Earlier this afternoon, I read that A's back-up close Justin Duchsherer may go on the DL with hip discomfort. Imagine my surprise when I heard Chuck Wilson on MLB Live announce an A's reliever was placed on the DL, and a Huston Street clip began to play.
So began my speculation about who would close if Duchsherer also went on the DL. Kiko Calero was my first thought. He has an ugly ERA this season but his WHIP is good. He is my favorite.
After him, there is a slew of possibilities with the most likely one being a closing committee. Three lefties - Alan Embree, Lenny DiNardo and Jay Marshall, make this a viable option in the age of relief specialization.
The two righties ex-Calero are veteran Jay Witasik and rookie call-up Connor Robertson. Witasik is a known quantity, but Robertson is not.
I went to my The Baseball Prospect Book 2007 by John Sickels for some background. (I also checked my BA one, but he wasn't listed.)
| Year | Team | Lg | Age | Level | W | L | ERA | G | SV | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | HR9 | BB9 | K9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Az As | Ariz | 22 | Rk | 2 | 2 | 0.92 | 25 | 13 | 29.1 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 46 | 0.61 | 2.45 | 14.11 | 0.850 |
| 2004 | Vancouver | Nwest | 22 | A- | 0 | 0 | 3.6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1.80 | 3.60 | 9.00 | 1.200 |
| 2005 | Kane Cty | Midw | 23 | A | 2 | 2 | 2.93 | 20 | 1 | 27.2 | 23 | 0 | 14 | 47 | 0.00 | 4.55 | 15.29 | 1.340 |
| 2005 | Stockton | Calif | 23 | A+ | 5 | 2 | 2.76 | 32 | 1 | 42.1 | 37 | 1 | 23 | 68 | 0.21 | 4.89 | 14.46 | 1.420 |
| 2005 | Sacramento | PCL | 23 | AAA | 0 | 0 | 1.8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.00 | 5.40 | 9.00 | 1.000 |
| 2006 | Midland | Tex | 24 | AA | 7 | 2 | 2.8 | 55 | 6 | 83.2 | 73 | 1 | 22 | 97 | 0.11 | 2.37 | 10.43 | 1.140 |
| 2007 | Sacramento | PCL | 23 | AAA | 4 | 0 | 1.93 | 15 | 2 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 18 | 0.50 | 5.00 | 9.00 | 1.28 |