From the Diaries...

There are a number of canidates for the closing job on the Royals. Who should it be?

Joe Nelson - 32 RHP, journeyman reliever that inherited the job from the erratic and wild Ambiorix Burgos towards the end of the season. He has a 90 mph fastball ad his out pitch is his changeup. He had 9 saves as the head of a closer by committee but has been released by numerous clubs and spent much of his career in the minors.

Ambiorix Burgos - 22 RHP, was pulled multiple times from the closer positison because of inconsistency. He does have a fastball that peaks at 98 - 100 mph but loses the abailty to locate during crunch time might be due to his youth. He's obviously not ready.

Joel Peralta - 30 RHP, a late bloomer that has been reasonably successful in the middle innings. I think any movement form his MR spot might regress him back to what he was 3 years ago, a minor leaguer.

Andy Sisco - 23 LHP, a huge 6'10 pitcher that can throw the ball 96 mph or higher. Most closers aren't lefty and there has been talk of coverting him to starter but he seemed to regress in 2006 after a fine 2005 season. He also seems to fold during the late inning situations he has been in. He needs more time and organizational instruction to be considered for anything more than long relief or even spot start work.

Ryan Braun - 26 RHP, was once thought as the closer of the future for the Royals but a knee injury stole most of his 2005 season away from him. In 2006, he gained what he lost and rebounded to have a great 2006 minor league campaign. He works consistently at 98 mph and has been known to hit 100. Braun isn't afraid to go after hitters with his late moving fastball, "terminator" (from Justin Huber) curveball, or his nasty slider. Despite his late season performance in the majors, I personally think that Braun, if inserted as the closer at the beginning of the year, will excel and be in any rookie of the year conversation for 2007. He reminds me a lot of Chris Ray.