POLL: Who's your closer?

by leo3375 on Jul 16, 2011 12:04 PM EDT

After Matt Capps blew yet another save for the Twins, costing a starting pitcher an otherwise well-deserved win, I got to thinking about what the Twins should do with Capps and who should be the closer, if Capps isn't it. Joe Nathan has been pretty lights-out since coming back from an elbow strain last month, looking more and more like the Joe Nathan we all know and love. Glen Perkins has emerged as a shining light in an otherwise dismal bullpen. He's really proven himself and a lot of fans are wondering why he isn't the closer.

Or perhaps the solution isn't in the Twins' bullpen. It may not even be within the team's minor league system. Maybe the solution for the closer conundrum can be found in a trade. Heath Bell and Joakim Soria are names being mentioned as possible trade targets for teams, and the Twins certainly have a glut of outfield prospects right now. The Twins could also package Kevin Slowey as part of a trade for a reliable closer, even if it's only a rental for the rest of the season.

Poll

You're the Twins' manager. Who's your closer?

Matt Capps. He's saved more games than he's blown. Stop focusing on the negative.

1 votes

Joe Nathan. He seems like he's physically and mentally ready to take back his role.

115 votes

Glen Perkins. He's the best in the bullpen. Why not give him a shot at it?

29 votes

None of the above. I'd make a trade for Heath Bell or Joakim Soria, someone who can get—and has gotten—the save

12 votes

157 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Nathan definatly for the short term

I would like to see them use both Nathan and Perk depending on the situation sticking to the hes the closer thing is what lead to last night and Capps facing Hosmer when he has a massive platoon split and Perkins has demolished lefties I dont care if hes the “closer” you pull Capps there and put in Perk they did it a few times and it worked beautifully why the hell go away from it.

I would also like to see them trade for another reliever not necesarrily a closer though I think a combo of Nathan, Perk, even some Capps can hold closer down fine getting a guy like Mike Adams would be huge we dont need to waste the price in the closer tag a dominate setup man is the perfect fit.

Free Carlos Guiterrez! Free Chuck James!, Free Anthony Slama!

by holymackerel on Jul 16, 2011 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

I'd kind of like to choose none of the above....

If you take Capps out of the closer role, you’re just going to have him handling even more high-leverage situations AND relegate Nathan or Perkins (2 far superior relievers) to 9th inning duty, the cookie-cutter way Gardy uses closers. That could be even worse than what we have now.

As such, we need to find another guy. Michael Wuertz, Mike Adams, someone like that. THEN you can kind of have the best of both worlds and have Nathan or Perkins close AND have 2 good setup men. Putting Duensing in the bullpen and Slowey in the rotation would help too, but I digress.

Treat Capps like we did Rauch last year; relegate him to mop up duty after you find another piece.

by DJSkillz on Jul 16, 2011 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Wasn't that other piece Capps?

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

yes...

which is kind of my other point; they better make sure they get a GOOD piece. while not giving up a top 3 prospect to do so.

by DJSkillz on Jul 16, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Or

Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"God grab your neck but never choke" -Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jul 16, 2011 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

There's a reason for the "trade" option

I was using Bell and Soria as examples of closers who are being dangled as possible trade bait from other teams. If you hate Capps and don’t have much confidence in Nathan or Perkins as closer, then by all means choose the “make a trade” choice.

I think it says volumes when the hometown fans boo the closer when he comes out of the ‘pen. It’s an indication that there is little or no confidence that he will be able to get out of the inning without letting the other team tie the game or take the lead.

by leo3375 on Jul 16, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

ya...

just none of the options were perfect for me.

Capps: Don’t like him.
Nathan/Perkins: don’t want to take them from more high-leverage roles, the way Gardy uses closers.
Soria/Bell: I don’t want to pay the price for either of those guys and don’t care if someone has “saves” on their resume. closers are overrated.

Wuertz/Adams would be fine by me. Until then, maybe let Capps close to keep Nathan/Perkins in the more important situations more often.

But it’s all moot now with the Nathan news. Hopefully a trade is coming in the next week or so.

by DJSkillz on Jul 16, 2011 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Keeping Capps as closer is a bad idea.

If you were to keep him as the closer then he blows games left and right and it only hurts the Twins chances of trying to climb their way back to the top of the division. Think of where we’d be at now if Capps hadn’t blown all those saves. You can’t keep giving away leads in the 9th, just can’t afford that. Capps was giving wins away like candy.

by Gooseke on Jul 17, 2011 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions