The trade of Eric Gagne to the Red Sox left the Rangers closer role an open question. Akinori Otsuka is the heir-apparent in the long term, but he is down with elbow inflammation. Most sources say he is a week or two away but John Heyman reports that there is speculation that Otsuka needs TJS.
Joaquin Benoit has been installed as the early favorite for save ops. His 9.1/2.6 K/BB rates fit the bill, as does his 0.6 HR rate. He’s not really unhittable though his .244 OBA is decent (.317 BHIP%) and his GB split has been level this year. He is qualifying on K rate with decent supporting peripherals.
Last night however, left-hander C.J. Wilson recorded his second save in two days, getting the one batter he faced, lefty Kenny Lofton, with a strikeout, with Benoit going 2.2 to set him up as the Rangers won by 3. The choice of
It is not time to tear up your Joaquin Benoit tickets quite yet. Moreover, Frank Francisco is in the picture as well in
With Octavio Dotel moving to
Soria has handled the job well this year in Dotel’s absence, posting 10.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. Opponents are hitting .199 off him with an only slightly favorable .281 BHIP%. He has limited his HRs to 0.4/9 and while his 1.04 WHIP suggests there is still some correction coming on his ERA (due to a favorable 76.9% strand percentage), he is clearly doing the job and his performance level seems relatively solid.
If his performance level were not security enough, he remains the Royals’ best option for the job by default is nothing else. Zack Greinke is #2 in line in the bullpen with David Riske behind him.
For his part, Dotel goes to
Dotel has fanned 11.3/9 this year but he has allowed 4.3 BB/9 and given up 24 hits in 23 IP, leaving him with an uncomfortable 1.52 WHIP. Neither that BB rate nor hit rate is too far out of line with his career numbers of 7.1 hits per 9 or 3.7 BB/9 either. The bottom line is that Dotel has been erratic in his recent MLB history. The Braves are looking at an arm that is still clearly lively and they are thinking they can polish him up to be their closer. Who am I to say they can’t? The Braves have an excellent history in developing and tweaking pitchers, and it would be foolish to bet against them in that regard.
Wickman remains the Braves closer for now, and can retain the job if he doesn’t give Cox reason to remove him, but his margin of error just got considerably slimmer and he appears to be a dead man walking in
In
Finally Brett Myers coughed up a fur ball last night against the Cubs walking three in a tie game in the ninth and then allowing the winning run to score on a wild pitch. He had worked two scoreless IP and recorded a save since returning from the DL on July 27th. He remains the Phillies closer with good security, but that has to leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Antonio Alfonseca and a less-than-healthy Tom Gordon wait in the wings. Sure, they probably didn’t seem like viable competition before last night’s outing, but … The key here will be to see how Myers himself responds.
