Closer Monkey

Year: 2013

  • Hanrahan out for season, Burton gets save

    May 12, 2013 Boston Red Sox – Joel Hanrahan will have surgery and miss the rest of the season.  Fill in closer Junichi Tazawa came on for the 9th in a tie game last night and took the loss after giving up a go-ahead homerun to Adam Lind.   Tazawa has given up 4 runs in his…

  • Fujikawa back, Hernandez picks up save

    May 11, 2013 Chicago Cubs – Kyuji Fujikawa returned from the DL last night and threw a scoreless inning.  He will take over as the primary 8th inning guy and could return to the closer’s role once Kevin Gregg remembers that he is Kevin Gregg.   Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Set-up, James Russell to…

  • Hector Ambriz struggling; LaTroy Hawkins still hasn’t walked a batter all year

    May 10, 2013 New York Mets – Up by 1 run in the 8th inning on Thursday, the Mets went to veteran LaTroy Hawkins for the high-leverage hold.  Hawkins surrendered a solo home run, but despite the blown save, the Mets may continue to use him in important late inning spots, as he’s become a…

  • Tyler Clippard seizing 8th inning role in Washington; Santiago Casilla hurt

    May 9, 2013 Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard picked up an 8th-inning hold ahead of Rafael Soriano, marking the 4th consecutive time he’s been used in this fashion.  He seems to have wrested the primary set-up job away from a struggling Drew Storen, and will likely be the first choice for vulture saves on nights…

  • Bell likely to replace Putz, while Tazawa is confirmed in Boston; Marmol back up, Axford back down

    May 8, 2013 Arizona Diamondbacks — J.J. Putz gave up a four-pitch walk to start the ninth Tuesday night, then immediately exited with elbow stiffness. Although Heath Bell is allowing 1.5 baserunners per inning, he has significant experience as a closer and has probably outpitched David Hernandez so far this year. Kirk Gibson might give lip service to a closer-by-committee system,…