We’ve seen plenty of ninth-inning turmoil through the opening two weeks of 2010 and there’s no letup in sight. Get out the log for struggling closers, it’s time to make another entry. Chad Qualls(notes), you’re the next stopper under the microscope.
Qualls had a steady if unspectacular season as Arizona’s closer in 2009 (3.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 24 saves in 29 chances), but his season ended prematurely with a dislocated kneecap in August and not much has gone right since. Offseason surgery on the left knee pushed Qualls back for spring training, he didn’t get many people out when he finally started working in March (9.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R), and things haven’t gone well in the real games. Qualls allowed a home run in his first appearance (a mop-up assignment) and he’s really come unglued this week, blowing two consecutive saves at Los Angeles.
The latest mishap came Thursday night as Qualls coughed up a two-run lead in the ninth. The tying run was a little on the cheesy side – a piddly infield hit followed by a wild throw – but Qualls can’t blame his teammates too much, he made his own mess. He started the carnival by walking the leadoff man, and Manny Ramirez(notes) and James Loney(notes) scorched base hits later in the frame.
With Qualls struggling to find his form, it’s time to kick the tires on Arizona’s main setup man, Juan Gutierrez(notes). You’ll remember Gutierrez was sharp as the temporary closer down the stretch in 2009 (converting on 8-of-9 save chances), and he’s off to a superb start this time around, with four scoreless innings already in the books (1 H, 1 BB, 4 K). If A.J. Hinch decides to make a switch for the ninth inning, there’s little doubt Gutierrez would get the first look. Gutierrez has already become a hot pickup into the overnight, and that trend will continue Friday as the save carousel continues to turn.
(Yep, there’s a lot more stuff to talk about Thursday, but we felt it was important to get the Arizona news out to you as soon as possible. Check back shortly for the rest of this morning’s Closing Time, in full.)