Sponsorship

Show your support for Closer Monkey by sponsoring a Closer Monkey email!

The cost is $20 per day, or $100 per week (savings of $40!), and your age-appropriate message will be seen at the bottom of any Closer Monkey emails sent during your span of sponsorship, including all closer-change alerts. For example:

——————-
Hierarchy changes for NYM, CHC, MIL.
New updates for TOR, OAK.
Two vulture save options for today; one for tomorrow.
Read on for more info.
-Closer Monkey

Sponsored:
Show your knowledge of MLB by taking on competitors daily for cold hard cash! 100% deposit bonuses on your first deposit up to $500! Click here to claim yours now!
——————-

Links are allowed (again, link content must be age-appropriate), but images are not. If you’re interested in sponsorship, then send your inquiry to [email protected].

Closer Monkey is grateful for your support.

Joaquin Benoit “will be an option” in the 9th inning going forward

June 17, 2013

Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit got the last out of the 8th inning on Sunday, then stayed on for the 9th to earn his fourth save of the year.  After the game, Jim Leyland said that Benoit “will be an option,” though he stopped well short of naming Benoit the new closer, saying Jose Valverde would still get save chances.  It’s possible that Benoit, who can be slow to bounce back and rarely pitches three straight days, will get save opps when fresh, and Valverde will get them otherwise.  Either way, he’s definitely worth adding, especially until Leyland offers some clarity on the situation.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitDrew SmylyBruce Rondon6/17/13

.
Houston Astros – Travis Blackley got the last out of the 8th inning on Sunday, earning his 11th hold of the season.  In recent weeks, he’s often shared the 8th inning with Hector Ambriz, and has become the go-to lefty in the Houston bullpen, ahead of the struggling Wesley Wright.  Hierarchy change: Travis Blackley to 2nd in line, replacing Josh Fields.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose VerasHector AmbrizTravis BlackleyJose Veras6/17/13

.
Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg had the night off yesterday, so Carlos Marmol got the call in the 9th inning in a 3-run game against the Mets on Sunday.  Five batters later, the Mets had walked off, and Dale Sveum was saying things like “We’ve come to find out that he has trouble with the last three outs,” while Marmol destroyed the clubhouse.  I don’t even know what joke to make about Sveum’s hilarious admission, which the rest of humanity realized in 2011, but the Cubs don’t appear close to cutting Marmol altogether.  Maybe, just maybe, this means that James Russell will finally get a shot in the 9th the next time Gregg is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: James Russell to Set-up, Carlos Marmol to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHCKevin GreggJames RussellCarlos MarmolKevin Gregg6/17/13

.
Cincinnati Reds – Alfredo Simon picked up a three-inning save with an impressive, 6-strikeout outing on Sunday.  He’s had a solid year, but only has two holds on the season to this point, and is unlikely to break in to the usual late-inning hierarchy, even with Jonathan Broxton on the shelf.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanSam LeCureJ.J. HooverJonathan Broxton6/17/13
Jonathan Broxton (DL)

.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Hector Ambriz, Houston Astros – Jose Veras has pitched in three straight.
2. Luke Gregerson/Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in two straight, and might get a day off, given that he’s just back from the disabled list.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit could get a save on any given night, should Jim Leyland deem him a better matchup than Jose Valverde.

Brandon League gets save in extras, Broxton to DL

June 16, 2013

Los Angeles Dodgers — Brandon League picked up the save in the 11th inning last night after Kenley Jansen blew the save in the 9th.  Even with the blown save, Mattingly is not thinking about making another change back to League.  No hierarchy change.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
LADKenley JansenBrandon LeaguePaco RodriguezKenley Jansen6/16/13


Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan Broxton was finally put on the DL Saturday with a right forearm injury.  Sam LeCure should see time in the set-up role while Broxton is out.   Hierarchy change: Sam LeCure to Set-up,  J.J. Hoover to 2nd in line, Jonathan Broxton to DL.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
CINAroldis ChapmanSam LeCureJ.J. HooverJonathan Broxton6/16/13
Jonathan Broxton (DL)

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg has pitched in four straight games
2. Carter Capps/Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Oliver Perez got the first save chance but with Eric Wedge playing match-ups in the 9th, Capps or Furbush could also see opportunities.
3. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – Ron Roenicke has said that he will try to give K-Rod the opportunity to reach 300 saves for his career.  He only needs 2 more.

Oliver Perez with save, Huston Street off DL

June 15, 2013

Seattle Mariners – Eric Wedge said before Friday’s game that he would give Tom Wilhelmsen some time off from closing.  Oliver Perez was the first reliever to get a save chance in his place (which was a bit of a surprise given his 1.32 WHIP), but the lefty converted, and stands to be in a closer-by-committee with Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush until Wilhelmsen rights his ship.  Wedge’s comments make it sound as if Wilhelmsen will get the job back if he can turn it around, so we recommend hanging on to him for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Oliver Perez to Closer, replacing Tom Wilhelmsen.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
SEAOliver PerezCarter CappsCharlie FurbushTom Wilhelmsen6/15/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

 

San Diego Padres – The Padres activated Huston Street from the DL on Friday and he will immediately return to the closer’s role. Hierarchy change: Huston Street to Closer, Luke Gregerson to Set-up, Dale Thayer to 2nd in Line.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
SDHuston StreetLuke GregersonDale ThayerHuston Street6/15/13

 

Los Angeles Angels – Kevin Jepsen pitched a scoreless eighth inning ahead of Ernesto Frieri last night.  Since coming off the DL on May 26th, Jepsen has pitched 8.2 scoreless innings while only giving up 4 hits.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to Set-up, Garrett Richards to 2nd in line.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
LAAErnesto FrieriKevin JepsenGarrett RichardsErnesto Frieri6/15/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

 

St. Louis Cardinals – Kevin Siegrist pitched another perfect inning last night and has been very impressive since getting called up.  The young lefty has pitched 4.1 innings with 9 ks and has only given up 1 hit.  Siegrist also had 44 ks in 27.2 innings at Triple-A Memphis this season.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Siegrist to 2nd in line, replacing Seth Maness.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
STLEdward MujicaTrevor RosenthalKevin SiegristJason Motte6/15/13

 

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg has pitched in three straight
2. Carter Capps/Charlie Furbush, Seattle Mariners – Oliver Perez got the save last night but Eric Wedge said that he will mix and match in the 9th so Capps or Furbush could get the call depending on how the game plays out.
3. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – The Brewers could use K-Rod on any night in an attempt to get him to 300 saves for his career.  He’s currently at 298.

Oliver Perez to lead closer-by-committee while Tom Wilhelmsen rights ship

June 15, 2013

Seattle Mariners – Eric Wedge said before Friday’s game that he would give Tom Wilhelmsen some time off from closing.  Oliver Perez was the first reliever to get a save chance in his place (which was a bit of a surprise given his 1.32 WHIP), but the lefty converted, and stands to be in a closer-by-committee with Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush until Wilhelmsen rights his ship.  Wedge’s comments make it sound as if Wilhelmsen will get the job back if he can turn it around, so we recommend hanging on to him for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Oliver Perez to Closer, replacing Tom Wilhelmsen.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEAOliver PerezCarter CappsCharlie FurbushTom Wilhelmsen6/15/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

.