AL Central Closers

CSX: Bobby Jenks
Back-up: Dustin Hermanson, Cliff Politte, Neal Cotts

CLE: Bob Wickman
Back-up: Fernando Cabrera, Guillermo Mota

MIN: Joe Nathan
Back-up: Jesse Crain

DET: Todd Jones
Back-up: Fernando Rodney, Franklyn German

KC: Mike MacDougal
Back-up: Ambiorix Burgos

I don't expect anything from Dustin Hermanson. An epidural per week for three weeks makes me think he is in a lot of pain. That could be a false conclusion I draw from my only experience with epidurals - my wife's pregnancies. If his back pain nears that level of pain, then he is done.

I have Politte and Cotts as back-up closers because they did the best last season, and Ozzie Guillen has shown he will not hesistate to yank a pitcher from the closing role. Some would call him capricious with that decision-making. To remind you, last season began with Shingo Takatsu closing, then Hermanson and Marte with Marte being ripped every day by Guillen, and finally settling on Jenks. My concern is I didn't list enough White Sox relievers!

I know Mota has been named the 8th inning guy in Cleveland and he has past success closing, but his arm issues last season and Fernando Cabrera make me hestitant to say Mota will get the job if Wickman fails.

If Mota does recover, I believe Wickman will be the beneficiary of Mota's and Cabrera's success. He will not be entering games with men on-base because both set-up men should effectively shut down the opposing team in the 7th & 8th inning.

For 2007, I'd prefer to have Cabrera even if Mota got the closing gig some time this year.

The Detroit middle relief core will be a very popular place for Roto teams to fish for potential closers because no one believes Todd Jones will repeat his 2005 dominance. Fernando Rodney ended 2005 as the closer, but he was hindered by shoulder issues at the beginning of the season and elbow ones at the end. I had hoped Venezuela would have won a game or two in the WBC because Rodney was the closer, but alas, they stunk and did not provide me the chance to see Rodney close in an ultra-competitive environment.

Franklyn German has been a disappointment seemingly forever. His ERA, hit rate and K-rate improved over 2004, but that is only relative to the low levels set in 2004. While I do not like him much anymore, I cannot forget the Looks-Like-A-Closer factor. Afterall, it worked for Tyler Walker last season in SF, and Jim Leyland is old school enough for it to be considered this season.

Speaking of the chain-smoking breath of fresh air, he has had a history of using bullpen by commitee. In his 14-year managing career, he has used one closer five times and commitees the rest. Also, he used a solo closer and made the play-offs only once- 1997 with Rob Nenn. As past behavior is all we have to judge future behavior, do not be surprised to see a 60/20/20 split in saves in Detroit this season.