The Closer Report: Closer’s Rise and Fall, April 30, 2012

Closers on The RISE

Santiago Casilla, SF – After getting pulled in the ninth and losing a save chance, Casilla has bounced back.  He saved three games last week and has his season ERA down to 1.04 and a WHIP of 0.92.

Chris Perez, CLE – You have to give it to Chris Perez.  As bad as he has been in some appearances this season and with the fact he was injured in spring training, Perez’s stock is on the rise.  Perez is 7/8 on the season and has a streak of seven consecutive saves.  He ERA is also down to 4.00.

Alfredo Aceves, BOS – After a horrendous start and rumors of Kevin Gregg coming to Boston or Daniel Bard getting moved to the bullpen, Aceves has made a comeback.  He recorded three straight saves over the last week and has managed to lowered his sky-high ERA from 18.00 to 12.00 in that time.  He has seemed to settle down in the role.  At least for now.

John Axford, MIL – After a dismal start that saw is ERA floating above 7.00 April 20, Axford has calmed down and notched three quiet saves and with that struck out five batters.

Jonathan Broxton, KAN – We didn’t get to see much of Broxton while the Royals lost 12 straight.  Since then, Broxton has saved two straight games and is 3/4 on the season.  In his last five innings of work, Broxton has given up one run on four hits and three strikeouts.

Brandon League, SEA – League blew his first save of the season April 19th.  He is 7/8 on the season in saves and is boasting a 1.54 ERA.  He has only given up runs in one of his 12 appearances and since that blown save he has notched two more saves and has pitched four scoreless innings.

Joel Hanrahan, PIT – After an incredibly slow start by the Pirates and fighting off a day-to-day hamstring injury, Hanrahan is back to business.  He has four consecutive saves and over that time he’s pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

Sean Marshall, CIN – After a slow start to the season, where he only saw one save in the first half of the month, since then Marshall is 4/5 in save opportunities and it looks as though he is very comfortable in the closer role.  Chapman does not seem to be a threat at this point.

Closers On The FALL

Jordan Walden, LAA – Walden lost the closer job to Scott Downs.  While this appears temporary, it could be permanent if Downs performs well enough.  Walden hasn’t pitched since his last blown save on April 26th and will likely be used in the 7th inning.

Sergio Santos, TOR – For Santos it went for bad to worse.  Santos went on the DL as of April 21st with Right shoulder inflammation.  He has been replaced by Francisco Cordero who is 2/3 in his place.  By the time Santos comes back, the job could be Cordero’s if he pitches well enough.

Javy Guerra , LAD – It has been a slippery road for Javy Guerra.  First off, he has pitched great for the Dodgers this season, going 7/9 in save opportunities.  His 1-3 record isn’t helping the fact that he may lose his job very soon to Kenley Jansen.  I was never very high on Guerra because he just isn’t a closer and Jansen is.  I suspect that before too long, Jansen will be the closer for the Dodgers and Guerra will setup. Jansen did get the save Sunday night with Guerra warming up in the bullpen.

Heath Bell, MIA – Heath Bell is as shocked as I am with the start to his 2012 season.  Currently he is 2/5 in save opportunities.  Bell’s ERA stands at 9.53 and he has been unable to muster the control he needs to be a closer.  Ozzie Guillen has no intentions of displacing Bell, primarily cause he has no one else at this point.  Bell should be OK, but right now he is in a steep fall.

Matt Capps, MIN – Why this guy is still closing I do not know.  After surprising the world by opening the season with four straight saves to which he gave up runs in only 2/4, Capps is back to business giving the other team chances to score.  In his last two appearances, Capps has surrendered two runs and taken a loss.  Capps has only had two perfect innings this season and has given up runs in half of his eight appearances.

Grant Balfour, OAK – After opening the season with 5 consecutive saves, Balfour has finally showed his lack of consistency with two blown saves in his last three tries.  In his last three appearances; 2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, and 3K.  Not good.  His season numbers still look good, but overall his stock is way down.

Hector Santiago, CHW – Matt Thornton saved the game for the White Sox Sunday, not Hector Santiago.  The White Sox closer has had a tough time as of late and manager Robin Ventura’s experiment may be over.  With Matt Thornton and Addison Reed pitching fasr better, one of them is likely to get the job very soon. Currently Santiago is 4/6 in saves and has an ERA 8.53.  He’s allowed six runs in 6.1 innings this season, while Addison Reed and Matt Thornton have given up a combined one run in 19.1 innings.

Jim Johnson, BAL – Granted he is 7/7 in saves opportunities and has yet to surrender a run, however Johnson makes the fall list because he has missed the last week with food poisoning.  He has yet to pitch since Monday and as soon as he returns, we will see how the sickness effected him.

Jason Motte, STL – After a slow, but steady start to the season, Motte blew a big save against the rival Cubs on April 23rd.  The next day he was not brought in to save the game and hasn’t had another shot yet.