Seattle Mariners Notes: Brandon League

Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge is planning on reinstating Brandon League into his customary closer role in the near future. League, who lost the job after blowing the third save in his last five chances on May 25, has had good results in the 6.1 innings he’s worked since, striking out six while walking only one. He’s surrendered just five hits in that same time span and been charged with one earned run.

It’s been something of an odd year for the 29-year-old League so far, as he’s seen his walk rate soar to nearly three times his 2011 mark and his percentage of ground outs drop from 60.3% for his career to 43.8% this year. For a pitcher who doesn’t overpower hitters like most closers and instead relies heavily on pitching to contact, losing the ground outs he normally specializes in is a big deal. Altogether, League has a 1.44 WHIP on the year with a 4.30 xFIP that indicates his 3.67 ERA is perhaps deceptively low.

Although Wedge stated at the time of League’s demotion that the rest of the bullpen would all pitch in to pick up saves, it’s actually been Tom Wilhelmsen doing the bulk of the work as the fill-in closer. Wilhelmsen netted three saves in League’s absence, and he’s had success this year doing what the previous occupant of the closer position does not: missing bats.

In 32 innings of work on the season, Wilhelmsen has whiffed 37 hitters, good for a K/9 rate of 10.4. The displaced League has nowhere near the peripherals of Wilhelmsen, but managers are often reluctant to change closers on a permanent basis, so look for League to be finishing games again for the Mariners soon.

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