Closer Monkey

Category: Oakland A’s

  • Mark Melancon about to return for the Giants, but will his elbow hold up?

    August 12, 2017 San Francisco Giants – Mark Melancon should be activated from the DL on Saturday, but Bruce Bochy doesn’t sound terribly confident in his abilities yet, calling him merely “pitchable.” Although Bochy stresses that Melancon will close again soon, for now the $62 million man will start in lower-leverage roles. We want to be sure…

  • Rangers bullpen roles still as clear as mud

    August 7, 2017 Minnesota Twins – Protecting a one run lead, the Twins went with Trevor Hildenberger in the 6th and 7th, Taylor Rogers in the 8th, and Matt Belisle in the 9th. While Matty did a nice job, the Twins are still in committee mode for now, so we’ll leave our hierarchy right where it…

  • Amidst trade deadline chaos, Blake Treinen quietly taking over in Oakland

    August 1, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re running our Donation Drive this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Oakland A’s – Blake Treinen picked up his first Oakland save last night, putting him firmly at the front of the team’s closer-by-committee. He’s allowed only one earned run and seven total baserunners (4…

  • Brad Ziegler may be ready to return from the DL and close for Miami

    July 29, 2017 Miami Marlins — We told you last night that A.J. Ramos had been traded to Miami, that Junichi Tazawa was next in line for saves, and that Brad Ziegler would also be an option when he returned from the disabled list. In the wee hours of the morning, Marlins executive Michael Hill…

  • 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…