Category: Tampa Bay Rays
-
Joe Maddon rewards the chivalrous Grant Balfour
July 2, 2014 Tampa Bay Rays — Oh, Joe Maddon. No one was surprised to see him call on Jake McGee to face the Yankees’ 2-3-4 hitters in a one-run eighth. A few people were surprised when he summoned Grant Balfour to nail down the save with the same score in the ninth. But everyone was surprised when Maddon revealed his reasoning in…
-
Rays committee chugs along; Wilhelmsen picks up save
July 1, 2014 Tampa Bay Rays – Every time we think Jake McGee has creeped closer to claiming the ninth-inning duties for the Rays, Joe Maddon reminds us that he truly believes in his committee. On Monday, he had McGee face the Yankees’ 2-6 hitters in the eighth inning before allowing Joel Peralta to pitch…
-
Zach Putman moves to the top of White Sox closer committee, Sergio Romo blows save
June 29, 2014 Chicago White Sox – Zach Putnam recorded his first career save on Saturday. He got the last out of the 8th inning and then came back out for the 9th to finish the game. Putnam has been effective against both righties and lefties this season so we think he is the best option…
-
Tampa Bay committee chugs along confusingly
June 23, 2014 Seattle Mariners – Though he spent part of 2013 as the closer, Danny Farquhar didn’t appear to be the backup to Fernando Rodney — he often pitched the 7th inning, and has only accumulated 6 holds. But on Sunday, it was Farquhar who was the closer du jour with Rodney unavailable. As…
-
Ernesto Frieri, Jason Grilli on verge of losing their jobs
June 20, 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli blew his fourth save of the season on Thursday. Four blown saves — and an accompanying 4.34 ERA — isn’t exactly horrendous, but it’s obviously not what you want to see out of your closer, especially when your bullpen has been stellar otherwise. So after the game,…