Closer Monkey

Closer Monkey | 2026

  • Alex Claudio gets latest Rangers save as seesaw battle for the ninth continues

    August 4, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: Our Donation Drive continues through this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Texas Rangers – And that’s why we call it a committee, folks! Until Thursday, Jose Leclerc had the team’s most recent save, and recent usage suggested Alex Claudio may have fallen out of favor as the…

  • Matt Belisle would have had the first post-Kintzler Twins save chance

    August 3, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: Our Donation Drive continues through this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Minnesota Twins — Some — including a Twins beat writer on Twitter! — scoffed when we predicted Matt Belisle would be best-positioned in the Twins bullpen if Brandon Kintzler was traded. But Wednesday night found…

  • Is Jose Leclerc leading the committee in Texas?

    August 2, 2017 [EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re running our Donation Drive this week. As always, we are extremely grateful for your support!] Texas Rangers – If the last two games are any indication, Alex Claudio is perhaps not the preferred arm in the ninth inning for the Rangers. With Texas trailing by a run, Claudio pitched…

  • 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…

  • Brandon Kintzler traded to Nationals

    July 31, 2017 Minnesota Twins – The Twins have shipped Brandon Kintzler off, leaving the cupboard pretty bare when it comes to 9th inning options. Veteran Matt Belisle has been pitching best as of late, while Trevor Hildenberger had a strong outing Sunday. Taylor Rogers seemed the best option as recently as a week ago,…

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