Brandon Morrow, Mariners

Greetings and salutations once again, my generous Pen Names readers.  We’re plodding along in what is still the season’s early goings, and week to week, we’re never without something to grumble about.  We have injuries.  We have ineffectiveness.  We also have the miscellaneous collection of pitchers so terrible, that we’d rather sport a Hitler mustache than face the prospect of spending yet another disconcerting week with their vile, bloated statistics dragging the collective worth of our bullpens straight to Hades.  Here again, we’ll be looking at a few pitchers that fall into all of the above categories, even if we have to look at some of them with our trembling hands over our bloodshot eyes.

Word out of Kansas City is that Joakim Soria has himself something of a boo-boo in his shoulder.  That was made clear Sunday when he was placed on the 15-day DL.  What has not been made clear is the severity of said injury.  If it’s just a strain, well, that’s something we can all deal with.  Even missing two to three weeks, a healthy Soria is still good enough to be a top 5 closer at season’s end.  If it’s not just a strain…  Ugh.  Immediately, the fill-in options are as follows: Juan Cruz with his ratios (1.18 / 1.12), Kyle Farnsworth with his (um, experience?), and a bunch of other names I’ll refrain from bothering you with.

My sources in Seattle (okay, I don’t really have “sources”) tell me that Brandon Morrow is back and he’ll reassume closing duties immediately.  This is good news, especially for those of you who are using his SP eligibility to plug an extra closer into your lineup.  David Aardsma owners, don’t cry yourselves out just yet.  Until Morrow is completely healthy (and who knows if and when that will be), I think the Aard-vark will continue to hawk the occasional save, particularly on nights when Morrow pitched himself out the night before.  And, for those in HLDs leagues, Aardsma is still the main man there. 

Joel Hanrahan, perhaps the most hated man in D.C. (and that’s saying a freakin’ ton), while still on the outs as the official closer, has actually pitched pretty well for the Nationals in recent weeks.  We discussed him here on Pen Names, and I’ve had little in the way of superlatives to throw his way, and still find myself at a loss.  However, when looking at the Nat’s pen, who else is going to close?  Kip Wells?  Exactly.  Hanrahan, closer or not, will still be getting saves.  And, if I have to say something nice about Hanrahan, his K/9 has been outstanding since the beginning of 2008.  So, there’s that.

There are other “developments” around baseball but they’re pretty minor, relatively speaking.  As long as you read the list as closely as you should, you’ll find all kinds of useful information therein.

First Tier (the best of the best):

1. Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: Numbers don’t lie, including #1 ranking.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: He’s thriving in the spotlight in New York.  Still fierce.
3. Joe Nathan, Twins: Team hovering at .500, holding back Nathan’s potential.  No worries.
4. Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox: He’s a really good closer, elite even. 
5. Mariano Rivera, Yankees: Surrendered back-to-back HRs  for the 1^st time ever

Second Tier:

6. Heath Bell, Padres: Closer baton was passed and he ran with it like a true anchor.
7. Frank Francisco, Rangers: He’s been amazing, and deserved top 10 placement.
8. Bobby Jenks, White Sox: He’s a closer, not an athlete—he doesn’t have to look good.
9. Kerry Wood, Indians: His top flight K numbers should return, justifying my ranking.

Third Tier:

10. Brian Wilson, Giants: Always racks up the saves, and ratios vastly improved.
11. Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: I’m just calling it as I see it here.  Too high?  Why?
12. Francisco Cordero, Reds: Yeoman-like closer with so-so ratios.  Gets the job done.
13. Brian Fuentes, Angels: This ranking based on what I think he’ll do—so-so thus far.
14. Brad Lidge, Phillies: If it’s true for Fuentes, it has to be true for Lidge, unless he’s hurt.

Fourth Tier:

15. Ryan Franklin, Cardinals: He finally blew a save, but still got a win.  p.s. He’ll blow more
16. Trevor Hoffman, Brewers: Brewers were correct to wait until he was fully healthy.
17. Kevin Gregg, Cubs: He basically defines “middle of the road closer”, but does close.
18. Scott Downs, Blue Jays: He’s been a real find with B.J. Ryan on the All-M.A.S.H. team.
19. Matt Capps, Pirates: Big drop due to his having not pitched due to injury.  Back soon.
20. Mike Gonzalez, Braves: Soriano’s value continues to climb.  Gonzalez still the “closer”.

Fifth Tier:

21. Fernando Rodney, Tigers: [yawn]
22. LaTroy Hawkins, Astros: Valverde is still hurt, and Hawkins hasn’t been terrible.
23. Brandon Morrow, Mariners: Again, Aardsma will still get the occasional save.
24. Not Brad Zeigler, Athletics: Mike Wuertz and Aaron Bailey both sharper and closing.
25. Matt Lindstrom, Marlins: He’s still not showing command of his pitches, and that’s bad.
26. Troy Percival, Rays: I traded him in one league for Felipe Lopez.  Tells you what I think.

…and the rest:

27. George Sherrill, Orioles: Seemed to be on his way out the door, but still closing.
28. Houston Street, Rockies: Mediocre arm in a bad ballpark.  You do the math.
29. Juan Cruz, Royals: With Soria out, there’s a lot of uncertainty in K.C.
30. Bullpen by Committee, Nationals: Hanrahan is still the main guy [wink-wink].

“Holding On” is the part of Pen Names where we turn our collective attention to those “other” members of the relief corps around baseball, the middle relievers, set-up men, and, in many cases, the Holds candidates.  We like to think of the Holding On nominees as the “best of the rest” of the Major League relief world.  This week is no different.

Bobby Seay, Tigers: 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP masking poor K rate, but 8 HLDs useful.

Leo Nunez, Marlins: Respectable 8 K/9 and ratios (2.30 / 1.02), and may step in for Lindstrom.

Hideki Okajima, Red Sox: Clearly the primary set up man to Papelbon.  20 K in 16 IP okay too.

J.J. Putz, Mets: Not showing the dominant stuff of 06-07, but setting up for K-Rod quite nicely. 

Arthur Rhodes, Reds: Including last year, he has an ERA of 0.68 over his last 38 appearances.

If you want to email, you can reach me at: damianschaab@sportsgrumblings.com

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