Closer Monkey

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  • Tanner Scheppers returns, gets immediate 8th inning assignment

    June 6, 2014 Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon got a night off after pitching the previous two games, so Neil Ramirez picked up the save in his place. For a last place team, the Cubs sure do have a great tandem at the back end of their bullpen, as Ramirez (0.68 ERA, 21 Ks in…

  • Rex Brothers melts down

    June 5, 2014 Colorado Rockies – Colorado led 8-5 when Rex Brothers entered in the eighth inning. But Rex yielded four singles and a walk, and all five of those batters came around to score, increasing his ERA to 19.29 over his last six appearances. The Rockies wound up losing 16-8. Although there was immediate speculation that Brothers might…

  • Joe Nathan to Hot Seat; Ryan Cook returns

    June 4, 2014 Detroit Tigers — Hometown hero RoboCop threw out Tuesday’s first pitch; even his bounced eephus looked good up against the offerings of closer Joe Nathan, who yielded four runs in one-third of an inning to raise his ERA to 6.86. Nathan’s reduced velocity and deteriorating command has put Brad Ausmus in a difficult position: stick with his $10 million man, who reports feeling “damn good,” or give…

  • Aaron Loup earning a more defined role in Toronto bullpen

    June 2, 2014 Toronto Blue Jays – Up by four runs in the 9th inning, the Blue Jays went to Aaron Loup, who pitched a clean inning to close the game out.  Loup’s role has been difficult to define for much of the past season and a half — at various times, he’s been everything…

  • What the hell is going on in Houston?

    May 30, 2014 Oakland A’s – With $10 million invested, the A’s really want Jim Johnson to succeed — or at least be a usable reliever. But after giving up 2 runs in the 7th inning of a close game on Thursday afternoon, Johnson’s ERA sits at 6.55. The A’s season is exactly 1/3 over,…