Closer Monkey

Category: Seattle Mariners

  • Edwin Diaz to close in Seattle

    August 2, 2016 Seattle Mariners – After back-to-back poor outings, including a blown save on Sunday, Steve Cishek is out as Mariners closer. Edwin Diaz will take over for Cishek, with Tom Wilhelmsen likely getting the 8th for now. Cishek may still see some work in the 7th if Seattle has the lead, so we’ll keep…

  • New closers abound as trade deadline looms

    August 1, 2016 Milwaukee Brewers – For the second straight night, Will Smith got the 8th inning ahead of Jeremy Jeffress. Smith and Tyler Thornburg have been flipping back and forth depending on matchups, so if Jeffress is dealt today, a committee is the most likely outcome. If the Brewers want to pick just one man…

  • Jonathan Papelbon’s struggles continue

    July 27, 2016 Washington Nationals – Jonathan Papelbon suffered his second loss in as many outings, blowing a three-run lead in the ninth without recording an out. He has now allowed six earned runs in his last two appearances, raising his ERA from 2.56 to 4.45. After the game, Papelbon’s confidence in himself hasn’t wavered,…

  • Edwin Diaz and Brad Hand are making moves

    July 23, 2016 Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz pitched the eighth inning of a one-run game and added two more strikeouts to his league-leading 44 relief strikeouts since his June 6 debut. A converted starter, Diaz has a plus fastball and an incredible 18.3 K/9 ratio this season. All that’s holding him back thus far is his…

  • Edwin Diaz emerging in Seattle

    July 17, 2016 Seattle Mariners — Edwin Diaz pitched the eighth inning in Saturday’s 1-0 win, striking out two and allowing just one hit. After the game, Scott Servais said that Diaz has “earned his trust,” but that Diaz hasn’t formally supplanted Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning. Servais’ major concern is overusing Diaz, who is not…