projected closer watch for 2004...

[IE]

American League
ANAHEIM
closer Troy Percival
next in line Francisco Rodriguez
then Brendan Donnelly
future closer Bobby Jenks
BALTIMORE
closer Jorge Julio
then Mike DeJean
then B.J. Ryan lhp
future closer Denny Bautista
BOSTON
closer Keith Foulke
next in line Scott Williamson
then Mike Timlin
future closer Juan Cedeno lhp
CHICAGO
closer Billy Koch
next in line Damaso Marte lhp
then Shingo Takatsu
future closer Felix Diaz
CLEVELAND
closer David Riske
next in line Jose Jimenez
then Rafael Betancourt
DL Bob Wickman
future closer Fernando Cabrera
DETROIT
closer Fernando Rodney
next in line Matt Anderson
then Danny Patterson
future closer Joel Zumaya
KANSAS CITY
closer Mike MacDougal
next in line Curtis Leskanic
then D.J. Carrasco
future closer Colt Griffin
MINNESOTA
closer Joe Nathan
next in line Juan Rincon
then Jesse Crain
future closer Jesse Crain
NEW YORK
closer Mariano Rivera
next in line Tom Gordon
then Paul Quantrill
future closer Ramon Ramirez
OAKLAND
closer Arthur Rhodes lhp
next in line Chad Harville
then Chad Bradford
future closer Joe Blanton
SEATTLE
closer Eddie Guardado lhp
next in line Shigetoshi Hasegawa
then Rafael Soriano
future closer Clint Nageotte
TAMPA BAY
closer Danys Baez
next in line Lance Carter
then Jesus Colome
future closer Seth McClung
TEXAS
closer Francisco Cordero
next in line Jeff Nelson
then Jay Powell
future closer Wes Littleton
TORONTO
closer Aquilino Lopez
next in line Justin Speier
then Kerry Ligtenberg
future closer Brandon League

 

[IE]

National League
ARIZONA
closer Matt Mantei
next in line Jose Valverde
then Brian Bruney
future closer Brian Bruney
ATLANTA
closer John Smoltz
next in line Will Cunnane
then Antonio Alfonseca
future closer Jose Capellan
CHICAGO
closer Joe Borowski
next in line LaTroy Hawkins
then Kyle Farnsworth
future closer Bobby Brownlie
CINCINNATI
closer Danny Graves
next in line Ryan Wagner
then Chris Reitsma
future closer Ryan Wagner
COLORADO
closer Shawn Chacon
next in line Brian Fuentes lhp
then Turk Wendell
future closer Ubaldo Jimenez
FLORIDA
closer Armando Benitez
next in line Chad Fox
then Nate Blump
future closer Lincoln Holdzkom
HOUSTON
closer Octavio Dotel
next in line Brad Lidge
then Dan Miceli
future closer Jason Hirsh
LOS ANGELES
closer Eric Gagne
next in line Guillermo Mota
then Paul Shuey
future closer Duaner Sanchez
MILWAUKEE
closer Danny Kolb
next in line Luis Vizcaino
then Leo Estrella
future closer Ben Hendrickson
MONTREAL
closer Rocky Biddle
next in line Chad Cordero
then Luis Ayala
future closer Chad Cordero
NEW YORK
closer Braden Looper
next in line David Weathers
then Mike Stanton lhp
future closer Tyler Yates
PHILADELPHIA
closer Billy Wagner lhp
next in line Tim Worrell
then Roberto Hernandez
future closer Alfredo Simon
PITTSBURGH
closer Jose Mesa
next in line Juan Acevedo
then Willis Roberts
future closer Ian Snell
ST. LOUIS
closer Jason Isringhausen
next in line Julian Tavarez
then Cal Eldred
future closer Jimmy Journell
SAN DIEGO
closer Trevor Hoffman
next in line Akinori Otsuka
then Rod Beck
future closer Rusty Tucker lhp
SAN FRANCISCO
closer Matt Herges
next in line Felix Rodriguez
then Jim Brower
DL Robb Nen
future closer David Aardsma

 

[CrazyHorse]

Thanks for posting this. Bullpen knowledge has always been a weakness of mine in MLB so I have been concentrating on that leading up to the regular season and this is helpful.

 

[IE]

No problem CrazyHorse, will progressivly update as we get closer to opening day...

one offhand today is matt anderson of detroit...he might not even make the 25 man roster as it stands right now...

 

[fletcher]

bobby jenks from angels is someone to watch, i have a very good friend who is a roving hitting coach for them and jenks hit 101 on the gun 15 times in the winter toped out once at 103 this is no shit, but he has a head problem they are working on and has no clue to where the ball is going, but that is gas, and this is not some bs net report this came from they eyes and mouth of someone i know in the org. so keep a eye on him over the next few years, that is just flat out gas.

 

[Felonious Monk]

wow, I remember when Matt Anderson was a phenomenal prospect coming out of Rice. That shoulder injury really blew any chance he had as a top enforcer in the league. I doubt he'll ever regain his form, that sucks.

 

[JCB]

Giants closer situation will be interesting as well escpecially since they seem to always play close games. Their record in 1 run games over the last few yrs in incredible.

Nen had some discomfort in the shoulder yesterday but it really didn't seem like he took it as much of a setback.



AP article:

Nen became sore following a bullpen session Sunday. An MRI on Tuesday determined that the soreness was unrelated to the operations, Conte said.

``Normally we'd keep going, but with my shoulder we'll take an extra day or two to get it right,'' Nen said. ``It's just a little cranky. We wanted to make sure there's nothing wrong, and I don't think anything is. It's just a matter of a lot of throwing over the last two weeks. It's not a setback. It's just an off day.''