 

Benitez is definitely out for tonight’s game and will likely not be available until the weekend. Correia may get the save opp tonight of there is one, because Hennessey’s work load has been heavy of late having worked 3 of the last 4 nights.

Elsewhere… 

Huston Street still has some pain with his irritated ulnar but that pain is steadily reducing during his rehab exercises. He is hopeful he can start soft tossing this weekend but that will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis until he actually does throw. There obviously is no timetable for his return as of this writing.  

Meanwhile Justin Duchscherer had some pain in his hip during a rehab appearance on Monday and he will visit Dr. Thomas Byrd tomorrow to have his hip evaluated. Dr. Byrd operated on Jason Isringhausens arthritic hip last September, repairing his hip labrum along the way. Justin’s issues do not seem as sever so far, but we will probably know more by the end of the weekend. 

And finally, Tom Gordon expects to be back with the Phillies by the All-Star break. He recently waged war with an upper respiratory infection that cost him 10 pounds and most of his conditioning. He didn’t sound too terribly convincing in regards to that ETR so we won’t even mark it on the calendar yet. Stay tuned, we will keep you posted.