"Will the two to three saves tops that he picks up the rest of the way really be worth Danys Baez' other numbers? No."

Joba Buchholz, or is it Clay Chamberlain?

With Tim Wakefield receiving a pounding at the hands of the lowly Orioles – good plan bringing him back with a back injury when the Sox have a huge lead and do not need him – the Sox turned to Clay Buchholz out of the pen to nail things down, and he did. Making his first appearance since his no-hitter, Buchholz pitched three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out three. Through three appearances, two as a starter, Buchholz has a record of 3-0 with a 1.50 EA, 17 strikeouts, and 8 walks in 18 innings, with opposing batters hitting just .155 against him. Granted, the no-hitter is a big part of that, but he has still been quite effective even when taking that appearance out of the equation.

So what now for Buchholz? Does he return to the rotation, or do the Red Sox use him out of the bullpen, as the Yankees do Joba Chamberlain? Buchholz is not likely to assume a role with as much importance as Chamberlain has assumed, but he will have value regardless of role.

Are These Saves Really Worth It?

Danys Baez has converted two of his last three save appearances. Unfortunately, it has taken Baez ten appearances and over two weeks to get those saves. In that time, Baez has an ERA of 9.00 and a WHIP of 2.11. Considering how horrible this team is, the save opportunities this month are not likely to spike, and he is simply too horrible to be worth it. The point he might gain you in the save category he can easily lose you, and more, in ERA and WHIP.

Reyes Not So Rosy

He still continues to roll off saves, and has blown just two all season, but he has struggled of late, posting an ERA of 6.75 over his last ten appearances, with 14 hits allowed over his last 10 2/3 innings. Once one of elite closers in the game in the first half, now Reyes looks only slightly above average at best.

And Next Year’s Closer for the Indians Is…

While Joe Borowski, no love and all, continues to roll off saves as one of the league leaders in that category, Rafael Betancourt has been quietly putting up dominating, closer-worthy numbers. 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA on the season, Betancourt has been just about unhittable of late. In his last ten appearances, Betancourt is 2-0 with 0.69 ERA, with just six hits and three walks allowed in 13 innings, and he has recorded 13 strikeouts in that stretch. Those betting on Borowski being the closer for the Indians best do so cheaply.

Soriano Soars

While he might not be racking up the saves, you can blame that on the Braves, not Rafael Soriano. Over his last ten appearances, Soriano is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA, 1 save, and a K/BB ratio of 10:0. Those are certainly closer-worthy numbers, and he should be the favorite to open 2008 as the Braves’ closer.

Billy Busted?

Billy Wagner did convert a save opportunity in his last outing, but once again he was scored upon, his fifth straight outing where he has allowed at least one run. The Mets had, wisely, shut down Wagner due to dead arm, yet they then went and brought him back after less than a week, with less than spectacular results in the two appearances since. Aaron Heilman, meanwhile, has not allowed a run in his last five outings and has looked far more closer-worthy than Wagner has since mid-August. If you need saves down the stretch and Heilman is available, the Mets should realize soon enough that he is the better option.

Boom Went the Dempster

Ryan Dempster, for all the grief he gets, has been a largely successful closer this season. When he blows up, it is in spectacular fashion though, as he did yesterday, allowing five hits, one of which left the yard, and four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning. As brutal as it was, it was just his third blown save of the season, and there is no reason to worry here.

Texas Shakeup?

Yes, Joaquin Benoit received a save only because C.J. Wilson had been used to recently, but looking at their respective numbers it is Benoit, not Wilson, that has been more closer-worthy of late. In Wilson’s last ten games, he has a 6.52 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 8:8. Benoit meanwhile is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA, 11 strikeouts, and 3 walks in his last 10 outings. Could a change be coming? Maybe not this year, but next year is far from settled between these two.

The Rankings

Now, your updated closer rankings for September 7, 2007…

Tier One – the Crème de la Crème
J.J. Putz, Seattle Mariners
Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
Jose Valverde, Arizona Diamondbacks
Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox
Takashi Saito, Los Angeles Dodgers
Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins

Tier Two: the Elite
Francisco Cordero, Milwaukee Brewers
Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels
Jason Isringhausen, St. Louis Cardinals
Manny Corpas, Colorado Rockies
Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees

Tier Three: Solid, But Unspectacular
Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres
David Weathers, Cincinnati Reds
Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals
Kevin Gregg, Florida Marlins
Jeremy Accardo, Toronto Blue Jays
Brad Lidge, Houston Astros
Huston Street, Oakland Athletics
Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies
Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
Rafael Soriano, Atlanta Braves
Todd Jones, Detroit Tigers

Tier Four: At Least They Get Saves…
Joe Borowski, Cleveland Indians
Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs
Al Reyes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Brad Hennessey, San Francisco Giants

Tier Five: On Shaky Ground
Billy Wagner, New York Mets
Danys Baez, Baltimore Orioles
C.J. Wilson, Texas Rangers

Questions and comments may be sent to markhaverty@sportsgrumblings.com