Closer Monkey

Category: Kansas City Royals

  • Recapping a relatively calm Deadline Day

    August 2, 2023 Kansas City Royals – As expected, the Royals dealt closer Scott Barlow, sending him to the Padres. We expect Carlos Hernandez to lead a committee that includes Taylor Clarke and Dylan Coleman. Updated hierarchy: *Hernandez | Clarke | Coleman.* = closer-by-committee San Diego Padres — The Padres traded for Royals closer Scott Barlow…

  • Hicks on his way to Toronto and some post-trade shakeups.

    July 31, 2023Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays bolstered their bullpen on Sunday picking up Jordan Hicks from the St. Louis Cardinals. Hicks will take his 100+ MPH fastball north of the border and is likely to be the first choice for Toronto as long as Jordan Romano is out. We do think Romano…

  • Another meltdown in Arizona

    July 25, 2023 Kansas City Royals – Carlos Hernandez got the 8th inning ahead of Scott Barlow, which has been a trend as of late. He moves up to the handcuff spot after another successful bridge. Updated hierarchy: Barlow | Hernandez | Clarke. Baltimore Orioles – With most of the Orioles hierarchy on the shelf…

  • Chapman Traded and Daniel Hudson returns

    July 1, 2023 Texas Rangers — Aroldis Chapman was traded to the Texas Rangers last night in the first major move of trade deadline season. Chapman re-discovered some of the fire that made him the top closer in the game a few years ago, sporting a 16.45 K/9 and a 2.45 ERA. This would normally…

  • Non-standard usage for Justin Lawrence

    June 8, 2023 Colorado Rockies — Justin Lawrence was used as a fireman on Wednesday, coming in with two on in the seventh with a one-run lead. When he escaped that jam, he stayed in for the eighth, but gave up the go-ahead run on a squeeze bunt. If Lawrence keeps getting summoned in high-leverage…