Oakland Athletics
Rank: 17
Closer: Huston Street
Second in Line: Alan Embree
Confidence Level in Closer: 50%
The 2005 American League Rookie of the Year has been the closer since arriving in the Bay Area, and deservedly so. He has never had a seasonal WHIP above 1.1, and last year he raised his strikeouts per nine to 11.34. Street will only be 24 this year and looks ready to take the jump to being one of the top 3 – 5 closers in the Majors.
Behind his is Alan Embree. Following a Street injury in 2007, Embree filled in closing 17 games for the A’s. He has been a reliable pen name his whole career, but that period was the most extensive time he has spent as a closer. At 37, you cannot expect too much, but he should be close to his 2007 numbers – a 1.265 WHIP and 3.97 ERA.
Atlanta Braves
Rank: 16
Closer: Rafael Soriano
Second in Line: Mike Gonzalez
Confidence Level in Closer: 45%
Finally, after years of showing he had the stuff to do the job, Rafael Soriano has the title closer attached to his name. Soriano was 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA, with nine saves in 12 opportunities and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 70:15.
Next in line would be Mike Gonzalez, who in limited playing time last year – just 18 appearances – he was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA. In his career, Gonzalez has 30 saves in 33 save opportunities, so he can do the job when called upon, and he has 196 strikeouts and 82 walks in 172 2/3 career innings.
The strength here of this club comes not from one arm, or even two, but the depth here, as there are quality arms beyond the closer and setup man worthy of consideration. The third arm worthy of your consideration would be Peter Moylan, who was 5-3 with a 1.80 ERA for the Braves last year with 63 strikeouts and 31 walks in 90 innings.
Kansas City Royals
Rank: 15
Closer: Joakim Soria
Second in Line: Jimmy Gobble
Confidence Level in Closer: 35%
The Monclova, Mexico native received a tall task last spring from Royals management. Despite having no prior major league experience, the Royals asked Joakim Soria to close for the club. The rookie responded quite well, earning 17 saves, despite pitching for one of the worst teams in baseball.
While a sophomore slump is certainly possible, and to some degree inevitable, as hitters adjust to what Soria is doing. Given how good he was at a young age, though, at worst, I see a step back as putting up the same numbers (2.48 ERA, .942 WHIP, 9.78 K/9) as his rookie year. Odds are he will improve upon those.
In front of Soria, the Royals have Jimmy Goble and have added free agent Ron Mahay from the Braves. Drafted by KC in the first round of the 1999 draft, Gobble began his career as a starting pitcher. After struggling for four years, he was switched full time to the pen last year and responded with the best season (3.02 ERA, 1.472 WHIP) of his career.
The 37-year-old Mahay, on the other hand, has been around a long time as a reliever. He had a strong ’07 (2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) and was a good pickup for the money – two years, $8 million – by the Royals. He and Gobble look like a solid pair to get the game to Soria.
Chicago Cubs
Rank: 14
Closer: Carlos Marmol
Second in Line: Kerry Wood or Bobby Howry
Confidence Level in Closer: 25%
The good news here is that there is depth. The bad news is that there is no obvious closer heading to the season. Ryan Dempster had served as the closer and, while he had some warts, he was getting the job done. However, in their infinite wisdom, the Cubs have decided to return Dempster to starting, a role he was not cut out for and has never succeeded in.
The likeliest closer is Carlos Marmol, who did fill in as the closer, albeit briefly, for the Cubs in 2007. For the season, he was 5-1 with a 1.43 ERA, with 96 strikeouts and 35 walks in 69 1/3 innings.
If he should falter, Kerry Wood is waiting in the wings. Wood has always had amazing stuff, but he has never been able to stay healthy. There is a hope that moving into the pen would keep him healthy, but could he really pitch as much as the Cubs need him?
There is still more depth following Wood, with Bobby Howry, Scott Eyre, Michael Wuertz, and Neal Cotts. This bullpen has serious potential, and a few arms that could close if need be.
