Closer Monkey

Category: hot seat

  • Hector Rondon blows save, Boxberger continues to pitch well

    July 12, 2014 Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon blew his third save of the season last night, as he couldn’t protect a one run lead.  Rondon has not been terrible lately, but he has given up a run in three of his last six appearances.  Neil Ramirez, on the other hand, has made seven straight scoreless appearances…

  • Addison Reed in trouble in Arizona

    July 9, 2014 Arizona Diamondbacks — Addison Reed blew his fifth save of the year — and third in his last six tries — on Tuesday night. Before Marcell Ozuna’s go-ahead home run, Reed was one strike away from cementing a victory in Vidal Nuño’s Arizona debut. Kirk Gibson, who might have a soft spot for go-ahead home runs, has remained…

  • 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…

  • Tommy Hunter could lose his job; Mets and A’s closing by committee

    May 14, 2014 Baltimore Orioles — After an overturned call on a Rajai Davis steal, Tommy Hunter blew his second straight save and boasts a 21.60 ERA over his last four appearances. Hunter has allowed 29 baserunners in his 15 IP so far this year, and the cries to replace him are getting louder. Buck Showalter is speaking in generalities thus…

  • Johnson returns to hot seat; Mejia moves into Mets ‘pen

    May 13, 2014 Oakland A’s — The A’s were seemingly on their way to a comfortable win over the White Sox, but after starter Jesse Chavez allowed a leadoff homer in the ninth and Fernando Abad followed that up with a walk, Jim Johnson made a mess of things. He faced just two batters, allowing a…