Closer Monkey

Tag: Zach Duke

  • Matt Albers impressing down the stretch

    September 30, 2015 Chicago White Sox — Matt Albers has quietly put together a streak of 21.1 scoreless innings since Aug. 5, which is the longest active streak in baseball. He earned his fourth hold in as many appearances on Tuesday, and has now moved ahead of Zach Duke. Updated Hierarchy: Robertson | Jones |…

  • Carson Smith struggles again; Nate Jones is filthy

    August 17, 2015 Seattle Mariners – After a successful recent stretch in AAA, Danny Farquhar returned to the big leagues over the weekend and picked up a save in extra innings on Sunday. At the moment, he doesn’t factor in to the usual late-inning plans in Seattle, but given Carson Smith’s struggles (he blew another…

  • Jake Petricka earns first save; Dan Jennings can’t pitch either

    May 29, 2015 Chicago White Sox — Before Thursday’s doubleheader with the Orioles, manager Robin Ventura expressed support for closer David Robertson, who has allowed six earned runs in his last eight outings. With Robertson unavailable, the White Sox turned to Zach Duke, as predicted in Thursday’s VSW, in the first game. Duke got the last out in…

  • Brad Ziegler at the head of a crowded Arizona committee picture

    May 16, 2015 Arizona Diamondbacks — We warned you in Thursday night’s Hot Seat column that Addison Reed was in grave danger of losing his job; not 15 hours later, he was relegated to the fabled “low-pressure role,” to deal with his (mechanical) issues and get more “regular work.” Skipper Chip Hale mentioned Brad Ziegler by name as a potential…

  • Tyler Clippard blows a save; Keone Kela ascends

    April 27, 2015 Oakland A’s — Oakland’s bullpen has been struggling lately, turning Evan Scribner into an eighth-inning fixture, and leading Bob Melvin to give Ryan Cook the seventh-inning role in his season debut. Cook pitched well, but Tyler Clippard blew the save. Clippard has enough good will built up, though, that he’s not on the Hot Seat…