Gordon out, Myers in. How long though? And can Myers actually do the deed?

Philadelphia Phillies: Gordon gives in to the pain!

People have been worrying about the state of Tom Gordon’s health and erratic pitching.  Well, they don’t have to wonder or worry any longer.  Gordon will be on the DL until at least the 17th, and it is more likely that he will not pitch until the end of May or early part of June at the earliest.  It is still possible that he could come back earlier, but it is clear that a complete shutdown is necessary for the moment to try to regain strength and health in his arm.  That leaves Brett Myers as the closer for the foreseeable future, which is an interesting turn of events for the former staff ace.  Myers obviously has the stuff to handle the transition to closer, but it remains to be seen if it will rejuvenate him in the long run. 

Texas Rangers: Gagne’s Back And Closing Again!

Give the Rangers credit; they are going all out to make this work.  Unfortunately, their starting pitching is so bad, it really doesn’t matter who they have as a closer.  Eric Gagne is officially back and closing, but don’t put away Akinori Otsuka too quickly.  There will probably be another stint on the DL soon given his recent track history.  It seems a shame to continue to do this to Otsuka who has proven to be a solid closer every time he is given the ball.  Yet, money talks, and they invested too much in Gagne not to give him every possible chance to succeed and prove they were right in the end for taking the risk. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Terrible news for Ryan!

The dreaded news that everyone in the organization and across baseball expected to hear finally materialized for BJ Ryan.  Out for the season and perhaps into next season.  Ryan had season ending surgery today, and the Tommy John procedure will probably hold him out of the start of next season.  After weeks of wondering what was really going on with Ryan (JP Ricciardi has a lot to answer for in that regard) the final analysis was that Ryan needed to have the procedure sooner rather than later to get him back to pitching at some point in the 2008 season.  This practically cripples the Blue Jays organization at a time when injuries are piling up.  A once promising team has disintegrated into a probable cellar dweller quickly.  Jason Frasor was originally designated as the closer, but he has looked positively abysmal with his control of late.  The word from Gibbons is that Jeremy Accardo will take the reins for the moment.  We will see how long that lasts.  There are not a lot of good options for the Blue Jays, and fantasy owners are warned to be patient with the situation and not overbid for anyone just yet.   

Rising

Jeremy Accardo, Toronto Blue Jays
He’s in for now.  We’ll start him in the lowest tier until he actually gets a chance to pitch in a save situation. 

Al Reyes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
10-for-10 in save opportunities, 20 strikeouts, and just four walks, with a spectacular 1.20 ERA. I guess it’s time for us to stop hating on the guy.

How long can Brett handle the job? The mental part might matter more than Gordon's health.

Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies
For now, he’s the closer until Gordon returns. The numbers out of the pen say he can do it, but can how capable is he mentally? We’ll find out.

Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
Sure, when Octavio Dotel returns, Soria will move back to setup, but when is that going to happen? In the meanwhile, Soria has looked quite good – if the Royals pull a Mike MacDougal with Dotel (make him the closer as soon as he returns, and then trade him shortly thereafter), Soria could end up closing for most of the year. He certainly has the stuff.

Jorge Julio, Florida Marlins
He’s back, he’s closing, he’s still horrible. Start him at Tier Four.

Falling

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
This one really starts to hurt, but you cannot deny that he is not himself at the moment.  Drop him into Tier Three until he turns things around. 

Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals
The “other” Cordero, Chad has blown four of his eight saves, has 10 walks in 15 1/3 innings, and only has the job still because, well, who else could in Washington? Add on the lack of save opportunities with this lousy team, and we can bump him down to Tier Four.

Jason Frasor, Toronto Blue Jays
He simply isn’t the man.  Take him out.

Henry Owens, Florida Marlins
On the DL with shoulder tendonitis, which is never a good thing for a pitcher, and Julio now has the chance to reclaim his job.