The Hook

Volatile Bullpen Situations

We're only a week and a half into the season, but we're already seeing some insanity towards the back of several bullpens. Brad Lidge has already found a way to lose his job (at least temporarily), while Octavio Dotel and Eric Gagne have already thrown their bullpens into disarray by hitting the disabled list. As for the situations in Miami and Tampa Bay? We're just going to let someone else deal with them!

Today, we'll take a look at some of the closing situations that seem to be a little up in the air.

Scorching

Florida Marlins
Closer: Jorge Julio
Next in Line: Henry Owens, Matt Lindstrom, Lee Gardner

It's already become clear that Julio isn't likely to hold the job much longer, as he's blown two saves in two chances and was bailed out on a third chance (where he garnered a hold for loading the bases with one out). Julio entered the season on shaky ground, and it's suddenly turning into an earthquake.

The question is which of his mates in the bullpen would take the job over. It's likely that we can cross Gardner, a 32-year-old minor league veteran who had accrued all of 21 big league innings in the Devil Rays' system prior to this season, off of that list. While Lindstrom, who touches the high-nineties on his fastball, would have the stuff of a prototypical closer, Owens has a significantly better track record of success in the role in the minors. Chances are, it turns into a committee, but the smart money says Owens wins out.

San Francisco Giants
Closer: Armando Benitez
Next in Line: Kevin Correia, Vinnie Chulk, Brian Wilson

It's far from a shock to anyone that Benitez started off slowly. While he's a perfect 2-for-2 in save opportunities, Benitez has allowed at least two baserunners in each of his three appearances, including a two run jack by Adrian Gonzalez in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Padres. On the positive side, he's looking like he's healthy this season at least.

The overwhelming favorite to challenge Benitez in the preseason was Wilson, who enjoyed plenty of success as the closer in Fresno last season. Alas, he failed to make the big league roster, though he'd likely be the first reliever to get a call-up if anything were to happen to Benitez. Correia, a converted starter, has been considerably more effective since a move to the bullpen last season. He has strikeout an inning stuff, is durable enough to pitch on consecutive days, and could grow into the role this season, though Bruce Bochy says he has high hopes for Correia returning to the rotation at some point down the road. Chulk will get some attention, simply as the most experienced right-hander in the bullpen outside of Benitez. However, he has a track record of walking far too many hitters and not striking enough out. He fits much better as a righty specialist. Steve Kline could also figure into the mix. For now, assume Correia gets first crack if Benitez continues to struggle.

Texas Rangers
Closer: Akinori Otsuka
Next in Line: Eric Gagne

Otsuka has converted his only save opportunity so far and has yet to allow a run. However, Gagne is expected to travel with the team and be activated this weekend after missing the first couple of weeks in Extended Spring Training. While Otsuka still serves as a valuable fantasy option (particularly in holds leagues) when Gagne's healthy, he won't be manning the ninth.

Houston Astros
Closer: Dan Wheeler
Next in Line: Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls

Wheeler has taken over the ninth, at least on a temporary basis. However, he hasn't been so hot himself early this season, having given up a pair of runs in two of his five appearances so far. Still, he's a safe late inning option who should hold down the job without much trouble for the time being. Betting on him holding off Lidge all season might be a sucker's bet.

As for Lidge, we saw exactly what we did early last season in his first few appearances. He began the season by blowing his lone save opportunity against the Pirates, when Xavier Nady took him into the Crawford Boxes. However, it was the follow-up outing in a non-save situation that lost him his grip on the role. Lidge struggled with his command and looked very hittable in giving up five runs to the Cardinals when he was brought in to keep the game close on Sunday. Qualls will move from the seventh to the eighth inning with Wheeler's insertion into the closer's role, and should prove adequate as the primary setup man for Houston. However, he has no experience at the back of the bullpen. Wheeler's a nice quick fix, but be ready to sell high.

Warm

Tampa Bay Rays
Closer: Al Reyes
Next in Line: Shawn Camp, Juan Salas

Reyes has looked strong in two outings this season, including a nine pitch save where he set down the Yanks in order. However, it's important to realize that he missed the entire 2006 season with Tommy John surgery. How he reacts as the year wears on is a little up in the air. He's not officially the closer in Tampa Bay, but seriously... look at the other options!

Camp looked mediocre (at best) in the role last season, and has a career ERA of 4.99. He's simply not going to pose much of a challenge for Reyes if Reyes can even look decent in the role. Salas was outstanding in the minors last season, maintaining an 85:25 K:BB ratio in 62 innings between AA and AAA with a 1.02 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. If there's anyone who's going to give Reyes a run, it's going to be Salas. However, look for Reyes to hold him off because of his big league experience.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Closer: Salomon Torres
Next in Line: Matt Capps

Torres looked strong in converting his first four save opportunities, but he's having a bad start to the second week of the season. Torres blew the save in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals when Scott Spiezio hit a two-run single. He took the loss in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals when he allowed a pinch hit homer to Chris Duncan. To be truthful, Torres' job shouldn't be in major jeopardy yet, but.....

Matt Capps has been absolutely outstanding. The Bucs' closer of the future hinted that he may be ready to take over with his play last season, and he's allowed just two hits and nary a walk in 6.1 shutout innings in 2007. Capps looks ready to take over if Torres should falter, and may be given the chance somewhere down the line whether Torres continues to struggle or not.

Cleveland Indians
Closer: Joe Borowski
Next in Line: Roberto Hernandez, Rafael Betancourt, Tom Mastny

To be polite, Borowski has been terrible early on, though he's converted each of his two save opportunities. Borowski has allowed two baserunners in each of his three appearances while allowing three runs in three innings to this point. Many questioned the Indians for not going out and getting a top notch closer to help settle their biggest weakness a year ago (the bullpen), and it's looking like it may be a big problem already in 2007.

Hernandez was brought in over the offseason as well, and while he's well past his prime (42) and has looked awful in his own right to begin the year, his experience as a closer earlier in his career would make him the next option for saves. Betancourt has been the most reliable setup man the club has had in recent years, though he's proven in previous attempts to assume the closing role that he's better suited for the eighth. Mastny had a brief run as the Tribe's closer late last season, which might give him a leg up on some of the other competition. Conspicuously absent from this list is the player once widely considered as the Indians' closer of the future, Fernando Cabrera, who has yet to make an appearance this season. If Borowski continues to struggle, look for the Tribe to make a serious run at Chad Cordero of the Nationals.

Kansas City Royals
Closer: David Riske
Next in Line: Joakim Soria

Riske has never held down a job as the closer over an extended period. However, he's a proven enough arm towards the back of the bullpen to nail down an interim job until Octavio Dotel is ready to return. When Dotel returns, Riske should return to a setup role.

Unlike most teams, the Royals have more than just a roster spot for Rule V picks. They have actual leverage roles available. Such is the case with Soria, who was plucked from the Padres' system in the offseason. Apart from the fact that he posted a big strikeout rate in Spring Training and had a monster showing as a starter in the Mexican League this offseason, there's little on the kid. He put himself in the closer mix by earning a two-inning save while striking out three and keeping the bases clean the other night.

Cooling

Arizona Diamondbacks
Closer: Jose Valverde
Next in Line: Brandon Lyon

Valverde's looking safe at the back of the Diamondbacks' pen. He's converted on four of five opportunities, and even the one that he blew saw some terrible defensive plays behind him. Lyon's going to need Valverde to implode to take the job away.

St. Louis Cardinals
Closer: Jason Isringhausen
Next in Line: Ryan Franklin

Isringhausen has looked healthy, which is about all Tony LaRussa and Cardinal fans can ask for. He's still a horrible closer in fantasy-land, as he maintains an awful WHIP and a slightly high ERA. Still, LaRussa will stick with him as long as his arm doesn't fall off. Franklin has stepped it up to earn the spot as the club's top setup man with Braden Looper in the rotation and Josh Kinney done for the year. He's looked outstanding so far, and looked solid in the ninth in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Pirates.

Chicago Cubs
Closer: Ryan Dempster
Next in Line: Bob Howry, Kerry Wood

We all know it's just a matter of time before the Dumpster hits midseason form, starts walking hitters left and right, and blows a handful of saves in a row. It's not June yet, though, so Dempster is safe in the ninth inning for now. Howry hasn't started out that hot behind him, while Wood is on the disabled list. Dempster has shown sudden flashes of life, striking out five against just one walk in three scoreless innings.

Cincinnati Reds
Closer: David Weathers
Next in Line: Mike Stanton, Todd Coffey

Toss Bill Bray's name in there if you want to, but he's started the year on the DL. Weathers was finally touched up for a run Tuesday, though he retired the first five batters he faced in the Reds' 5-4 extra inning loss to the Diamondbacks. He's been a perfect 2-for-2 in save opportunities, and has looked fantastic in the early going. Coffey has failed enough times in the role so that he can't be considered option 1A out of the bullpen this season. He's going to need both Weathers and Stanton to struggle ahead of him to get into the ninth inning. Stanton garnered his fair share of attention as a potential sleeper source of saves in the preseason because it was assumed that the Reds would go with a lefty/righty committee consisting of Weathers and himself. With Weathers pitching well, Stanton's going to have to earn his way into those situations. Weathers looks safe for the time being.

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