Closer Monkey

Tag: Joe Smith

  • John Axford getting some 8th inning looks

    May 17, 2016 Oakland A’s – For the second straight night, John Axford got the 8th inning ahead of Ryan Madson, earning his sixth hold of the year. Sean Doolittle was used to finish off the 7th inning and seems to have slipped further down the Oakland hierarchy. Updated hierarchy: Madson | Axford | Doolittle.…

  • Huston Street headed to DL

    April 28, 2016 Los Angeles Angels — Closer Huston Street suffered a strained oblique and is expected to be placed on the DL.  Joe Smith picked up the save last night, and should continue to see save chances while Street is out. Updated hierarchy: Smith | Salas | Alvarez. New York Mets – As predicted in the…

  • Huston Street expected to be placed on DL

    April 28, 2016 Los Angeles Angels — Closer Huston Street suffered a strained oblique and is expected to be placed on the DL.  Joe Smith picked up the save last night, and should continue to see save chances while Street is out. Updated hierarchy: Smith | Salas | Alvarez.

  • Blake Wood becoming key in the Reds’ brutal bullpen

    April 23, 2016 Cincinnati Reds — J.J. Hoover is having a very rough April. Even a relatively low-pressure outing, down three in the ninth, turned into a four-run, five-hit implosion. It’s unclear whether Hoover will still be on the team through the weekend, but we have to believe he’s not sniffing any save chances for a…

  • 2016 AL West preview

    February 29, 2016 Houston Astros — Ken Giles finally became the closer in Philadelphia after the Jonathan Papelbon trade, and he excelled, collecting 15 saves and striking out 87 hitters in 70 innings. Now the 25-year-old should get the chance at his first full season as a closer — although Luke Gregerson isn’t too pleased about losing his job. Gregerson…