The Closer Report: July 28, 2009

Saves: 6

Save Opportunities: 8

Papelbon gets rocked for three runs and Soriano gives up a walk-off home run

By Todd Farino, www.thecloserreport.com

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Today was a tough day for several closers across the board. Let's start with Jonathan Papelbon. He's been living on the edge for awhile now, and he hasn't been hitting his spots. He also has been depending on his fastball way too much. Tonight he got hammered by the Athletics for three runs on three hits and a walk. It was Papelbon's third blown save of the season. Papelbon has been used allot this year and he has a inning cap set by management, so expect the Red Sox to rest his as much as possible. He needed 21 pitches tonight and my guess is he won't pitch tomorrow, but with the Red Sox needing wins they probably will use him if needed. Andrew Bailey got the back door save closing out the 11-inning affair. He did get touched up for a run on two hits, but got his 12th save of the season.

Joakim Soria looks sharp tonight closing out another extra inning game against the Orioles. He got his third save in four games and his 17th overall for the season. After giving up a lead-off single, Soria got the next three batters including a strikeout. The thing I liked about Soria tonight, he used his fastball effectively. He has been relying on his breaking balls far too much and he went to the fastball and kept the Oriole hitters off balance. George Sherrill pitched another Sherrill inning, which is now defined as an inning with one hit and one strikeout.

With the month coming to a close in a few days, Heath Bell scored just his third save of the month beating the Reds 3-2. He looked great striking out two and facing the minimum of three batters. Bell has been great all year, but the Padres just don't win consistently enough for him to be an effective fantasy closer. If you were able to dump Bell earlier this month like I told you too, good for you.

Tonight, we watched another episode of The Adventures of Brad Lidge, starring none other than BRAD LIDGE. He got his 20th save of the season, but not without the Lidgeworks we expect. Lidge came into a 4-1 game and left 4-3. For you math haters, he gave up two runs on a bomb by Mark Reynolds. Here is an interesting stat for you Brad Lidge lovers and I promise you its not a useless Sabermetric stat. Lidge has given up runs in 19 of 42 appearances. 12 of those are during save opportunities and include his six blown saves. So what does that mean? That is more run surrendering appearances than Mariano Rivera, Brian Fuentes, and Joe Nathan combined. He is trash and shouldn't have a job anymore. Even if he is getting a save now and then, he is destroying your ERA and WHIP.

Rafael Soriano blew his second save of the season by giving up a walk-off two run jack to Ross Gload. It was a terrible pitch right down the heart of the plate and one he'd like to get back. He only recorded one out in the effort. The Marlins brought Nunez in to pitch the top of the ninth inning and got the win.

Yet another closer had a rough night, but this one was a loss and not a blown save. Scott Downs gave up a game winning bloop single to Ichiro Suzuki and loss to the Mariners 4-3. I've never been a fan of Scott Downs this season, and he's had a rough month to say the least. He's only pitched 6.2 innings and he's given up 7 runs, two blown saves, and a two losses. On the bright side, he has one save this month.

Other Appearances:
Joe Nathan (28) - Needed only one out and seven pitches for the save. if you are keeping count at home that is two saves on four batters and 13 pitches.

Brain Wilson (26) - Another excellent save for Wilson. Perfect inning and two strikeouts.

Brian Fuentes - Got rocked again, this time two runs and did not record an out. He was relieved by Jason Bulger who recorded his first save of the season.

David Aardsma - Got the win pitching in a tied game. Aardsma is now 3-3 on the season.

Trevor Hoffman - Pitched .2 innings and walked two. Got lifted for Mark DiFelice, who got the final out in the loss. DiFelice has great numbers this season, but Hoffman was just getting work, so don't look to much into this move.