The day after the great Mariano Rivera records his 500th career save, I look at each bullpen in major league baseball to give you a heads up on that next surprise closer.
AL East:
Yankees - Mariano Rivera (lock). Second in line: Brian Bruney, Phil Hughes.
Red Sox - Jonathon Papelbon (lock). Second in line: Takashi Saito, Hideki Okajima.
Rays - JP Howell has the best skills in this bullpen, is pitching lights out, and seems to be the closer right now. If he were to get hurt, it’d probably be between Joe Nelson, Dan Wheeler, and Randy Choate to take the job. Grant Balfour could still reemerge. Howell is safe though.
Blue Jays - Scott Downs (hurt) has the best skills in the bullpen and will get his job back when healthy. BJ Ryan is strugling a lot after surgery. I don’t have confidence in him. Jason Frasor is filling in right now.
Orioles - George Sherill’s job is rather safe do to a lack of options. Danys Baez cannot keep up his performance, neither can Jim Johnson, Chris Ray is just done in my opinion. This bullpen is a mess.
AL Central:
White Sox - Bobby Jenks is fairly safe. Matt Thornton is the best in the pen. Dotel is a solid #3. He’s probably more likely to get saves though because Thornton is a lefty.
Tigers - Rodney is pretty safe. Zumaya is just horrible right now. Perry is in the minors. Brandon Lyon hasn’t been great. I think if Rodney goes down, they give Zumaya a shot, but he could easily fail.
Indians - Very complicated bullpen. Wood is a lock right now. Perez and Jensen Lewis behind him. Skills are there, performance is not. Wood is safe – for now.
Royals - Joakim Soria (lock). Second in line: Juan Cruz, Kyel Farnsworth.
Twins - Joe Nathon (lock). Second in line: Jose Mijares.
AL West:
Angels - Brian Fuentes (lock). Second in line: Jason Bulger.
Athletics - Andrew Bailey (lock). Second in line: Brad Zieglar, Santiago Casilla.
Mariners – Aardsman is pitching well but I’m a bit worried given his history. Behind him, not much skill. Mark Lowe is intriguing but he can’t keep up his performance.
He's a closer, but he's on the Nationals.
NL East:
Mets – Krod (lock). Second in line: no idea.
Phillies - Lidge (hurt, lock). Right now: Ryan Madson.
Marlins - Lindstrom kind of sucks. Nunez and Meyer are both intriguing options. I’d pick up Nunez.
Braves - Mike Gonzalez (safe). Second in line: Rafael Soriano.
Nationals – You don’t want to know (Mike MacDougal).
NL Central:
Cubs – Same as usual. Gregg, then Marmol. Marmol is better, Gregg is getting the saves.
Cardinals – Ryan Franklin (safe). Second in line: Jason Motte.
Reds – Francisco Cordero (safe). Second in line: 39 year old David Weathers.
Brewers – Trevor Hoffman (lock). Second in line: Carlos Vilanueva
Pirates - Matt Capps (lock). Second in line: John Garbow, Sean Burnett.
Astros - Jose Valverde (safe). Second in line: Latroy Hawkins.
NL West:
Giants - Brian Wilson (lock). Second in line: Jeremey Affeldt.
Diamondbacks – Chad Quals (safe). Second in line: Tony Pena.
Rookies - Huston Street (safe). Second in line: Manny Corpas.
Dodgers: Jonathon Broxton (lock).
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