Joakim Soria - Fantasy News & Updates
Joakim Soria - Fantasy News & Updates
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Soria didn't rack up as many saves as his owners would have liked, mainly because of a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of May. When healthy, he again showed all the hallmarks of a top-flight closer, overpowering hitters to the tune of a 11.72 K/9 rate. If anything, the injury could create bargain value for Soria. With shaky veteran fireballers Juan Cruz and Kyle Farnsworth serving as Kansas City's setup men, Soria's job security is safe and sound, barring injury.
After an injury-plagued first half, Soria finished the season in top form as he converted each of his 10 save opportunities, tossing 13 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts and five walks during September. Consider him a top-flight closer heading into the 2010 season.
Soria, who’s cashed in his last eight save chances and 28 of 31 overall, is closing in on his second straight 30-save campaign. In 50 innings of work this season, he’s mowed down 67 batters against only 16 walks.
More of the same from Soria, who extended his scoreless innings streak to 10 1/3 while converting his seventh straight save opportunity. For the season, he sports a 2.36 ERA and .211 batting average against.
Soria has cashed in his last six save chances since blowing his third of the season on Aug. 24, tossing 9 1/3 scoreless innings in the process. On the year, the dominant fireman has fanned 66 over 48 2/3 innings, translating to a stellar 12.21 K/9 ratio.
Rosa got the save because closer Joakim Soria notched saves in each of the past three days and needed a day of rest. The fact that Rosa shut the door in his first 2009 outing bodes well for his future in the Royals bullpen. The 24-year-old righty converted seven saves at Triple-A Omaha this season to go with a stellar 80/32 K/BB ratio over 71 innings, but a 4.56 ERA suggests potential growing pains for his immediate future. Either way, unless something happens to Soria, expecting additional saves from Rosa wouldn't be wise.
Soria has been lights-out over his last five appearances, firing 5 2/3 scoreless innings and yielding just three hits with 12 strikeouts. Overall, he’s locked down all but three of his save chances, and sports a solid 2.60 ERA.
Soria has been locked in since an uncharacteristic blown save and loss on Aug. 24, as he’s nailed down his last three save opportunities. He’s hurled five scoreless innings in that span and mowed down 12 batters to increase his filthy K/9 ratio to 12.18.
It's not Soria's fault that he has been one of the most frustrating closers to own this season -- his 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings are excellent, after all. It's just that the Royals have struggled to give the Mexicutioner a chance to do his thing -- he's 22-for-25 in save opportunities this season, and converted just his fourth save opportunity since Aug. 18 in this one. This is not one of those cases in which a bad team boasts a fine fantasy closer, although it's hard to blame Soria for that.
This was Soria's first save since Aug. 18. Clearly, the Royals' lack of offensive punch and overall mediocrity have limited Soria's save chances this year. He definitely won't break the 40-save mark for a second straight year and will be fortunate to even reach 30 saves.
Soria has tossed five consecutive scoreless innings -- picking up a win and two saves -- since getting lit up for a couple of homers in a non-save situation vs. the A’s on Aug. 8. He’s converted all but two of his save chances this year while putting together a filthy 47/10 K/BB ratio over 37 2/3 innings.
Although it came with a little more difficulty than usual, Soria was still able to get the job done in his latest outing. The home run by Zobrist was just the second that the young flamethrower has given up all season, while the trio of punchouts raises his K/BB ratio to a dominating 40/8 mark.
Soria, who was on the disabled list from May 8 to June 2 with a right rotator cuff strain, threw 37 pitches during his two-innings of work Saturday. Manager Trey Hillman called on him for the long save because the Royals simply needed a win, and they'd been continually burned in the eighth inning during their 10-game losing streak. While Soria should be available on Monday when the Royals begin a four-game series with the Orioles in Baltimore, Hillman has said he'd like to avoid sending him out for multiple innings again.
Soria's owners are a frustrated bunch. The Mexicutioner is a brilliant closer and strikeout artist, but a month lost to injury and the Royals' meek offense and brutal bullpen has conspired to hand him just 17 save opportunities over the season's first 96 games. It's dubious that the Royals will continue to leave him out there for these Goose Gossage-style extendo-saves, but he's sure got the stuff for it and he at least solves the team's problem finding a reliable eighth inning arm.
A shoulder injury cost Soria much of May, but he was stellar when healthy enough to pitch. The right-hander has proven that a top-shelf closer doesn't need to come from a winning team.
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