Closer Monkey

Category: Los Angeles Angels

  • Yankees likely to lean on Aroldis Chapman in the stretch run

    September 7, 2017 New York Yankees — With Dellin Betances struggling as head of the Yankees closer committee (7.94 ERA and two baserunners an inning over the last two weeks), Joe Girardi is strongly considering a return to Aroldis Chapman. Some say the move is a bit hasty, but the $17-million lefty won’t keep the…

  • Carson Smith takes over as 18th-inning man in Boston

    September 6, 2017 Boston Red Sox — Carson Smith was activated from the disabled list Tuesday and had one of the strangest debuts of the season on Wednesday morning. In his first appearance since May 14, 2016, Smith threw a scoreless 18th inning that included Josh Donaldson’s ejection after Smith’s very first pitch. Don’t expect Smith…

  • David Phelps done for the year; Brandon Maurer gets torched

    September 5, 2017 Kansas City Royals – Just when it seemed like Brandon Maurer was settling in, the righty got banged around to the tune of 5 hits (1 HR) and 3 earned runs on Monday before giving way to Scott Alexander, who got the game’s last out and picked up his third save of…

  • Juan Minaya and Blake Parker shed the committee tag

    September 3, 2017 Chicago White Sox — Juan Minaya picked up the save yesterday, his fourth since Tyler Clippard was traded in mid-August.  Minaya is clearly the closer for the White Sox right now so we will drop the asterisk, but we will see how long that lasts.  On Thursday, he blew the save by giving…

  • Blake Parker grabs another save for the Angels

    August 31, 2017 Los Angeles Angels — Another save for Blake Parker — this one coming after Cam Bedrosian had pitched the seventh with the team down three — means he’s the new committee leader. Meanwhile, Bud Norris went back to the disabled list on Tuesday with a recurrence of his knee inflammation. Yusmeiro Petit…