Closer Monkey

Category: Baltimore Orioles

  • Bud Norris is restoring order to the Angels’ bullpen

    July 6, 2017 Los Angeles Angels — Miracle of miracles, the Angels actually had a low-drama save, courtesy of Bud Norris. One more and we jettison the asterisk. Meanwhile, Huston Street’s twingy groin will put him back on the disabled list until the season restarts on July 14. Hierarchy remains: *Norris | Hernandez | Bedrosian.…

  • Zach Britton is back for the Orioles

    July 5, 2017 Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton will come off the DL today and is expected to reclaim the closer’s role almost immediately. Ideally the Orioles will get to deploy him in a lower-leverage situation off the bat, but if they need him in a tight game right away Britton says he is ready.…

  • Matt Bush could be out of a job very, very soon

    July 1, 2017 Texas Rangers — Matt Bush blew his third save in the last five chances, the league-leading 16th blown save for Texas this season. After the game, the normally taciturn Jeff Banister kept repeating, “We’ve got to find a way to close baseball games out.” Complicating that search immensely is Keone Kela’s struggle with…

  • The Orioles bullpen is slowly getting back to full strength

    June 24, 2017 Baltimore Orioles — Darren O’Day returned from the DL with a scoreless eighth inning in a blowout loss. The Orioles need bullpen reinforcements badly, and O’Day should immediately return to his setup role behind Brad Brach. Zach Britton pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab relief assignment and looks to be on track…

  • Steve Cishek, Chris Devenski nab vulture saves

    June 23, 2017 Seattle Mariners — As the Vulture Save Watch predicted, Edwin Diaz was unavailable Thursday after pitching four straight days. With Nick Vincent also busy lately, the M’s turned to old friend Steve Cishek, who pitched a clean ninth for his first save. He may be a safe bet for late-inning appearances moving forward,…