Closer Monkey

Tag: Blake Treinen

  • Top 15 Middle Relievers for 2017

    Below is a ranking of our top 15 middle relievers, based on their likelihood to get saves this season — not necessarily their skill level. As an example, Pedro Strop is a very good reliever who’s unlikely to get any save chances, because he’s stuck behind Wade Davis and Hector Rondon. So although Strop is a much better pitcher than a number of…

  • 2017 NL East Preview

    March 1, 2017 Atlanta Braves — After a comically horrific start to the 2015 season, Jim Johnson returned to the Braves, where he’s quietly spent the past season and a half regaining his form. His strikeout rate climbed back over the magical one-per-inning mark in 2016, and he ended the year with 20 saves after Arodys…

  • Jeanmar Gomez and the Phillies’ ninth are going to see other people

    September 24, 2016 Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies made the confusing announcement that although Jeanmar Gomez will be the closer for the rest of the season, he will get a “break” for the next few save chances — in favor of Hector Neris, Edubray Ramos, or even lefthander Joely Rodriguez. For now, we’ll call this a committee with Gomez as the…

  • Jeurys Familia blows his first (regular-season) save in a year

    July 28, 2016 New York Mets — Pour one out for Jeurys Familia’s 52-game regular-season save streak, the third-longest in MLB history (behind Tom Gordon and Eric Gagne). Familia’s streak is survived by Zach Britton’s 34-game regular-season save streak, Tony Wolters’s five-game hitting streak, and Vin Scully’s 67-year streak of being awesome. Hierarchy remains: Familia |…

  • Santiago Casilla placed on paternity leave

    June 18, 2016 San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla was placed on paternity leave yesterday, and will miss the weekend series in Tampa Bay. Jeff Samardzija was excellent last night, so the bullpen was not needed. Casilla has three straight scoreless appearances, but is only a week removed from a rough stretch that saw him lose two…