MLB Baseball Sports Fan Blog

Four out of the top five closers come as no surprise. The shocker is number one, he has always been known as a good relief pitcher, but I don’t think anyone expected him to be the top closer of 2010 so far this year.

5. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers: Broxton has established himself as the best closer of the National League. With a fastball that tops out around 100 mph and a devastating slider, Broxton can be untouchable at times. Broxton has 52 strikeouts in 36.1 innings so far, that just goes to show how much his pitches move.
This season Broxton has 18 saves, only two blown saves, and a 1.98 ERA. Broxton is on pace to have the lowest ERA of his career and match his career high of 36 saves that he had last year. The Dodgers have had a rollercoaster season so far in the first half. Currently the Dodgers are three games back from the everlasting Padres who are still in first place. The Dodgers must feel confident when they go into the ninth inning with the lead knowing that Broxton only has two blown saves this year. In the past Broxton struggled with the saves. Two years ago Broxton had eight blown saves, last year he had six and this year he is on pace for four. Every year Broxton is improving, before long he might be the best closer in all of baseball.

4. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals: It is true, one of the worst teams in baseball has the fourth best closer in the league. The question is how long will the Royals be able to hold on to Soria? Soria has been one of the best closers in the league over the past three seasons, but it sometimes goes unnoticed because the Royals are never in contention. Soria was just chosen to go to the all-star game for the second time in his career. This season Soria is leading the league in saves with 24. The Royals have only won 38 games this season, so soria has closed out 24 of their 38 wins, which is pretty impressive. Soria has never had more than four blown saves in a season. This season he has two, so he is on pace to stay under that mark once again. Out of the top five closers Soria has the highest ERA at 2.41, which really isn’t that bad, but if it was lower he could possibly be number one on this list. Soria is known as a finesse closer, instead of blowing batters away, Soria throws an assortment of pitches that paint the black. Soria has 42 strikeouts so far this season and is on pace to have the most strikeouts in his career at around 80 by the end of the season. It’s too bad that Soria is just wasting his talent away in Kansas City, once he becomes a free agent he will be picked up by a good team. At only 26-years-old Soria still has a long career ahead of him.

3. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: Rivera is still getting the job done at the age of 40. Will this guy ever quit? Every year Rivera struggles a little in the beginning of the season and everyone panic’s and says he is near the end, he doesn’t have it anymore! Then he straightens himself out and still has a great season. This season is no different. Rivera is on pace to have the lowest ERA of his career in his 16th season in pinstripes. Rivera’s ERA is 1.08, only one closer has a better ERA this season. Rivera’s saves are down a little with 19, which is still pretty good. Rivera was out for a little with soreness in his side, which is why he has 21 save opportunities. Rivera only has two blown saves. With the Yankees still cruising along in first place and the best record in baseball, Rivera should have plenty more saves opportunities to come in the second half.
Rivera was named to the all-star game once again, but he will not be participating. Rivera is a little banged up once again and needs the rest of the all-star break to freshen up. At the age of 40 these things happen. How much longer can Rivera’s body hold up? Maybe in the future the Yankees will just sign him later in the season just to pitch in the playoffs. For now I think Rivera will be alright, once the Yankees get to the playoffs, Rivera will turn back the clock like usual and look like he is still 25 years old.

2. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: The Tigers were in a desperate need of a closer this season so they went out and got Valverde who has been almost completely dominant this season. Valverde has the lowest ERA out of all the closers in baseball with a 0.97 ERA. Valverde has been lights out, he only has one blown save out of 19 opportunites. The Tigers have moved up to first place in their division just a half a game ahead of the Twins. The Twins do not have their all-star closer this season in Joe Nathan. Nathan is out all season with an arm injury. Valverde is an all-star this season, and he may be the difference in the AL Central over the Twins. Jon Rauch has taken over as closer for the Twins, he is doing an alright job, but he isn’t Nathan. The Tigers also have to watch out for the White Sox all of a sudden. The White Sox are only one game back in the division now. The White Sox have Bobby Jenks as their closer. Jenks has a high ERA this season at 4.11. Out of the three teams the Tigers have the best closer in the division and that might decide who takes first.

1. Rafael Soriano, Tampa Bay Rays: Soriano is the best closer of 2010 so far. Soriano is a converted closer. Last year with the Braves was Soriano’s first season as a closer and he did pretty well with 27 saves in 31 opportunities. The Rays were extremely desperate for a closer this season and took a gamble with Soriano. That gamble has certainly paid off. Soriano already has 23 saves this season and only one blown save. On top of that, Soriano’s ERA is 1.65. If Soriano holds his ERA under two by the end of the season, it will be the first time he does that since 2003 when he was a setup man for the Mariners. The Rays never had a dominate closer since they have become a franchise. If the Rays had a closer like Soraino two years ago when they were in the World Series, they might have won those close games. Instead the Rays were forced to use their best relief pitcher at the time, J.P. Howell, who lost both of the close games.
The Rays were in first place for most of the season so far, but have fallen back a little. The Rays still have the second best record in baseball, but they are behind the best team in baseball who is in their division, the Yankees. The Red Sox are also right in the race, only one game back from the Rays. If Soriano keeps up at this pace, he can help the Rays win the close games. Right now Soriano is pitching better than Rivera, who has been injured off and on and Papelbon who is having a little bit of an off year with a 3.71 ERA. The Rays have a good chance of making back to the playoffs this year. (mlb.com)

By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network