The Closer Report: July 9, 2009

Saves: 7

Save Opportunities: 8

Big guns come out tonight with Rivera, Papelbon, and KROD getting saves

By Todd Farino, www.thecloserreport.com

Several of the stud closers came out tonight and pitched alright. Mariano Rivera continued his hot streak by closing out the game versus the Twins 4-3. His ERA and WHIP continue to drop and with 22 saves, he is only two saves away from the league leader Brian Fuentes. He has the third lowest WHIP of all closers behind only Joe Nathan and Jonathan Broxton. If you owned Rivera as of May 16 when he had only seven saves and a 3.38 ERA, you were heavily disappointed. However since then he has pitched outstanding and has resumed his post as one of the top closers in the game.

Francisco Rodriguez got a nasty save today over the Dodgers 5-4. He entered the game with the score 5 -3 and quickly gave up a bomb to Manny Ramirez. He then walked a batter, struck out a batter, and then gave up a hit to Russell Martin. Luckily he made the perfect pitch to Andre Either to get the double play.

How good is George Sherrill? He recorded his 19th save of the season with another easy save. Here are some numbers for people not familiar with Sherrill. Let's start with a respectable 1.16 WHIP and a 2.55 ERA. I don't think anyone expected numbers like that. In his 19 saves, he has given up only seven hits and one run. Now, he has blown saves, but what this tells me, he is consistent and he is in command when he comes into the game. That is a closer mentality and Sherrill is great at it. Of course, when he has blown up he really blows up. Since May 3, he has only one blown save.

Rafael Soriano got his fourth save in July in a 4-1 win over Chicago. He looked outstanding again with a perfect inning and two strikeouts. He is without a doubt the closer in Atlanta.

It all can't be good news, David Aardsma got rocked by the Orioles for five runs (3 ER) in the ninth inning. He came in with a three run lead and never recorded an out. Has the real David Aardsma shown himself? Have hitters figured out his straight as an arrow fastball and to lay off his slider? Stay tuned and find out when he comes in again. The end result was a blown save and a loss for Aardsma.

Other Appearances:
Jonathan Papelbon (22) - Got roughed up by the A's with two hits and a run. Still, he got the save.
Fernando Rodney (19) - Rodney is heating up again. Pitched a perfect inning and struck out two.

Scott Downs - Gave up a hit and a walk without recording an out and handed the loss to Jason Frasor.

J.P. Howell - Got the win pitching a perfect inning against the Blue Jays. He struck out two as well.

Chad Qualls - 2 hits and walk, but got out of the inning with no runs. Not a save chance.