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Ernesto Frieri loses Angels' closer job

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09:55 AM ET 09.22 | A pair of ninth-inning meltdowns against Kansas City last Saturday night and Texas on Thursday night have cost right-hander Ernesto Frieri the Angels' outright closer job. Manager Mike Scioscia said before Friday night's game against the Chicago White Sox that he will "match up more" in the ninth inning with left-hander Scott Downs, right-hander Kevin Jepsen and Frieri, citing the need "to take a little pressure off a guy whose confidence is not quite where it should be." Frieri was dominant for four months, with a 3-0 record, 1.91 earned-run average and 19 saves in 21 opportunities through Sept. 14. But after replacing Zack Greinke with a 2-0 lead and one out in the ninth on Saturday, he gave up a two-run homer to Billy Butler and a solo shot to Salvador Perez for a 3-2 loss. In his next appearance Thursday night against the Rangers, he replaced Greinke to start the ninth with the score tied, 1-1. Frieri gave up a single to Michael Young and a two-run homer to Adrian Beltre, and the Angels lost, 3-1.

Los Angeles Times

Ernesto Frieri, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Ernesto Frieri, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Comment #1 has been removed
September 22, 2012  12:05 PM ET

it was too little too late to even remove freiri, guess nothing last forever right?? the angels do have more closers availability without even knowing, , walden, freiri, downs,

September 22, 2012  12:08 PM ET

the angels need to look up themselves at the mirror, why just keep blaming the pitching?? 25 blows so what? the halos offense are to be blamed from all those blow games, if the offense could score at least 7 runs in every game, then the angels shouldn't have that terrible record as it shows!!

September 22, 2012  12:11 PM ET

pitching its by far very important, but what's the use when the offense frozes up in every game?? too many of a good hitters in the halos lineup and still they are looking like a bunch of players from single A !!!

September 22, 2012  12:15 PM ET

the closer can do so much, the starters can do so much, but when the halos hitters play like a crap who push them to act as if they aren't playing without any motivation?? angels offense by refusing to play the game with such great intensity it force the pitching staff to just foldback and keep waiting for the hitters to wakeup!!!

September 22, 2012  12:17 PM ET

this year the halos can't go any where, but this club would need to prove themselves in next year season, if they still have the same hitting coach/same pitching coach? this franchise will regreted if they do not clean the hitting and pitching spot and i mean it!!

September 22, 2012  12:21 PM ET

the halos should get their homework done by next season, MARK TRUMBO can only play 3 full months in the regular season, PUJOLS would need to be moved from the firstbase spot, the angels would need to replace the catcher, as we are well aware about the catcher spot, angels lost more games thanks to the terrible calls from eianetta, and bobby wilson should just quit,,,

September 22, 2012  12:22 PM ET

thirdbase was by far the weakest spot, and the catching is by far the worse spot in the whole team!!!

September 22, 2012  12:23 PM ET

morales and hunter are out of anaheim and the halos could become a long gone memory from the past!!!

September 22, 2012  12:25 PM ET

pete bourjos would have a spot in the OF all for himself, but can he handle it?? remember poor hitting a passive approach at the plate its not allowed!!!

September 22, 2012  12:26 PM ET

santana is a free agent next year and zack greinke is free agent as well!!

September 22, 2012  12:27 PM ET

GREINKE has done his job except the OFFENSE has not done their job at all in the whole season!!

September 22, 2012  12:42 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

GREINKE has done his job except the OFFENSE has not done their job at all in the whole season!!

The Angels are third in the league in runs scored. Offense isn't their problem. Their bullpen is their problem. They have the worst save percentage in the AL. If they could close out games, they'd be in the playoffs.

September 22, 2012  12:51 PM ET
QUOTE(#2):

it was too little too late to even remove freiri, guess nothing last forever right?? the angels do have more closers availability without even knowing, , walden, freiri, downs,

Next year could be a good year for the Angels, especially if they can fix the bullpen over the winter. It is getting a little late to fix it this season.

September 22, 2012  12:56 PM ET

Big Contracts, Big Problems!!!

September 22, 2012  01:20 PM ET

as in all sports, what a team needs is a semblance of balance...without balance nothing can be accomplished....

September 23, 2012  09:33 AM ET

Teams would be better off if they would go back to the old days and pitch match ups or the guy who is on a roll instead of always putting his so call closer.

 
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