The Closer Report » Brian Fuentes
Top 5 Most Overrated Closers of the 2012 Season. So Far…
Baseball is a long season and with long seasons comes streaks and bouts of good luck. In the end though, it all evens itself out. As we sit here in early June we notice several closers who are pitching well beyond what anybody expected. The question is, will it continue? Will those closers end up falling down on their faces and costing their fantasy owners big? I will examine five closers that I think pose … Read entire article »
Filed under: Alfredo Aceves, Brett Myers, Brian Fuentes, Chris Perez, In-Season Analysis, Jim Johnson, Matt Capps
Why I Don’t Care About Brian Fuentes
So the Oakland Athletics names Brian Fuentes closer last week. Yippie! First off, I thought that Balfour was a terrible call to start the season with the young guns Jordan Norberto, Ryan Cook, and Fautino De Los Santos ready to take a shot at the closer role. Then there is the aging veteran and pseudo-closer Brain Fuentes. The 36-year old relief pitcher is in his in his second season with the Athletics and taking … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Fautino De Los Santos, Grant Balfour, In-Season Analysis, Oakland A's
The Latest On The Closer Carousel/Circus: 5.12.2012
This has been without a doubt the worse year on record for major league closers. The amount of closers lost to injury times the number of closer with terrible starts, divided by the number of closers who have just lost the job is a formula even a Sabermetrics wannabee with a degree from MIT couldn’t compute. Since spring training has wrapped up, at least 17 closer jobs have changed hands due to any of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Addison Reed, Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Cashner, Boston Red Sox, Brian Fuentes, Bullpen Reports, Carlos Marmol, Casey Janssen, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Closers Rise and Fall, Colorado Rockies, Daniel Bard, Drew Storen, Fernando Rodney, Francisco Cordero, Francisco Rodriguez, Grant Balfour, Heath Bell, Hector Santiago, Henry Rodriguez, Huston Street, In-Season Analysis, Javy Guerra, John Axford, Jordan Walden, Kenley Jansen, LA Dodgers, LAA Angels, Mark Melancon, Matt Thornton, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Ryan Madson, Santiago Casilla, Sean Marshall, SF Giants, Toronto Blue Jays
Danger Zone: Grant Balfour, Oakland Athletics
It has been a rocky few days for Grant Balfour. After successfully and surprisingly saving the first five games he entered in 1012, it has been anything but easy since then. In his last four appearances, Balfour has been rocked for six runs and two blown saves. In the last save opportunity for the Athletics, Brain Fuentes entered the game instead of the overworked Balfour. While I don’t believe that Balfour has been replaced, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Danger Zone, Grant Balfour, In-Season Analysis
MLB Off-Season Closer Analysis: Oakland Athletics
The Oakland A’s and General Manager Billie Bean did their normal off-season sell off to get ready for a championship run in 2012. Part of that sell off was trading away former ROY closer Andrew Bailey to the Boston Red Sox. That now leaves the A’s with filling the closer role with someone on their roster or by signing a player. The possible current roster pitchers that could close are: Joey Devine Brian Fuentes Jordan Norberto Neil Wagner Going into spring training … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Oakland A's, Pre-season Analysis
Struggling Closers Leading Into The All-Star Break
It’s been a trying year for the closer role. While we have watched several great performances from new and old closers like Craig Kimbrel , Joel Hanrahan, Kyle Farnsworth, and Francisco Cordero. There has also been its share of terrible and down right ugly performances by closers. Many of the closers on this list could be in danger of losing their job, especially around the trade deadline. Here are some closers who have already … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Frank Francisco, J.J. Putz, Joakim Soria, Joe Nathan, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, Matt Thornton, Neftali Feliz, Ryan Franklin
MLB Closers Wanted: Suspected Trade Deadline Closers
Come the trade deadline, many players will move and that includes closers. I have no doubt that right after the All-Star game, several players will start to move. Teams that are competing are almost always looking for bullpen depth. That can spell doom for your closer or create a closer from a top-notch setup man. Some closers just will change teams. Here are a list of closers that could be moved by the trade deadline and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Aaron Crow, Andrew Bailey, Brad Lidge, Brian Fuentes, Fernando Rodney, Francisco Rodriguez, Heath Bell, J.J. Putz, Joakim Soria, Joel Hanrahan, Jonathan Broxton
Andrew Bailey Looks Sharp in Return, Closing Soon?
Andrew Bailey was activated from the DL Saturday and wasted little tie getting into action on Sunday. He pitched a flawless 7th inning against the Orioles in the 6-4 win. Bailey needed only 14 pitches of which 9 were strikes. Right now Brian Fuentes is the closer, but his days are numbered. After losing the job and then watching newly anointed closer Grant Balfour give up a 3-run bomb, there is no doubt that manager Bob Geren wants … Read entire article »
Filed under: Andrew Bailey, Brian Fuentes
The Closer Report’s Weekend Swing 5.29.2011
The weekend swing was a term I coined while discussing my head-to head leagues on my fantasy baseball podcasts. It was used to describe the games that would be played Friday through Sunday and could have a major impact on the number of wins and losses I received for the week H2H. I’m taking that term to a whole new level for The Closer Report. Each weekend I will report on … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Carlos Marmol, Drew Storen, J.J. Putz, Jon Rauch, Jordan Walden, Mariano Rivera, Weekend Swing Reports
Fast Start, Slow Start Closers
We have almost two weeks wrapped up in the 2011 MLB season and there have been some pleasant surpirses within the ranks of closers and some dismal dissappointments. Let’s start with the pleasant surprises. Jonathan Broxton – Broxton was left for dead by the fly-by-night experts. Granted he isn’t his old self and very well never will be, but he is still an elite closer on a team that uses it’s closer often. He hasfive … Read entire article »
Filed under: Brian Fuentes, Chris Perez, Craig Kimbrel, Drew Storen, Fernando Rodney, Huston Street, Joe Nathan, Joel Hanrahan, Jonathan Broxton, Jordan Walden, Ryan Franklin, Sean Burnett
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