Closer Monkey

Category: atlanta braves

  • Jim Johnson hits the DL

    May 11, 2016 Atlanta Braves – Jim Johnson and his 7.90 ERA hit the DL on Tuesday. Ian Krol was recalled from Triple-A, but another lefty, Hunter Cervenka, has been terrific for the Braves since his debut on April 12, throwing 14 straight scoreless innings. Holds are rare from the Braves bullpen, but Cervenka may be…

  • Ross Ohlendorf might be Cincinnati’s best option

    May 2, 2016 Kansas City Royals – For the sixth consecutive appearance, Kelvin Herrera finished off the 8th inning for the Royals. And while we’re counting, that’s now 13 straight scoreless outings to start the year for hard-throwing righty (17 Ks in 12.1 IPs). Joakim Soria has the experience, but is off to a rocky…

  • Kyle Barraclough, flaky and delicious

    April 29, 2016 Miami Marlins — Hard-throwing righty Kyle Barraclough, acquired by the Marlins in the Steve Cishek trade, is off to a torrid start this season (6.2 innings, 0 ER, 11 Ks), and yesterday picked up his third consecutive hold, pitching the seventh inning ahead of David Phelps and A.J. Ramos. He’s only 25 years…

  • Blake Wood becoming key in the Reds’ brutal bullpen

    April 23, 2016 Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover is having a very rough April. Even a relatively low-pressure outing, down three in the ninth, turned into a four-run, five-hit implosion. It’s unclear whether Hoover will still be on the team through the weekend, but we have to believe he’s not sniffing any save chances for a…

  • Ryan Madson moves to the front of Oakland’s closer committee

    April 18, 2016 Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin explained Sean Doolittle’s usage after the game on Saturday, and for the first time acknowledged that “it depends” who gets the 9th inning — on that day, it was because Doolittle had been overworked so he wanted to use him for only one batter. On Sunday, meanwhile,…