Closer Monkey

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  • Matt Belisle would have had the first post-Kintzler Twins save chance

    August 3, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: Our Donation Drive continues through this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Minnesota Twins — Some — including a Twins beat writer on Twitter! — scoffed when we predicted Matt Belisle would be best-positioned in the Twins bullpen if Brandon Kintzler was traded. But Wednesday night found…

  • Is Jose Leclerc leading the committee in Texas?

    August 2, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re running our Donation Drive this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Texas Rangers – If the last two games are any indication, Alex Claudio is perhaps not the preferred arm in the ninth inning for the Rangers. With Texas trailing by a run, Claudio pitched…

  • Blake Treinen in the mix for saves in Oakland

    July 28, 2017 Oakland A’s – A’s beat reporter Susan Slusser suggested before Thursday’s game that manager Bob Melvin could be thinking about a change at closer, given Santiago Casilla’s recent troubles. Sure enough, after he got the last out of the eighth inning, Blake Treinen got the save chance in the ninth. Treinen allowed a…

  • Pat Neshek traded to the Rockies; Kyle Barraclough placed on the DL

    July 27, 2017 Colorado Rockies — The Rockies added some much-needed bullpen depth with the acquisition of Pat Neshek from the Phillies. Neshek brings an impressive resume (1.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 10.04 K/9) to Coors Field, where he will immediately see high-leverage work and potentially a save chance with Greg Holland on paternity leave. Holland will be…

  • Not a great first impression from Tyler Clippard

    July 22, 2017 Chicago White Sox —  Tyler Clippard’s first appearance with the White Sox didn’t go as planned. Entering a tie game in the tenth inning, he loaded the bases with no outs, taking the loss on a sacrifice fly. If Clippard isn’t more effective in Chicago than he was in New York, he…