We need a real closer

[Angel Oracle]

Problem is, even the righties are beginning to hit Frieri.

Who the heck is VanSlyke?

And the Ks are decreasing.

[fan_since79]

Absolutely no trades. We are still no where close to the division lead and have the worst farm system in baseball.

I generally am not in favor of a clear closer. Just use Downs more in the 9th versus lefties and hope Madson can return.

It could be months before Madson can return. He had another setback two weeks ago and has been shut down. When (if) he does return, he'll probably be used in a setup role.

[YouthofToday]

That's fine. No trading prospects for relief pitchers. I'm fine with eating salary.

[Torridd]

I never understood this mentality of pitching differently, especially a closer, depending on the score. Did Frieri comment at all on this? Is it just "one of those things,"  is his arm tired, or did he "tip his cap?"

[rageous]

If you look around the league, many of last year's top closers are struggling badly.

Jimmy Johnson has blown 5 saves already, Rodney looks like Rodney of old and completely undependable, and Chris Perez was sent to the disabled list due to ineffectiveness.

I think it's just a nature of the business that closers will go through bad stretches.

[Jimmag]

Figure is out and soon Frieri we do not have the time to mess around!

[stormngt]

That is why Frieri will never be a good closer.

Too wild and can't develop a 2nd pitch to save himself.

And WTF happened to the movement his fastball used to have?

why the hell can't he develop a good 2nd pitch.  You would think a change up would be devastating with the quality of his fast ball.

[stormngt]

Why not Coello has a closer?

 

Think that is his spelling?

[Adam]

He was a 6th inning guy for the Padres. He was never supposed to be anything special. 

[Brent Maguire]

I think the plan was to have Madson as the closer by now. Frieri had a nice run last year but hitters have adjusted to him just being a 1 pitch guy with deception. He needs another pitch desperately. 

 

On the Gonzalez home run last night, Adrian was just sitting on a fastball middle in because he knew Frieri had no other pitch. Time to add a change up or splitter to the arsenal. 

[fan_since79]

It's scary now, the way the hitters have figured out Frieri and are waiting on the fat fastballs.

[19HALO71]

He just needs to develop an off speed pitch that he can throw in any count for a strike and he will be fine.

[Brent Maguire]

He just needs to develop an off speed pitch that he can throw in any count for a strike and he will be fine.

Easier said than done. Some guys struggle to find another pitch to to add. 

[Troutipoo27]

I think the plan was to have Madson as the closer by now. Frieri had a nice run last year but hitters have adjusted to him just being a 1 pitch guy with deception. He needs another pitch desperately.

On the Gonzalez home run last night, Adrian was just sitting on a fastball middle in because he knew Frieri had no other pitch. Time to add a change up or splitter to the arsenal.

madson is irrelivent

[Brent Maguire]

madson is irrelivent

Trading for Papelbon is irrelevant. How is Madson irrelevant in this discussion?

[Troutipoo27]

Trading for Papelbon is irrelevant. How is Madson irrelevant in this discussion?

who is this madson we speak of? The one who hasn't pitched since 2011?

[YouthofToday]

He was a 6th inning guy for the Padres. He was never supposed to be anything special.

This is not true. Baseball prospectus and others pegged him as a future late inning, high leverage reliever when he was in the minors.

[EDinTUSTIN]

Need Madson so desperately.

Who is Madson? I heard about a guy by that name back somewhere around 2011. Since then he has been a mystery guy. He is the Robin Masters of Major League Baseball. Perhaps Thomas Magnum could find him for us.

[axalar]

I have a feeling this is going to be a central discussion and vent topic for the following weeks as the rest of our team comes together, but the closer role bottoms out.

 

Let's all hope for 3+ run leads going into the 9th.

[Angel Oracle]

The positive reason for closer by committee is that you can then use your best closer at the time, until he struggles a couple of times, and then you use someone else, and rinse and repeat until someone proves that they can get it done consistently enough to the tune of say nothing worse than a 1.20 WHIP, nothing less than 2/1 Ks/BBs ratio, and limit the long ball.

[yk9001]

WHY DIDN'T ARTE FIND A GREAT CLOSER FROM THE FAR EAST OR EUROPE?

 

[/killing two birds w one stone]

[Marsaka]

I know we don't want to trade for anyone but doesn't a trade for Papelbon make sense?

 

u really trust an idiot like dipoto to make a trade for papelbon?  he'll probably give trout to the phillies.

 

besides papelbon is another freiri......fastball, fastball, fastball.

[Troutipoo27]

u really trust an idiot like dipoto to make a trade for papelbon? he'll probably give trout to the phillies.

besides papelbon is another freiri......fastball, fastball, fastball.

I trust Dipoto over Reggins I know that has nothing to do with anything but atleast dipoto didn't trade away our whole pitching staff "Skaggs, Corbin" I'm ok with losing segura. It hurts to lose him but not as bad as the haren trade hurts.

[YouthofToday]

u really trust an idiot like dipoto to make a trade for papelbon? he'll probably give trout to the phillies.

besides papelbon is another freiri......fastball, fastball, fastball.

Ridiculous post of the day.

[2002_halos_II]

Hasn't he won 11 out  of 12 save opportunities?

 

 

But yeah he is not Mariano Rivera.