Sorting Out the Closer Mess

This week has been fairly unkind to a handful of closers around the league. Multiple meltdowns, closers questioning whether or not they can mentally perform their jobs, blown saves wrecking havoc on your fantasy stats. Lets take a minute to sort through the muck.

Jason Isringhausen had a meltdown, crying to reporters that he couldn't and shouldn't do his job anymore. Here's a snippet from an AP News Story, as seen on ESPN.com:

After blowing his fifth save Friday night -- tying Milwaukee's Eric Gagne for most in the major leagues -- in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers, the Cardinals' embattled reliever will no longer close games, manager Tony La Russa said Saturday.

"He's still prepared to pitch important innings, but for a while we'll try to keep him out of the ninth inning," La Russa said. "There's still going to be games where you can't cherry-pick his situations because if we're playing well, you need your bullpen."

That move makes perfect sense, keeping your closer out of the ninth inning. I think I read somewhere that MLB is considering awarding closers save situations if they come in during the fourth inning, with their team leading by five or more runs.

A little ways north, the Brew Crew are seeing similar results from their 10 million dollar man Eric Gagne. Here's a blurb from another AP News story run on ESPN.com:
The Brewers yanked Eric Gagne from the closer's role on Sunday after the reliever called his latest performance embarrassing and said he didn't feel he deserved to pitch the ninth anymore.

Manager Ned Yost said he read Gagne's comments and will use a closer by committee approach while Gagne takes what Yost called a "mental break."

"He's really pushing himself really, really hard and taking it really, really hard," Yost said. "We'll probably just mix and match, I'm not going to do anything crazy."

So what are the proud Fantasy League Owners of Gagne and Izzy to do? Let's take a quick peak at some options:

Guillermo Mota (Brewers): Stay as far away from this guy as you can. If you thought Gagne/Izzy's statements were falling short on confidence, take a look at what Mota had to say about his potential closer assignment:

Yost said anyone in his bullpen may be called on to close, and that he might take it batter-by-batter depending on matchup. Guillermo Mota has pitched well in the eighth inning, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 appearances, but asked what he did wrong when reporters approached him before the game Sunday. He said he's not planning to become the closer.

"I don't expect that, but if there's a chance, if they put me there, then I'll try to do the best I can," said Mota, who has seven career saves. "I'm used to setting up. That's my role for many years. I'm comfortable there, but I used to be in the ninth, too."

Ryan Franklin (Cardinals): Franklin is a better option to replace Izzy than Mota is to replace Gagne. Franklin is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA so far (in 19 appearances).

Other Options Around the League:

Santiago Casilla (Oakland): We've said it before, get Casilla on your team. He's currently sporting a devastating pitching line; 2-0, 22 K, 0.47 ERA, and a 0.87 WHIP. Rotowire had this to say about the rookie flame thrower:

Casilla has delivered 17.1 scoreless innings on the season, so it is time to take notice. Huston Street had pitched two days in a row and blew a save opportunity Monday. It doesn't look like Casilla will threaten to take Street's job, but he could be a good insurance policy to Street and he should be the man if Street should be traded later this season.

Rick Ankiel Nails Two Runners

Prospect Analysis: Colby Rasmus

Name: Colby Rasmus
Organization: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Centerfield
Born: 8/11/1986
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Drafted: 2003 (Cardinals), 1st Round (28th Overall)

Actions tend to speak louder than words, so watching St. Louis ship Jim Edmonds to San Diego is pretty F***ing loud. You can't say much more about a minor leaguer than trading away your franchise (albeit aging) center fielder.
Rasmus won't be scared off by the bright lights of the Major Leagues. Rasmus led off for the 2007 Gold Medal winning USA World Cup team, batting a scorching .382.
According to Scout Magazine, Rasmus has the tendency to become pull happy, and the Cardinal Organization wants him to "continue to work on going the other way."
Rasmus will likely be handled with kid gloves, since he represents the only jewel in a depleted farm system. The Edmonds opens up a spot for Rasmus to fill, but Rotowire.com suggests that since the Cardinals are loaded in the outfield, Rasmus starting every day is just short of a sure thing.
Rasmus is a wiz defensively, and has a canon for an arm (he was a pitcher in high school, and was routinely clocked in the low 90's).

Superbowl MLB: Part II

Here at 108 Red Stitches, we're growing weary of the constant debate and speculation regarding which baseball team has the best chances of winning the World Series. So we bring you part two of our two part installment of "Superbowl MLB; A Look at Which Baseball Team Could Win the Superbowl". Part II covers the National League Contenders. (Part One: AL)
For argument's sake, well use only a handful of teams to compare, one's that are normally (or would be considered) World Series Contenders. To balance out "position eligibility" catchers will equate to the team's position known as the Center and the team's front line starter will be considered the Quarterback. Every other position is fair game. Realizing that there aren't enough baseball players to fill out a football team, we'll base our studies on the theory that "Offense Wins Championships". Based on 2007 Season Rosters. Let's Continue.

New York Mets:

O-line: Paul LoDuca, Carlos Delgado, Moises Alou, Shawn Green, and Ramon Castro make up one of the most un-inspiring offensive lines in the league. Not only are they slow, they're creaky old men who'd likely spend anywhere from 6-8 games a season on the Physically Unable to Perform List.

Quarterback: Pedro Martinez starts the season as the QB and gets nailed on the first play of the game. He's out for the rest of the season allowing for a Bledsoe/Brady type situation where John Maine comes in and leads the team to the playoffs.

RB/FB: This one is a obvious. Jose Reyes in the open field is probably as dangerous as Reggie Bush or LT. The only problem is his offensive line shuts down faster than a cupcake factory does when Artie Lange leaves town. Carlos Gomez acts as a good second option to give Reyes a breather.

WR/TE: Pretty decent receiving duo with Beltran and Wright. After those two, the depth chart is pretty scary looking.

Defensive Highlight: This team would need to put up 35-40 points a game to remain in the playoff hunt. They have no end-game. Sounds oddly similar to last season.


St. Louis Cardinals:

O-line: Yadiar Molina anchors a scruffy o-line. Alongside Molina; Scott Spiezio, Scott Rolen, Chris Duncan, and Jason LaRue

QB- Jason Isringhausen would make a fine QB due to his career. Being both a starter and a closer allows Izzy to have the emotional and mental makeup of a good QB that'll pace his team throughout the first 3 quarters, and then know how to finish off the opposition in the 4th.

RB/FB- The run game is almost completely ignored. Due to the fact that any of their big guys who might be considered RB material are manning the O-line, the running came suffers. But that's not the end of the world because:

WR/TE: Albert Pujols is Cardinal version of Antonio Gates. He'll block for the run, helping out a weak run game, but in the Red Zone he's a huge target that will cause huge mismatches. Rick Ankiel and Adam Wainwright fill out the two receiver slots.

Defensive Highlight: The Cards offense is simply put; awful. Chris Duncan will have to go both ways in order to spark some life into a defense that quickly bottoms out.

Unlike their American League Counterparts, the National League (after second thought) probably doesn't have enough man power to fill out a decent football team. The lack of a DH in the NL causes teams to pick up more arms and more guys that are decent hitters (off the bench, not off a screen pass). Sure some teams have guys like Ryan Howard and Carlos Lee (who wouldn't pay money to see Howard level Pedro Martinez in the backfield).
Who wouldn't love to see Greg Maddux kick a game winning field goal against the Rockies, only to find out seconds later that Clint Hurdle called a timeout, causing Matt Holiday to block Maddux's follow up kick and hear the announcer scream Troy Tulowitski at the 40, the 30, the twenty.... TOUCHDOWN TULOWITSKI!!!

Ah, one could always dream.

Baseball Wrap Up: 1/13/08

Baseball's winter hasn't be anything more than a couple of flurries here and there, but if ESPN Sources are correct, we might be getting some major winter weather activity in the next day or so.

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnik, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to (in principle) a trade that would swap franchise third basemen Scott Rolen and Troy Glaus.

Continuing their roster overhaul, the Oakland Athletics have agreed to ship aging center fielder Mark Kotsay to the Braves in exchange for twenty four year old pitcher Joey Devine. This is the third major trade for the Athletic organization, who are clearly writing off next season after trading Dan Haren and Nick Swisher earlier this winter.

The Brewers have a deal in place that will bring in veteran center fielder Mike Cameron. Cameron, however, will miss the first twenty five games of the upcoming season for violating baseball's drug testing guidelines.

And finally, the Tampa Bay Rays have asked permission to play a series against the Blue Jays at Disney. Early reports indicate that Mickey will not pitch, as he also has violated baseball's drug testing program.




For Christ sakes, he's a mouse! Look at the size of him. And you guys complain that Barry Bonds is huge.

Free Agent "No-Mo"

Hideo Nomo signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals, becoming the second Japanese pitcher to ink up with former Japanese Nippon Ham Fighters' manager Trey Hillman. Yasuhiko Yabuta signed earlier in the offseason. GM Dayton Moore also denied reports that the Royals were close to signing free agent starter Bartolo Colon.

In other baseball news, the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a contract with former Padre/Marlin/Cub/Red Sox pitcher Matt Clement. It's a one year deal worth about $1.5 million. Smart move by the Cardinals, who follow the Padres lead (signed Mark Prior to a one year deal) by putting a smart contract in place, in hopes of a potentially huge return on investment.

Florida signed another potential replacement for Miguel Cabrera in former Devil Ray Jorge Cantu. It's the second signing for the Marlins (Jose Castillo was the first) who are looking to try to have a few different looks at the hot corner. Replacing Cabrera won't be easy, but if Cantu and Castillo homer every other at-bat, the Marlins should be fine.

Meanwhile, back in New York, the biggest free agent news for the Bombers is one they didn't sign at all, rather, one that they won't sign. The Yankees (err, Hank Steinbrenner) announced that they (err, Hank Steinbrenner) are not interested in bringing back the 45 year old ex-fireballer.

The Joy and Sadness of Double Standards

I was talking to my girlfriend last night about something that's been bothering me lately. One of my favorite football players happens to be Shawne Merriman (OLB, Chargers). Don't ask me why, I just like him. Last season, Merriman was suspended for using steroids.
Didn't faze me in the least. Kept right on rooting for the man.
Now, Don Mattingly, my favorite baseball player of all time, forever and ever, has never been accused of taking steroids or growth hormone, or any other banned performance enhancing substance. The minute he does, I'll hate him for the rest of my life.
Done. Everything I own of Mattingly will be tarred, feathered, burned, ripped up, mailed back, and shot with a potato gun.
I wonder why that is.
Jayson Stark,ESPN, recently ran an article on the double standard that exists between the Barry Bonds case and the recent light that's been shed on Rick Ankiel.
I for one am guilty of what Stark outlines as "Double Standard #1; The Likeability Test".
In theory, a good journalist is supposed to leave his personal thoughts, beliefs, and opinions checked with his coat at the front door.
That is why I never got passed writing articles for the Quinnipiac University Student Chronicles.
I despise Barry Bonds and everything that he does, eats, watches, showers with, sleeps on, and mails his credit card bills to. There is not one single redeeming quality I can find in the man.
If he was to find a cure for the AIDS crisis, reverse global warming, wipe oil off a baby seal, develop a better mouse trap, and adopt a tribe of aborigines, I would scoff and chalk it up to a media publicity stunt.
Rick Ankiel could wipe out half of the rain forest, and I like many of my American counterparts, would smile and look in awe as he walks by, chainsaw in hand.
I can't figure it out.
Stark lists some possibilities for why this is plaguing me and scores of baseball fans throughout the country, and I think he may be onto something:
He wasn't even a hitter then.
It wasn't a banned substance then.
He had a doctor's prescription.
He was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He needed it to heal.
He hasn't been accused of any "wrongdoing."
The media is out to get him.
It's not like he's Barry Bonds or something. (Stark; Exposing Our Dirty Double Standards)

So You Think You Can Help My Team?

The baseball season is getting down to the wire, and its time to take a look at past and potential acquisitions that will or have helped a team in its push to make the playoffs. Need to seal up that division title? Looking to squeak in through the Wild Card Door? Check out these players that have helped or can help your team in the final weeks of the season. (Impact is based on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest rating)

1. Atlanta Braves: Woah! Has Mark Teixeira re-found his power stroke! Possibly the best acquisition for any team in baseball, Teixeira cost the Braves a lot in terms of mortgaging their future, but has paid off in full. Teixeira shores up a weak spot in the Braves lineup offensively and on the field as well. He just recently hit 4 home runs in 2 games, and has been a spark plug, igniting the Braves lineup.
Impact:

2. NY Mets: With Damion Easley out for what could be the rest of the season, the Mets were quick to pull the trigger on a deal to land veteran outfield Jeff Conine from the Reds. Conine adds playoff experience to a team that floundered last season in the finals against the Cardinals. This could be a big payoff for the Mets, now that Conine has something to play for. He can spell any of the corner outfielders and corner infielders, which is something Willie Randolph needs to prepare for the postseason.
Impact:

3. Phillies: Get one, lose one. Things started to look bright for the Phils when doctors cleared Chase Utley to begin throwing and swinging on a regular basis. Then Cole Hamels hurt his elbow, and is expected to miss 2 starts as he heads to the DL. Utley is a welcome addition to any lineup, but losing your ace can't be good.
Impact:

4. Yankees: Get out the way old man! The Yanks have injected life into their cranky, stiff bones with the recent call ups of Joba Chamberlin, Shelley Duncan, Edwar Ramirez, and the return of Phil Hughes from the 60 Day DL. Combine that with the everyday "Baby Yankees" Melkey Cabrera and Robinson Cano, the Yanks can keep their heads above water for the next few weeks.
Impact:

5. LA Dodgers: Anytime you take strengthen your team by weakening another in your division, it has to be a good move, right? Well, not in this case. Dodgers traded for Giants firstbaseman Mark Sweeney for a player to be named (or cash). The move doesn't seem to make any sense at first, but now that Nomar is on the 15 Day DL, its a good move, sort of. If you're the type that salivates when you see anyone named Sweeney in the starting lineup, maybe you should check out this blog.
Impact:

6. Mariners: So you want to win the AL West? One of the easiest divisions in baseball to win, the West is constantly up for grabs every year. So your biggest acquisition of the season is left hander John Parrish from Baltimore? Its a wonder that Ichiro signed the deal, if this is an example of your commitment to winning.
Impact:

7. St. Louis Cardinals: Everyone wrote them off before the All Star Game. Now, with the NL Wildcard Up for grabs, and the Central looking as stable as Baghdad, the Cards gamble on signing Troy Percival looks like a briliant move. In 21 innings pitched, Percival has only given up 2 runs, batters are only hitting .183 against the righty, and he's managed to win 3 games in relief. With the resurgence of Rick Ankiel, the Cards are starting to looking like a dark horse.
Impact: