Tyler Wells closer if Bautista is hurt??

[csgordos]

I am hoping Felix is Ok, but if not…Many will assume Cano will be closer. Wells has closed before.  Would make sense if they think his arm can handle it.  One issue is his propensity to give up the HR.  
 

Or am I just crazy??

[SteveA]

2 minutes ago, csgordos said:

I am hoping Felix is Ok, but if not…Many will assume Cano will be closer. Wells has closed before.  Would make sense if they think his arm can handle it.  One issue is his propensity to give up the HR.  
 

Or am I just crazy??

The setup innings are often as high leverage and important as the 9th.   Wells probably comes up, Cano becomes the closer, and some combination of Wells/Webb/Coulombe fills the void that Cano leaves in the 8th inning.   

[Aristotelian]

Have any of us actually seen Wells pitch? That is asking a lot to come back and jump straight into the closer role. Maybe after a few solid appearances to establish his confidence.

Unfortunately there's really no perfect answer. I think Grayson would be great in that role, but then we lose him from the rotation. Still, we have an extra starter now plus Means coming back. Bradish-Means-Kremer could win some games with Grayson closing. 

Or just go with a committee of Cano/Fuji/Coulombe/Webb.

 

[Three Run Homer]

Grayson is our second best starter right now.  I would definitely not move him to the bullpen.   I'd be more open to considering Flaherty or Gibson as a closer.  

Wells closed tonight in Norfolk (1 IP) with Means starting (4+ IP), so clearly the organization is planning to bring Wells back in a bullpen role while Means will start or do long relief.  The last I read (prior to tonight's outing) Wells' velocity was down to around 92.  

 

[bigdan]

Pass on Wells as closer. He's very easily frustrated, gives up way too many HR's, and when he was closer in 2021 he wasnt very good. Cano has earned the closers roll it is his until he proves he cant handle it.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

I'd consider Wells, but he needs to prove he can pitch first before letting him close games. Let him work a couple lower leverage situations first.

I think the best approach is to play match ups the last couple innings and go with a closer by committee. Cano, Webb and Coulombe are all candidates in my mind.

[Jammer7]

Wells FB has to have great command, or it gets hit really hard. His FB could tick up to 96 or so, but it is still straight. A closer has to be available on back to back nights, and generally often. Wells’ shoulder history makes me cringe in this, just a little. 

[Jammer7]

DL Hall and Mike Baumann could be wildcards here. Many of us point to Cano, Webb, Wells and Coloumbe, but I think DL has the best stuff of all of them. And Baumann had been getting higher leverage outs before they decided to back off him for a bit of a reset. 

[Sports Guy]

When Wells was exclusively a reliever in 2021, his K rate was over 10 and his Bb rate was under 2.

He had a 22% swingstr% and threw almost 69% of his pitches for strikes.

All of that tells us he would make an excellent closer.

However, he also gave up his share of homers and his statcast numbers were worse as a reliever than they have been as a starter.

Now, maybe he’s a better pitcher now and the statcast numbers would be better but the homers are still there.  
 

I think he’s an asset out of the pen but I do think you have to be nervous bringing him in with runners on or having him in the game with a one run lead.

[WarehouseChatter]

Would Hyde consider a closer by committee? Unfortunately you can’t do this based on matchups as much given the 3 batter minimum rule. 

I like Cano in his current role and would hesitate to change that.

[Sports Guy]

It could be Grayson although I’m not sure I like the idea of changing roles for him. I think that could be asking for an arm injury.

[Tony-OH]

Wells gives up too many homers to be a closer. I'd rather go with Cano and matchups for a bit.

[dzorange]

I don’t think there’s any way Cano wouldn’t be the closer. All-Star replacing an All-Star. Cano deserves the opportunity and seems to have the moxie for it.

Replacing Cano with a number of arms would be the easier option.

I think that Coulombe and Cano would be the 1-2.

Edited August 26, 2023 by dzorange

[dystopia]

I like CBC or Webb. Don't really want Cano as closer. Webb has been dominant so far.

[Sports Guy]

Coloumbe is our best reliever if Bautista is out. Of course, for me, that means to keep him for the highest leverage situations, which could be the 6th inning or the 9th inning.