Closer Monkey

Tag: Jeremy Jeffress

  • Tony Barnette should get the next save chance in Texas

    April 13, 2017 Texas Rangers — Before Texas blew its game open — gifting a save to young Jose Leclerc — the first save chance in the post-Sam Dyson era was slated for Tony Barnette, a 33-year-old with no prior major league saves. In 2015, though, Barnette led the Japan Central League with 41 of them, tied with some guy…

  • Committee to replace Sam Dyson as closer in Texas

    April 12, 2017 Texas Rangers – Jeff Banister made some wishy-washy comments on MLB Network Radio this morning about the closer role, but what seems relatively certain is that Sam Dyson won’t be used in the 9th for a little while. Banister mentioned Matt Bush, Jeremy Jeffress, and Tony Barnette as committee members, saying the Rangers will…

  • If it’s spring, the Rangers must be blowing saves

    April 6, 2017 Texas Rangers — Last season, Sam Dyson gave up 19 earned runs in 73 appearances. In his first two games of this season, he’s almost halfway there (8 ER, 1 IP), with the latest blow a go-ahead grand slam by Francisco Lindor. The Rangers have fired their closer each of the last two Mays, but…

  • Cam Bedrosian might have to share save chances

    April 4, 2017 Los Angeles Angels – Despite his excellent spring training, Cam Bedrosian will share closing duties while Huston Street is out. Mike Scioscia shied away from calling the arrangement a “committee,” saying instead that he wants to retain the flexibility to use his ‘closer’ earlier in the game if matchups require. Wise though this might be,…

  • 2017 AL West Preview

    February 27, 2017 Houston Astros – Ken Giles will certainly hope for a better start to 2017 than he had last year. After losing the closer’s job in spring training, Giles yielded 10 earned runs over 10 innings in April. By mid-August, Giles reclaimed the closer job and never looked back, gathering 14 saves over the final…