Latest news with #closer
New York Times
28-05-2025
- General
- New York Times
Giants remove Ryan Walker from closer's role, turn back to Camilo Doval
The Giants are moving right-handed reliever Camilo Doval back into the closer's role, manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Wednesday. He'll replace right-hander Ryan Walker, who has been the one struggling reliever in a bullpen that's otherwise been one of the most effective in baseball. Doval has a 1.16 ERA this season in 25 appearances, and he hasn't allowed a home run in 23 1/3 innings. He's allowed three runs this year, all of them coming in two games at the beginning of the season. Since then, he's thrown 18 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and five walks and striking out 18. Advertisement Walker became the closer last August, after Doval struggled with his control and blew multiple saves, and he finished with one of the best relief seasons in Giants history, with 10 wins and a 1.91 ERA, as well as 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. He was hampered this spring training with back issues, though, and he's struggled to find his command and control all season. If there's a bright spot for Walker, there are several statistics that suggest he hasn't been as bad as his 4.95 ERA, from his expected ERA (3.27) to his Fielding Independent Pitching (2.86). His percentage of stranded runners — 57.1 percent — has been one of the worst in baseball, and that's typically not a predictive statistic. On the other hand, Walker's strikeout rate has fallen from 32.1 percent in 2024 to 22.6 percent this season, and both his command and control have been noticeably worse than they were last season. In a bullpen with three relievers (Doval, Randy Rodríguez and Tyler Rogers) with sub-2.00 ERAs, it was getting harder to justify giving him save opportunities. (Photo of Doval: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devin Williams Addresses Yankees Closer Change After Struggles
Devin Williams doesn't plan to stay out of the ninth inning for long, and he does not need long to reset himself. The Yankees' former closer spoke publicly Sunday after being removed from the role, saying he wants to earn his way back as soon as possible. 'I mean, I'd like to be back on the mound as soon as I can,' Williams said. 'With the way things have gone recently, it's not really a shock to me.' New York Yankees closer Devin WilliamsRick Osentoski-Imagn Images Williams' struggles forced the Yankees to make a change this weekend. After blowing multiple leads and seeing his signature "Airbender" changeup lose its sharpness, the team decided to shift him out of high-leverage situations, at least for now. Advertisement For Williams, it was a difficult but honest moment. 'Being a closer is a position you have to earn, and you have to keep earning it to continue to be in that role,' Williams said. 'Lately, I haven't been doing that.' Williams didn't shy away from the disappointment or the responsibility that comes with it. 'It's disappointing. You work for years to get to that point and then have that taken away from you," he said. "It's not a fun feeling at all, but I can't say it's undeserved.' The Yankees have shifted veteran right-hander Luke Weaver into the closer's spot for now. Weaver, who has been dominant to start the season, is expected to handle save situations while Williams works on regaining the feel for his fastball and the sharpness of his changeup. Advertisement Manager Aaron Boone has left the door open for Williams to reclaim the job, if he pitches his way back into it. For now, Williams is focused on doing exactly that. Related: Jazz Chisholm, Jr. Gets Big Win Off the Field This Week Related: Will Devin Williams Join This List of Yankees Who Couldn't Play in Pinstripes?
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devin Williams responds to talk about his bullpen role
Devin Williams has quietly regained his groove and his confidence. Williams has made six straight scoreless appearances for the New York Yankees in high-leverage situations. He still has not, however, worked his way back into the ninth-inning role the Yankees hoped he would dominate. But apparently, it doesn't matter. Advertisement 'It's always a question,' Williams told the New York Daily News Tuesday night. 'It's not a thing. If I give up runs in the eighth inning, if I give up runs in the ninth inning, they count the same. It's the same thing.' Williams was asked — again — about reclaiming the closer role he lost during a rocky April. And again, he shrugged it off. 'I'm putting up zeros, right?' he said. 'It doesn't matter right now.' It's the right thing to say, and maybe it's true. New York Yankees closer Devin Williams reacts to fans' chants after blowing the save against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.© Brad Penner-Imagn Images Williams performance lately has spoken for itself. After a rocky start that saw his ERA balloon to 10.03 over his first 14 appearances, Williams has recently shown signs of returning to form. In his last six outings, he's delivered scoreless innings, highlighted by a dominant performance against the Mets where he struck out Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo in order. Advertisement Statcast data reveals that Williams' signature changeup, known as the "Airbender," is regaining its effectiveness, with improved movement and deception. His fastball velocity has also stabilized, averaging around 93.6 mph and topping out at 96.8 mph . These adjustments have contributed to a resurgence in his strikeout rate, which now stands at 28.2% over 17 innings pitched . But the Yankees aren't rushing to make a change. Manager Aaron Boone was clear: 'No plans right now' to move Williams back into the closer spot. Luke Weaver has handled the ninth well since taking over and has earned Boone's trust. The bullpen roles are clicking. There's little incentive to shift anything. Still, the Yankees didn't trade away Nestor Cortes, Jr., and a prospect for a setup man. Williams may not want to say it, but his value heading into free agency next winter depends on him being a closer. Related: Brian Cashman's Comments on Trade Deadline Will Alarm Yankees Fans Related: Veteran $12.5 Million Veteran Will Leave the Yankees in a Better Spot
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Dodgers Closer Kenley Jansen Throws Ridiculous Shot at Los Angeles Fans
Former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kanley Janssen will go down as one of the better closers in Major League Baseball history. On paper, Jansen has a real opportunity to be selected into the Hall of Fame, which isn't very common for relievers. With 454 saves, a career 2.62 ERA, and striking out over 1,230 hitters in just 879.1 Innings, he's done it all. Advertisement However, there have been Dodgers fans who have been upset with Jansen in the past. After departing from the team during the 2021 season after making his debut in Los Angeles in 2010, it didn't end as well as many hoped. And from the sound of things, Jansen has kept it in the back of his mind, throwing a shot at Dodgers fans who thought he didn't have what it takes in him to continue being a closer at the highest level. Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74).Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images 'Everyone who thought that I was done was a motivation for me,' Jansen said to The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher. 'So I have to thank all of them for making me who I am today. Oh, he's done. He's washed. At the end of the day, I'm still who I am. And I appreciate them, and I love those doubters. So I'm going to continue to work hard, and I think I have few more years left in the tank, and I want to accomplish great things.' Advertisement Prior to May, Jansen was one of the better relievers in Major League Baseball. He hadn't given up an earned run in eight innings, but he's been brutal this month. He's already allowed eight earned runs, four home runs, and has struck out just three hitters in three innings this month. However, his long career suggests he's much better than he's shown over the past 16 days. While his comments might be unnecessary at this stage, there's a reason he said them. He certainly feels a certain way about Los Angeles fans and wanted to let them know. Related: Dodgers' Dave Roberts Makes Teoscar Hernández Injury Announcement
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets' All-Star closer is finally rounding into form
It hasn't been the smoothest ride for Edwin Diaz this season. Think of it like a rollercoaster that started with a few jerky turns, some loose bolts, and a serious lack of momentum. But lately, the New York Mets' All-Star closer seems to have tightened the screws and picked up speed. He's not all the way back to peak form, but there are encouraging signs that the best version of Diaz—the one that slams doors shut with authority—is reemerging. A Tale of Two Diazes For fans, watching Diaz can be like flipping a coin. One side gives you the fire-breathing, ninth-inning monster of 2022, a guy who mowed hitters down with a 1.31 ERA and a symphony of strikeouts. The other? The 2019 version, who struggled to a 5.59 ERA and turned save situations into edge-of-your-seat thrillers for all the wrong reasons. Advertisement That duality has always been part of his profile. Diaz isn't your typical model of consistency, but when he's locked in, there's hardly a more terrifying sight for opposing batters than his 100-mph fastball paired with that biting slider. The Mets know this. They've lived it. And they know they need the dominant version of Diaz if they're going to flirt with anything close to playoff relevancy. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Numbers Show a Turn Lately, Diaz has been more 'lights out' than 'left hanging.' Over his last eight appearances, he's logged 8.1 innings with just one earned run allowed. In that stretch, he's struck out 15 hitters while giving up only four hits and three walks. Opponents are batting a meager .143 against him, and the contact they are making isn't doing much damage. Advertisement More encouraging is what's happening under the hood. Early in the season, Diaz's velocity dipped—never a good sign for someone who lives and dies by power pitching. But on May 5, his fastball came roaring back. What began that outing with three heaters around 96 mph ended with six that averaged over 98, peaking at 99.5. That's not just a good sign; that's a thunderclap of reassurance. Still Some Rust in the Machine Despite the improved results, Diaz isn't all the way back to his final boss form just yet. He's walking 4.5 batters per nine innings—his worst rate since 2020. And for a closer, that's a bit like leaving the back door cracked open. Walks have a way of snowballing, especially in high-leverage situations. If Diaz can fine-tune his command, the rest of his arsenal is already trending in the right direction. Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Momentum Is Building For now, Diaz looks like a man regaining his rhythm. His fastball is crackling again. His slider is tight. The stat sheet is starting to lean in his favor. The Mets are hoping the slow start was just the warm-up act, and the headliner is ready to take the stage. Advertisement The season ERA is 3.86, but the arrow is clearly pointing up. Related Headlines
