Closer Monkey

Tag: Nate Jones

  • Joaquin Benoit blows a save; Rangers bullpen still a mess

    April 17, 2017 Philadelphia Phillies – Joaquin Benoit allowed his first runs of the season on Sunday, blowing the save when Bryce Harper hit a 3-run walkoff against him in Washington. Benoit had been great to this point, allowing only one hit in five innings previously, but given that the wasn’t the person that most…

  • Pedro Baez is back for the Dodgers

    April 15, 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers — Pedro Baez was activated from the disabled list and immediately saw late-inning action with a lead. A six-run lead, sure, and only against three batters, but Baez was solid, striking out one and throwing 11 of his 15 pitches for strikes. We expect Baez to take over the seventh inning…

  • 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…

  • 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 AL Central Preview

    February 27, 2017 Chicago White Sox – As of right now, the White Sox still have David Robertson as their closer.  However, with the White Sox in rebuilding mode, Robertson has been the subject of trade rumors.  Nate Jones and Dan Jennings, Chicago’s primary seventh and eighth inning men from last year, will return in 2017.  Jones…