Sorry guys, but RC and I decided to cancel tonight's show because of our football work. No worries, we will be back next week. With baseball and football merging, there are time constraints and we do our best to meet them all.
Thanks for understanding,
Todd
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
Happy Memorial Day!
Top Closers for May 2010:
Jonathan Broxton - 12 Saves
Rafael Soriano - 9 Saves
Neftali Feliz - 9 Saves
Andrew Bailey - 9 Saves
Brian Wilson - 8 Saves
Carlos Marmol - 8 Saves
Kevin Gregg - 8 Saves
Octavio Dotel - 8 Saves
Matt Capps - 7 Saves
Francisco Rodriguez - 6 Saves
Jon Rauch - 6 Saves
Leo Nunez - 6 Saves
Francsico Cordero - 6 Saves
SAVES:
Andrew Bailey (11) - Bailey finished the month of May strong with a 1.1 inning close out of the Tigers. It was his ninth save of May and he has turned into one of the hottest closers in baseball.
Octavio Dotel (11) - Dotel looked outstanding once again. He struck out two and gave up one hit in a 14 pitch save. Dotel finished May with eight saves and has proven he can close with no problems after a brutal April.
Kevin Gregg (14) - Gregg continues to rack up saves and improve his overall numbers. It looks as though his minor issues a few weeks back were a blip on his overall radar and not a regression. Tonight wasn't easy, he needed 19 pitches to get the save.
Jon Rauch (13) - Rauch got roughed up a bit securing unlucky save number 13. He gave up a run on two hits, but held on for the save.
APPEARANCES:
Jonathan Broxton (3-0) - Entered a tie score in the ninth inning and held it tied with two strikeouts. He then got the win. That is the third overall win for Broxton and second in May. He also led the month in saves with 12 saves.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
SAVES:
Joakim Soria (12) - Soria pitched a harmless 1-2-3 inning to get his 12th save of the season over the Red Sox tonight. He needed only eight pitches and over the past week he has lowered his ERA to 2.84.
BLOWN SAVES:
Matt Lindstrom (1-1, BS1) - Lindstrom finally blew a save. Granted it wasn't till May 27, Lindstrom got smoked for two runs on four hits and three walks. Just a terrible night for the up and coming closer.
Calros Marmol (11) - Marmol notched another big save and did it in "Marmol Fashion". "Marmol Fashion" is striking out two or more batters. Today Marmol struck out three including Manny Ramirez. He is now one strikeout shy of 50.
Brian Wilson (12) Wilson is another closer coming off of some tough times, but pitching far better. Tonight he struck out two getting his 12th save of the season.
Andrew Bailey (9) - Bailey finally got back to saving and pitched another perfect inning recording his ninth save of the season. Ok, it wasn't perfect. He did give up two hits and struck out one. While Bailey only has nine saves, it is his seventh save of May and he has pitched incredibly well the entire season.
Francisco Rodriguez (9) - KROD was on tonight. His slider was like his slider of old and he had no issues getting rid of the Phillies in the ninth. He set the Phillies down 1-2-3, striking out the batter to end the game. KROD and the Mets are back.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
SAVES:
Joakim Soria (11) - Soria had a quick 1-2-3 inning against the Rangers and disposed of them on 13 pitched. This was a very strong outing for Soria and lately he has been getting back to his dominant form.
David Aardsma (11) - Pitched a 1-2-3 inning and struck out one. Aardsma has pitched three straight scoreless appearances with five strikeouts. He is looking like the Aardsma of April.
Jonathan Broxton (11) - Was called on by Torre for 1.2 innings and nailed the save over the happless Cubs 8-5. He did get his his 30th strikeout of the season, only the second closer to achieve that.
Mariano Rivera (9) - Recorded his second save of the month with a 3-2 win over the Twins. While he recorded the save, he didn't strike out anyone, but did manage to not give up a run. He also looked healthy and back to form as it took only 11 pitches to upend the Twins.
BLOWN SAVES:
Brian Fuentes (2-1, BS3) - Another night, another blown save. After two consecutive saves, Fuentes couldn't make it to three. He was screwed on a Bobby Abreu error in the outfield, but a good closer would have rebounded, instead Fuentes gave up a double to John Buck. The good news, he got the win.
Heath Bell (BS3) - Heath Bell had a tough night. He blew his third save of the the season by giving up a run on three hits. He was bailed out from losing the 1-1 game by striking out the side and not letting another run score. Bell has been impressive this year, but you cannot overlook the three blown saves and his 1.38 WHIP.
APPEARANCES:
Jon Rauch (1-1) - Rauch took the loss to the Yankees, giving up a run in the top of the ninth on two hits. Rauch's ERA has slowly been rising and not stands at 3.00. His WHIPERA is now well above four at 4.22.
Billy Wagner - Got some work in a 7-3 game. Pitched a perfect inning and struck out two. Now if he can only do it in a save opportunity.
Bobby Jenks - Got rocked in a none save situation giving up three runs on three hits and three walks. It will shock me if Matt Thornton doesn't close out the next game. He did pitch the eighth in this game and pitched a perfect inning.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
CLOSER NEWS AND NOTES Oriolesspare closer Alfred Simon when on the DL with a strained left hamstring. Mike Gonzalez isn't due back till June 9th, so the Orioles will need a stop gap in the mean time. Look at David Hernandez or Will Ohman to be that stop gap. Huston Street threw a bullpen session and had no issues. He is still hoping for a early June return.
SAVES
Jonathan Papelbon (11) - Papelbon looked sharp and was throwing hard to put down any Rays rally. While he walked one, he was in complete control and struck out Upton to end the game.
David Aardsma (10) - This has been atough season so far Aardsma. After a solid April, Aardsma has only recorded two saves in three chances in May primarily due to the poor play by the Mariners offense. Tonight he looked great with a strikeout and one hit.
Heath Bell (12) - Bell worked hard for his save tonight, but did earn it. He needed 28 pitches to clear the heart of the Cardinals order, giving up a hit to Pujols and walking David Freese. He did strikeout a batter, but don't expect to see Bell close out tomorrows game if needed.
Neftali Perez (13) - Feliz is on a tear. he locked up his 13th save of the season holding off the Royals 8-7. While he wasn't his best, needing 21 pitches and walking one. He did pick up a strikeout as well.
Carlos Marmol (10) - Marmol hit double digits in saves tonight, recording his tenth save of the season and of course struck out two with no hits. The 27-year old closer continues to impress in 2010, but even more the month of May. In the month he has seven saves and an eye popping 24 strikeouts. Most closers don't have 24 striekouts!
Manny Corpas (4) manny continues to prove rthat he should never have lost his closer job two years ago. In his four saves he has given up only one hit and his WHIP is down to 0.86.
Brain Wilson (11) - Wilson was on fire tonight. He struck out the side to secure his eleventh save of the season. Overall, 15 pitchs, nine strikes. Pretty good.
Octavio Dotel (10) - Dotel continues his incredible May. He recorded his seventh save of the month and even more incredible he has only given up one run in the month. He also has 14 strikeouts and a win to add to his resurgent May.
APPEARANCES
Leo Nunez - Not a good day for the hot Florida closer. He came in to close out the game with a four run lead and gave up two runs on three hits in the non-save situation.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
SAVES: Jose Valverde (11) - He needed 24 pitches and walked two batters, but the end result was another sweet fist pumping save. His season ERA is now at a microscopic 0.48.
Ryan Franklin (10) - Franklin joined the DD club (double digit) with his tenth save of the season. He started off by getting the first two outs on two pitches. He then walked a batter before striking out the final better to end the game.
Rafael Soriano (11) - Soriano got called into a ninth inning with two runners on. He got the first two batters out, striking out Randy Winn, but then gave up a two RBI double to Derek Jeter before getting the final out and securing the save. Overall, Soriano was outstanding. He gave up a double to one of the best clutch hitters in baseball and frankly if there were no runners, there would be no runs.
Brian Fuentes (6) - Fuentes actually had a 1-2-3 inning, READ ALL ABOUT IT! Needed 15 pitches and got the save. Yeah.
Chad Qualls (7) - It almost seems like you never hear this guys name, but today he got his first save since May 4th and only his second save of the month. He only faced one batter and struck him out.
Jose Contreras (2) - Got his second save as the Phillies closer, but made it very interesting. Allowed the first two batter to reach, but went on to strikeout two of the next three batters. Overall, he needed 31 pitches.
Jonathan Broxton (8) - Recorded his eighth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the rival Padres. Broxton needed only 13 pitches and struck out one.
BLOWN SAVES:
Francisco Cordero (1-3, BS3) - Cordero came into a disaster of an inning and was asked to stop the bleeding. The Braves had already put on three runs and had the bases loaded. Instead of doing what closers do best, he gave up a grand slam that barely cleared the wall. This is the third blown save of the season for Cordero and granted he's having a good season, this is the reason I steer clear of him.
Kevin Gregg (0-1, BS2) - Gregg didn't stand a chance tonight. After their manager got kicked out an inning earlier, the Mariners were fired up. Gregg didn't have his good stuff, and he was all over the place. The end result was 3 runs on three hits and two walks. Just a terrible outing, but you had to expect it out of Gregg eventually. It will be important to see how he reacts during his next outing.
APPEARANCES:
Manny Corpas - One inning in a 4-0 game. He looked great, giving up a lone hit.
Jon Rauch - Got some work in a losing situation against the Red Sox. Threw a perfect inning with no strikeouts.
Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!
