The Scores Report - The National Sports Blog » Joe Nathan

Capps replaces Nathan as Twins’ closer

Anthony Stalter — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:22:34 +0000

The Twins have decided to replace Joe Nathan with Matt Capps at closer according to Kelsie Smith via Twitter.

From Rotoworld.com:

Manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson met with Nathan after Saturday’s game — a game in which he blew his second straight save opportunity — and decided it would be a good idea to put him in less stressful situations. It’s the right move, as Nathan simply hasn’t looked like himself thus far. Capps has struggled in his own right his last two outings, but he was pitching well before that and has the tools to succeed in the ninth inning. Assuming his stuff does come around, we would expect Nathan to eventually get his job back, but it’s not a given.

Nathan apparently said that he was hurting the team by trying to close and will attempt to regain his form. Maybe with less pressure and more time to recover from his 2010 Tommy John surgery, he will return to his old position and continue to close out games for the Twins. It wasn’t that long ago that Nathan was viewed as the best closer in the game.

Mikey’s MLB power rankings

Mike Farley — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:05:47 +0000

Wow, things are getting wild. The Rays and Yanks are now tied for first in the AL East, and the Red Sox are not going away. The Padres have a commanding 6-game lead. The Braves have lost four straight, but the Phils could not capitalize. The Reds are hot and the Cards are not. The Twins and Rangers have not been hurt by recent mediocre play. So there you have it, and here you have your power rankings….

1. New York Yankees (78-50)—It was only a matter of time before the Rays caught up, but until Tampa goes ahead in the standings, the Bombers are still the team to beat.

2. Tampa Bay Rays (78-50)—Joe Maddon’s team sure doesn’t mess around, do they?

3. San Diego Padres (76-51)—If you keep waiting for the Padres to come back down to earth, you’re going to be waiting until possibly November.

4. Minnesota Twins (74-55)—Watch out for this team in the postseason. All of a sudden, with Brian Fuentes and Matt Capps, they have a pretty sick bullpen. Joe Nathan who?

5. Texas Rangers (73-55)—Josh Hamilton has an excellent shot at the triple crown, and this lineup has to send shivers through the collective spine of the Yankees’ pitching staff.

6. Cincinnati Red (74-54)—Speaking of triple crown, how about Joey Freaking Votto?

7. Atlanta Braves (73-55)—They can’t sustain losing streaks at this point in the season, but are still hanging tough.

8. Boston Red Sox (74-55)—In what other division can you be 19 games over .500 and in THIRD place?

9. Philadelphia Phillies (71-57)—They had their chance to close the gap this past week, and blew it.

10. San Francisco Giants (71-58)—Lots of talent, but can they put it all together? P.S. What is wrong with Tim Lincecum?

MLB Opening Week: 10 Things to Watch

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:15:36 +0000

While nothing beats the opening weekend in football, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the start of a new baseball season. With a sense of a new beginning, the opening week of baseball brings hope and excitement to fans across the country.

Then you realize that you’re favorite team is the Pirates, Royals or Nationals and all that hope gets crushed. It’s an ugly realization, but it is what it is.

As baseball is set to kick off a new season, here are 10 things to keep an eye on this week.

1. Roy Halladay makes his Philles debut
Fans will have to wait until next weekend to see Halladay make his Philadelphia debut, but they probably won’t have to wait long to see him dominate in red and white. Halladay will start against the Nationals on Opening Day and then at Houston five days later, which means he gets tune ups against two of the weaker teams in the National League. He shouldn’t have any issues making the early-season transition to the NL – outside of hitting, of course. Unless he succumbs to the pressure of pitching in Philadelphia, Halladay will likely have plenty of success throughout the entire season.

2. Jason Heyward’s MLB debut
The top position player prospect in baseball will enter the 2010 season as the Braves’ starting right fielder. The former 2007 first round pick hit .323 with 17 homers and 63 RBI between three stops in the minor leagues last season and might be the difference between the Braves finishing in the middle of the pack in the National League, or securing a postseason berth. Heyward doesn’t have one breakout skill, but he’s a five-tool player who takes a patient approach to the plate and exhibits good bat speed. He’s also a solid defender, with above-average speed and can play multiple outfield positions. If Heyward turns out to be the real deal, then so too will the Braves.

3. Can Jon Rauch fill Joe Nathan’s shoes?
After Nathan decided to have Tommy John surgery and therefore miss the entire 2010 season, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that the club would employ a closer-by-committee situation with their bullpen. But Gardenhire quickly went back on that decision, instead choosing to go with Rauch as his full-time closer. The question now becomes: Will Rauch be the same reliable pitcher he was last year in Minnesota or the one that struggled in Arizona in the first half? Rauch isn’t the long-term solution, but he doesn’t have to be either. He just has to be dependable this season to help bridge the gap until Nathan returns to full health in 2011.

4. Will Scott Kazmir miss more than one start?
After losing ace John Lackey to Boston in the offseason, the Angels’ starting rotation took a major hit. But with a full season of Scott Kazmir (who was acquired in a midseason trade last year with the Rays), the Halos felt confident that the top of their rotation would be fine. That of course, was before Kazmir landed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Manager Mike Scioscia said he isn’t concerned about Kazmir’s health, but considering the 26-year-old pitcher makes it a yearly habit of checking in with the disabled list at least once, the Angels have to be at least a little worried. Matt Palmer pitched very well for the Halos last season, but he’s certainly not the top of the rotation guy that Kazmir is. If Kaz is out for more than a start, the defending AL West champs could start out of the gates slow.

5. Has Jorge Posada lost his ability to handle the Yankees’ pitching staff?
Last season, reports emerged that Posada was at odds with pitcher A.J. Burnett about pitch selections and now, those same concerns may be rearing their ugly head again. In Sunday night’s 9-7 loss to the Red Sox, Posada appeared to be crossed up by Damaso Marte on a passed ball late in the game. There also seemed to be confusion about pitch selection on a Dustin Pedroia home run earlier in the contest. This situation might blow over quickly, but given Posada’s issues with Burnett last year, it’s possible that the Yankees have a developing problem on their hands.

6. Will Joba Chamberlain win the Yankees’ setup job?
When Chamberlain lost out to Phil Hughes to become the Yankees’ fifth starter, everyone assumed that the talented, hard-throwing reliever would be a lock to setup closer Mariano Rivera. But manager Joe Girardi said over the weekend that “No one has really claimed that spot,” meaning Chamberlain has to earn it. He’s in the mix with Damaso Marte, Chan Ho Park and Dave Robertson and after a shaky eighth inning in the Yankees’ 9-7 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday night, Joba isn’t off to a great start. Given how conservatively managed he’s been throughout the past two years, there’s a real possibility that he could wind up a bust. The Yankees need to decide what his role is going to be, or more drama could be on the horizon.

7. Can John Bowker supply the Giants with the power they desperately need?
After deciding not to renew Randy Winn’s contract over the offseason, the Giants entered spring training fully expecting Nate Schierholtz to emerge as their everyday right fielder. But after Bowker hit six home runs and drove in 23 runs this spring, they had no choice but to stick Schierholtz back on the bench and give the 26-year-old former Long Beach State outfielder the starting nod. The question now is whether or not he can finally produce at the big league level. The Giants gave him 326 at bats in 2008 and although he hit 10 home runs, he batted just .255 and showed zero plate discipline. He improved his patience in the minors last year and after turning in a great spring, the Giants are excited to add his bat. That said, he’ll be kept on a short leash because Schierholtz offers better defense and more speed. If Bowker can’t produce early, he’ll find himself regulated to role duties or worse, back in the minors.

8. What will become of Jack Cust?
In one of the more shocking moves this spring, the A’s decided to designate DH Jack Cust for assignment. The news is particularly surprising given that Oakland has little to no power and Cust averaged 28 homers over the last three seasons. Another issue is that starting center fielder Coco Crisp has to start the season on the DL with a broken pinkie, so it’s a little perplexing that the A’s felt as though Cust wasn’t among the top 25 players on the roster. The club now has 10 days to trade or release Cust, or send him outright to the minors. Recent comments made by Cust suggest that he’d rather set himself on fire then return to Oakland, but will he actually pass up on $2.65 million by not accepting a minor league deal? His fate should be determined soon.

9. Who will emerge as the Rangers starting catcher?
The Rangers have an interesting dilemma on their hands: Do they start Jarrod Saltamacchia behind the dish, or go with Taylor Teagarden? Saltamacchia, a switch hitter who hit .280 this spring, has the better bat but Tegarden is the better defender. Texas will rotate the two players at the start of the year, but will they eventually need one of the two to step up as the full-time catcher? The Rangers are a serious contender in the AL West this season and will need one of their two young backstops to step up, or if they stay in a rotation, they’ll need both players to play at a high level all season.

10. How will Mike Leake fare in his big league debut?
In a surprise move, the Reds announced over the weekend that Mike Leake had won the fifth spot in the rotation and will make his big league debut against the Cubs later this week. Granted, he was one of the most polished pitchers in the 2009 draft, but he has never pitched once in the minor leagues, so his inexperience is freighting. Still, he has a wide variety of pitches and has very good command, so he could make a seamless transition from Arizona State to the Reds. If he does, Cincinnati has an underrated starting five that could help the club emerge as a postseason sleeper this season.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 MLB Preview: AL Central

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:00:57 +0000

In order to help get you ready for the MLB season, we’re doing division-by-division rankings with quick overviews on how each club could fair in 2010. Next to each team, you’ll also find a corresponding number written in parenthesis, which indicates where we believe that club falls in a league-wide power ranking. Be sure to check back throughout the next two weeks leading up to the season, as we will be updating our content daily. Enjoy.

Next up is the AL Central.

1. Chicago White Sox (9)
Some folks will think that this is too high for the White Sox – that they should be behind the Twins and out of the top 10 in terms of the overall power rankings. Some folks will say that Jake Peavy won’t be healthy all season and that the Chi Sox will once again falter as they try to live station to station on offense. Well, I say the folks that disagree with my opinion are friggin idiots. Harsh? Yeah, but it also needed to be said. I realize that I’m taking a risk by moving the Sox to the head of the AL Central, but really, it’s hard to argue that this division isn’t a crapshoot anyway. Every team has question marks heading into the season but at the end of the day, pitching makes or breaks a team. I realize Peavy missed all of last year due to injury, but the Sox were second in the AL in pitching last season with a 4.14 ERA without him. If he stays healthy, Peavy will only add to Chicago’s solid rotation (which also features Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Freddy Garcia) and the addition of J.J. Putz should bolster the bullpen as well. Outside of injuries, the only thing that could potentially hold Chicago back this year is its offense. What do you mean that’s kind of a big deal? I’m banking that youngster Gordon Beckham develops quickly and that Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios return to form. I also think the Sox will get key contributions from the additions GM Kenny Williams made this offseason in Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre and Mark Teahen. I’m not expecting the Sox to magically transform into the Yankees of the AL Central, but I do believe they have enough offense to get by while their pitching carries them to a playoff berth.

2. Minnesota Twins (10)
Boo! Hiss! Why do you have the Twins behind the White Sox, moron? Minnesota fans aren’t going to appreciate this – especially considering they’re still all hopped up on the Joe Mauer contract juice. But the pitching staff scares the bejeuses out of me. I’m well aware of what Mauer and Justin Morneau can do with 42 inches of lumber and I think the offseason addition of Jim Thome was great. But does this team have enough starting pitching to make a run? Based on the starters’ performances thus far in spring training, the answer to that question is “yes.” Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Carl Pavano and even Francisco Liriano have all looked good thus far but the Twins will need consistency out of this group throughout the entire season. Plus, Jon Rauch (or Heath Bell or Jason Frasor) has to step in for Joe Nathan, who was lost for the season after deciding to undergo Tommy John surgery. Even though Rauch has looked good himself this spring, Nathan left some pretty big shoes to fill. Another factor that I can’t shake is that the club is moving out of the Metrodome this year into the brand new outdoor Target Field. The Twins have gone 102-61 at home over the last two years and just 73-89 on the road. While it may sound trivial, they had a distinct advantage inside the dome – a distinct advantage they no longer have. That said, after I spent an entire paragraph doubting them, I do believe that the Twins have enough talent to run away with the Central. If the success that the starters have had this spring carries over into the regular season, then they should win the division. And if Rauch pitches as well as he did last season and in spring training this year, then he’ll ease the pain of the club not having Nathan. But something tells me that the Twins take a step back this year – the excitement about Mauer’s new contract be damned.

3. Detroit Tigers (16)
It’s hard to get a read on the Tigers. Are they a team moving forward or are they a team that’s ready to blow itself up and start rebuilding? Justin Verlander is a serious Cy Young candidate and Miguel Cabrera is a serious MVP candidate now that he has vowed to stay sober. (He was actually a serious MVP candidate when he was hitting the bottle the night before games, but being sober only helps things.) But here’s where my concern comes in with the Tigers: If things go bad in the first half, will the front office hold a fire sale at the deadline? No club in baseball has been hit harder by the downturn in the economy like Detroit has and I could see the Tigers creating financial relief for themselves by clearing some big contracts off the books – including Cabrera’s. That said, it’s not hard to see why Detroit fans are excited about the Tigers’ chances this year. Behind Verlander is 21-year-old phenom Rick Porcello and then promising, hard-throwing right-hander Max Scherzer, who was acquired in the Edwin Jackson deal. The Tigers also overpaid to watch Johnny Damon’s power decrease dramatically now that he won’t be hitting in Tornado alley, but fans seem excited about what he can bring to a lineup (i.e. patience at the plate, speed) and a clubhouse (i.e. orange slices and Capri Sun). As I wrote in the write up for the White Sox, the AL Central will be a crapshoot again this year. All three teams at the top of the division – the Sox, Twins and Tigers – have a legitimate shot at winning the Central and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Detroit wears the crown at the end of the year. But after they parted with Curtis Granderson in a cost cutting move this offseason, I worry about whether or not the front office is committed to winning. The Damon deal suggests that they are, but we’ll see what their intentions are around the trade deadline.

4. Kansas City Royals (25)
There’s just nothing to say about the Royals that hasn’t been said for the past 10 years. They’re so bland that sometimes you forget they’re even there. “Hey, who do the Sox play today?” “The Royals.” “Who? Christ, they’re still in the league?!” The problems that the Royals have from top to bottom are a mile long. They lack the basic fundamentals on the field, including but not limited to: base running, situational hitting and overall defense. This is also an organization that refuses to spend and what’s worse is that they have a brutal scouting department. So basically, it’s the worst of both worlds. That said, there is some hope on the horizon. Zach Greinke gives fans a legitimate reason to show up at the ballpark every fifth day and Billy Butler gives fans a legitimate reason to return from the concession stand when the Royals are up to bat. There’s also a lot of excitement surrounding 19-year-old Cuban defector Noel Arguelles and there is still one or two people left that believe Alex Gordon will develop too. But outside of that, the Royals (who?) will battle the Indians for fourth place in the division once again this season.

5. Cleveland Indians (28)
It just seems like yesterday that, after years of rebuilding, the Tribe had set themselves up with a solid core of players that would help them win for years to come. Then, after just one trip to the ALCS (2007), the club is now back in rebuilding mode. Cleveland fans must be thinking to themselves, “All right – who’s the jokester? Seriously guys, where’s CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez? I’m not kidding around – they were supposed to help us compete for a decade and now somebody has misplaced them.” If enough things break right, the Indians could actually finish near the middle of the pack this year. But a lot has to happen. Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona have to have solid seasons and Chris Perez has to fill Kerry Wood’s (out until early May with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle, which can also be found in dolphins I think) shoes. Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner also have to bounce back from injuries and some of the young pups like Matt LaPorta and Asdrubal Cabrera have to contribute as well. All in all, the Tribe probably won’t be as bad as many think, but obviously expectations should be kept low seeing as how they are in rebuilding mode. “Rebuilding mode? Again? Are you serious?! Come on!”

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Nathan to miss 2010 season? Twins scouting Padres’ Bell

Anthony Stalter — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:45:43 +0000

According to Bob Nightengale via his Twitter page, the Twins have been “extensively” scouting Padres closer Heath Bell for a possible trade. If the report is true, then that probably means that Joe Nathan is likely preparing to have Tommy John surgery on his elbow and will miss the entire 2010 season.

Bell was the National League’s surprise leader in saves in 2009 after he racked up 42 stops, a 2.71 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Despite the Padres only winning 75 games last year, Bell was given plenty of opportunities to save tight games in the ninth, which he did with regularity.

It’s no secret that the Padres want to continue to shed payroll and Bell’s name has been mentioned in trades all winter. With the Twins desperate to fill Nathan’s ninth inning spot, San Diego might be able to get a decent prospect in a trade – especially if they wait until after the season starts. Minnesota has a team ready to compete now, but if bullpen woes start to emerge then the Twins might have to overpay a little to acquire Bell’s services. After all, a bullpen can be the difference between a team that makes the postseason and one that comes up short at the end of the season.

From a fantasy standpoint, a potential trade could be viewed as both a positive and a negative. On one hand, he would be going to a competitive club that should give him plenty of save opportunities and if Nathan were indeed done for the year, Bell would instantly become the closer. On the other hand, he’d be leaving spacious Petco Park and would probably see a spike in his ERA while pitching in the American League. Plus, the lowly Padres were already giving him save opportunities so owners might be wishing he stays put.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Joe Nathan to have Tommy John surgery?

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:00:06 +0000

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen, Twins’ closer Joe Nathan has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will decide whether or not to have Tommy John surgery within the next two weeks.

If Nathan opts to go with the surgery, he would miss the entire 2010 season and leave the Twins without a closer. Nathan says that he will do whatever he can to give himself the “best chance to go out there and help” the Twins, but also realizes that he has to decide soon whether or not to have surgery because the club needs to figure out its closer situation.

Jon Rauch was added to Minnesota’s bullpen in August, so he may be asked to close for the Twins at the start of the season, or at least until the club finds a more suitable option. Matt Guerrier is also a candidate after pitching extremely well (2.36 ERA, 33 holds, 0.97 WHIP) in 2009.

Hopefully Nathan won’t need surgery but at this point, it’s probably wise to count him out for the 2010 season. Fantasy owners should take note.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2009 Fantasy Baseball Preview: Relief Pitchers

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:33:17 +0000

All 2009 Fantasy Articles | 2009 Position Rankings

There are two general schools of thought when it comes to selecting relief pitchers. Some owners zero in on a stud and are willing to select one in the first couple rounds, while others don’t mind cruising the wavier wire on a regular basis during the season after they waited to address the position late in their draft.

Neither approach is bad, although each has its drawbacks. K-Rod racked up 62 saves last season, but switching clubs and leagues this year leads to some uncertainty, plus outside of saves, his ERA and WHIP numbers have been on the decline for years. If you’re the type that burns a high draft pick on a top reliever and a guy like K-Rod fizzles, you obviously would have cost yourself an opportunity to select a position player that could have given you great value at that spot.

Conversely, if you wait until the later rounds of your draft to address your stopper(s), then you run the risk of playing Russian Roulette with the position throughout the regular season, possibly costing you wins/points in not only saves, but strikeouts, ERA and WHIP as well.

If we could offer some advice, we recommend finding a happy medium between those that make finding a reliever one of their top priorities, and those who avoid it like the dentist. Find that next wave of relievers after names like Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon and Mariano Rivera come off the board. Chances are you’ll get a nice combination of saves, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP without burning a high draft pick on one of the studs.

Below are some closers that won’t cost you a top draft pick, but also ones that shouldn’t come up short in the production department.

Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs
Marmol is an incredibly intriguing, yet risky closer prospect. He has all the tools and talent to must 40-plus saves, but he is inexperienced and has some control issues. Still, the closer role is all his after Kerry Wood signed with the Indians in the offseason and if Marmol can take the next step forward in his development, he could be in store for a big season.

Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox
Jenks might scare some owners away this year after having back issues last year. But if he earned 30 saves at less than ideal health and after losing some zip on his fastball, then he’s capable of producing 35-plus saves this season now that he’s healthy again. If he ever matures, he could be one of the better closers in the league.

Kerry Wood, Cleveland Indians
Wood might be the most intriguing closer in fantasy this year after saving 34 games last season for the Cubs. He joins the Indians this year and if the Tribe bounces back, he has the potential to top the 40 mark in saves. He obviously has to stay healthy, however, and must avoid tiring like he did in the second half last season. (He went from having a 2.43 ERA and 0.86 WHIP to 4.57 and 1.45 in the second half.)

Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
Don’t be scared – Broxton is a stud in the making. The 24-year old has 40-plus save potential and should once again sniff 90 strikeouts, all while keeping his ERA south of 2.80. He has trouble staying consistent at times, but Broxton’s 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings is nothing to scoff at.

Brian Fuentes, Los Angeles Angels
If the Angels give Fuentes as many opportunities for saves as they did K-Rod last year, then the former Rockie could be one of the best bargains in your draft this season. He saved 30 games last year and managed to keep his ERA (2.73) and WHIP (1.10) low. You might be able to put Fuentes down for 35 saves this season, with comparable ERA and WHIP numbers from 2008.

Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants
Wilson’s 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP were nasty last year, but his 41 saves make him an awfully intriguing pick. Now that he has a full season under his belt, he should be able to lower his ERA dramatically, although he must be more consistent and cut down on the walks. Even though he pitches for a poor team, the Giants will give Wilson plenty of opportunities for saves as they have the penchant for playing in a ton of tight ballgames.

Below is our official ranking of relief pitchers.

1. Jonathan Papelbon, BOS
2. Joe Nathan, MIN
3. Mariano Rivera, NYY
4. Brad Lidge, PHI
5. Joakim Soria, KC
6. Jose Valverde, HOU
7. Francisco Rodriguez, NYM
8. B.J. Ryan, TOR
9. Carlos Marmol, CHC
10. Bobby Jenks, CWS
11. Jonathan Broxton, LAD
12. Kerry Wood, CLE
13. Francisco Codero, CIN
14. Brian Fuentes, LAA
15. Matt Capps, PIT
16. Brian Wilson, SF
17. Heath Bell, SD
18. Trevor Hoffman, MIL
19. Frank Francisco, TEX
20. Matt Lindstrom, FLA
21. Mike Gonzalez, ATL
22. George Sherrill, OAK
23. Chad Qualls, ARI
24. Huston Street, COL
25. Joey Devine, OAK
26. Troy Percival, TB
27. Joel Hanrahan, WAS
28. Justin Duchscherer, OAK
29. Brad Ziegler, OAK
30. Brandon Lyon, DET
31. Jose Arredondo, LAA
32. Brandon Morrow, SEA
33. Manny Corpas, COL
34. Chris Ray, BAL
35. Chris Perez, STL
36. J.J. Putz, NYM
37. Fernando Rodney, DET
38. Manny Parra, MIL
39. Dan Wheeler, TB
40. Miguel Batista, SEA
41. Kevin Gregg, CHC
42. Takashi Saito, BOS
43. Grant Balfour, TB
44. Hong-Chih Kuo, LAD
45. Rafael Betancourt, CLE