What Should the Phillies do with the Closing Situation?
With the Sixers playoff run in the books, we now turn our attention to the one team actually playing games, the Phillies.
With the Phillies getting put a little further under the microscope, one area of concern continues to pop up when looking at this team - the closer.
So what should the Phillies do with the closing situation?
Hector Neris, has blown three saves this season, including two in the past week, including Friday night against the Mets when he gave up two homers in the inning. His ERA went from a solid 2.77 up to an ugly 5.17.
While it is still early, the Phillies might have to start considering other options if they truly think they are a contender for a playoff spot this season.
"You look at your closer and say is this a guy were gonna run out there for months to come," Phillies analyst Ricky Bottalico asked on NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Probably not."
"I'm thinking maybe you go to a guy like Tommy Hunter at this point, you go to the seasoned veteran, you see what he can do, he's going to be steady. With Hector Neris right now, its kind of a mixed bag, you don't want that in a closers role."
Another name to consider?
Seranthony Dominguez, a 23-year old flame thrower, who has been dominating in three big league appearances so far. In three relief innings, the rookie has yet to give up a hit or run and has three strikeouts.
"I love Dominguez, my God are you kidding me,' Bottalico said on the Sports Bash on Friday.
"He's 97-100, so good fastball, good slider. But the one thing separates him from everybody else, he goes out there with no fear and that's exactly what you want in the back-end of the bullpen - no fear."
While in the minors this season, Dominguez dominated to the tune of a 1.62 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 16.2 innings between Double- and Triple-A.