Damn. I take a week off for the All-Star Break to work on materials for RotoExperts Fantasy Football Draft Central (and it’s one hell of a Draft Kit, I tell ya), and closers start dropping like… well, Joe Borowski.  Tons of stuff to get through this week, so let’s get into some quick notes.  

Saito is on the shelf for at least 6 weeks and Broxton has been named the interim closer. Jump on him if available. Photo Credit: code20photog

It seems the injury bug picked an opportune time to strike, as several closers hit the shelf just prior to the break. That’s good news for Kerry Wood owners.  He’s dealing with a blister issue at the moment, but the few days off should be ample time for him to heal and be ready go once games resume.  The time off also gives Bobby Jenks some time to rest his balky back.  He’s currently on a rehab assignment and should be back on the mound when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list this Friday.  If he’s not ready, Octavio Dotel should get the bulk of save opportunities until he returns.  J.J. Putz started a minor-league rehab assignment this past Tuesday, and he could be back within a week.  Whether he returns as closer right away, or at all, is still up in the air, as Brandon Morrow has done a fine job in his absence (at least until his last few outings).  The loss of Matt Capps is probably the hardest to swallow, as it looks like he’ll be done for the year.  He hopes to return sometime in September, but if you don’t have a DL spot available, I can’t recommend stashing him in non-keeper leagues.  Why not?  Dámaso Marte’s doing just fine as his fill-in, and the team has no reason to risk further injury to Capps by trotting him out there in meaningless September games.  Takashi Saito’s status is up in the air as of this writing, but it’s never a good sign when a pitcher can’t even use his throwing arm to brush his teeth.  My advice?  Run to the waiver wire and pick up Jonathan Broxton … just in case.  Troy Percival is still out with hamstring issues, but has been throwing pain-free the last few days.  He could return in about a week, but my guess is that it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself back on the DL.  Look for Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour to continue to rack up saves in his absence.  In other Tampa Bay news, charges against Al Reyes stemming from a nightclub incident this past spring were officially dropped this week.  Apparently, the ceramic pot he tried to assault refused to cooperate with authorities.  The closer situation in Detroit just got a bit murky.  With Todd Jones continuing to struggle, Jim Leyland is switching up the game plan (or at least he says he is).  Look for Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya to see some ninth-inning action going forward, with Todd Jones still in the mix.  If Jones doesn’t get his act together over the next couple weeks, Leyland would be foolish not to make a full-time switch.  Over in St. Louis, Tony LaRussa has made a statement of his own.  And that statement is spelled C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-E.  For fantasy purposes, it sounds like a situation you probably want to avoid, at least until it becomes clearer.  The Brian Fuentes trade rumors continue to pick up steam, with the Phillies being the latest team to throw their hat into the mix.  I still think the Yankees wind up getting him, but as an owner, it’s bad news no matter where he winds up -- the chances of him closing through the end of this month look like they are slim-to-none.  And yes, it looks like my prediction of Taylor Buchholz taking over the closer’s role will not come to fruition, not yet at least.  GM Dan O’Dowd has made it clear that Manuel Corpas will be given every chance to reclaim his stake as Colorado’s closer.  Francisco Rodríguez is on pace to obliterate Bobby Thigpen's record of 57 saves in a season, and it appears he'll be using it as leverage to test the free agent market this winter.  Lastly, if you’re one of those people who think it’s boring to watch baseball on television, do me one favor: Get yourself the baseball package (cable or online) and just watch the final frame of any San Francisco Giants game.  Brian Wilson provides THE most entertaining ninth innings in all of baseball.

“On Board” (players I feel confident endorsing…as of today)

Mariano Rivera, NYY
23-for-23, 42.1 IP, 50 Ks, 1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP.  
Next in line: Kyle Farnsworth
Third in line: José Veras

Jonathan Papelbon, BOS  
28-for-32, 40.2 IP, 51 Ks, 2.43 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Next in line: Mike Timlin
Third in line: Hideki Okajima

Joe Nathan, MIN
27-for-29, 39.2 IP, 46 Ks, 1.13 ERA, 0.93 WHIP
Next in line: Matt Guerrier
Third in line: Jesse Crain

Billy Wagner, NYM
22-for-28, 39 IP, 45 Ks, 2.31 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Next in line: Duaner Sánchez
Third in line: Aaron Heilman

Brad Lidge, PHI
20-for-20, 40 IP, 55 Ks, 1.12 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
Next in line: Chad Durbin
Third in line: J.C. Romero

Francisco Rodríguez, LAA
38-for-41, 42 IP, 41 Ks, 2.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Next in line: Scot Shields
Third in line: Jose Arredondo

George Sherrill, BAL
28-for-34, 39.2 IP, 43 Ks, 4.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP
Next in line: Jim Johnson
Third in line: Chad Bradford

Francisco Cordero, CIN
19-for-23, 43 IP, 47 Ks, 2.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Next in line: Jeremy Affeldt
Third in line: David Weathers

José Valverde, HOU
24-for-29, 45 IP, 52 Ks, 3,80 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
Next in line: Doug Brocail
Third in line: Geoff Geary

Joakim Soria, KC
25-for-27, 43 IP, 46 Ks, 1.47 ERA, 0.72 WHIP
Next in line: Jimmy Gobble
Third in line: Robinson Tejeda

Kerry Wood, CHI (NL)
24-for-29, 44.2 IP, 55 Ks, 3.02 ERA, 1.01 WHIP
Next in line: Carlos Mármol
Third in line: Bob Howry

Trevor Hoffman, SD
17-for-20, 28.1 IP, 33 Ks, 5.08 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
Next in line: Heath Bell
Third in line: Cla Meredith

Kevin Gregg, FLA
20-for-26, 45 IP, 36 Ks, 2.60 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Next in line: Matt Lindstrom
Third in line: Renyel Pinto

Brandon Lyon, ARI
19-for-23, 21 IP, 15 Ks, 2.43 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
Next in line: Chad Qualls
Third in line: Tony Peña

Jon Rauch, WAS
17-for-22, 47.1 IP, 43 Ks, 2.85 ERA, 1.01 WHIP
Next in line: Joel Hanrahan
Third in line: Saul Rivera

B.J. Ryan, TOR
18-for-20, 31.2 IP, 33 Ks, 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Next in line: Scott Downs
Third in line: Jesse Carlson

Huston Street, OAK
17-for-21, 42 IP, 42 Ks, 4.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
Next in line: Brad Ziegler
Third in line: Santiago Casilla

Brian Wilson, SF
25-for-27, 37.1 IP, 40 Ks, 4.58 ERA, 1.53 WHIP
Next in line: Tyler Walker
Third in line: Keiichi Yabu

"On the Fence” (players who I can’t endorse or condemn at the moment based on short-term performance, questions surrounding job security, and/or unknown injury status)

Salomón Torres, MIL
15-for-18, 49.1 IP, 33 Ks, 2.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
Next in line: Eric Gagne
Third in line: Guillermo Mota

Todd Jones, DET
17-for-19, 36.1 IP, 13 Ks, 4.95 ERA, 1.54 WHIP
Next in line: Fernando Rodney
Third in line: Joel Zumaya

C.J. Wilson, TEX
22-for-24, 41.1 IP, 36 Ks, 5.01 ERA, 1.57 WHIP
Next in line: Eddie Guardado
Third in line: Frank Francisco

Brandon Morrow, SEA
9-for-11, 30.2 IP, 42 Ks, 1.76 ERA, 0.88 WHIP
Next in line: Sean Green
Third in line: Mark Lowe

Ryan Franklin, STL
12-for-16, 42 IP, 28 Ks, 3.43 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Next in line: Jason Isringhausen
Third in line: Chris Pérez

Dámaso Marte, PIT
4-for-6, 44.2 IP, 44 Ks, 3.22 ERA, 1.12 WHIP
Next in line: John Grabow
Third in line: Tyler Yates

5-for-7, 44.1 IP, 28 Ks, 3.05 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
Next in line: Rafael Betancourt
Third in line: Rafael Pérez

“On the Ledge” (players on the verge of losing their jobs)
 
Brian Fuentes, COL
14-for-18, 37 IP, 37 Ks, 3.41 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Next in line: Manny Corpas
Third in line: Taylor Buchholz

Takashi Saito, LAD
17-for-20, 41.1 IP, 53 Ks, 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Next in line: Jonathan Broxton
Third in line: Joe Beimel

19-for-21, 28 IP, 30 Ks, 3.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Next in line: Dan Wheeler
Third in line: Grant Balfour

Bobby Jenks, CHI (AL)
18-for-21, 32.1 IP, 19 Ks, 1.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Next in line: Octavio Dotel
Third in line: Scott Linebrink
 

Are you ready for some football?  Paul is.  He’s also ready for the second half of the baseball season to begin.  If you want to talk baseball, football, or even hoops, send Paul an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .   

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