| 3/21/2013 8:32:00 PM |
Description: Athletics closer Grant Balfour (knee) had a successful spring debut Thursday, throwing a perfect inning. | Insight: Balfour is on track in his recovery from surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He should be ready for Opening Day. | | |
| 3/12/2013 10:24:00 PM |
Description: Athletics closer Grant Balfour (knee) is looking to make his spring training debut by Monday. | Insight: Balfour is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus but he is on track to be ready for Opening Day. | | |
| 3/6/2013 4:42:00 PM |
Description: Athletics closer Grant Balfour (knee) threw 40 pitches off a bullpen mound Wednesday, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. | Insight: Balfour is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus but he is on track to be ready for Opening Day. | | |
| 2/28/2013 12:37:00 PM |
Description: Athletics closer Grant Balfour (knee) threw off flat ground Wednesday afternoon, according to MLB.com's Jane Lee. | Insight: Balfour is still recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus but he is getting closer to throwing off a mound. He's ahead of schedule and should be ready for Opening Day.
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| 2/19/2013 6:16:00 PM |
Description: Athletics closer Grant Balfour (knee) played catch Tuesday for the first time since having surgery to repair a torn meniscus last week. He said he "feels great" after throwing. SOURCE: Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle | Insight: The initial timeline for Balfour was 4-6 weeks. If he misses six weeks it would still put him on track to be ready for the season opener.
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| 2/14/2013 12:01:00 PM |
Description: Athletics right-hander Grant Balfour will need 4-6 weeks of recovery time after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. SOURCE: Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle | Insight: The procedure could cause Oakland's closer to miss the start of the regular season, in which case Ryan Cook would presumably handle save situations.
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| 5/1/2012 10:47:00 PM |
Description: Grant Balfour was pulled from the game Tuesday after allowing three hits and two runs to open up the ninth inning. He was replaced by Jordan Norberto, who finished the game for his first major league save. | Insight: Balfour has blown two out of his last three save chances and he was on the verge of blowing this one as well. He was clearly frustrated after this outing, yelling and throwing equipment in the dugout after he was taken out. If Balfour isn't able to shake off these past few outings and pitch better, he could easily lose his position as Oakland's closer. | | |
| 3/29/2012 10:22:00 AM |
Description: Grant Balfour picked up his first save of the season on Thursday as Oakland knocked off Seattle, 4-1, in Japan. | Insight: Barring a major implosion, Balfour should be able to get 30 saves this season. It's not like he has a flamethrowing prospect to compete with for the job. His main competition is Brian Fuentes. | | |
| 3/20/2012 1:50:00 PM |
Description: Oakland Athletics' manager Bob Melvin announced that Grant Balfour (5-2, 2.47 ERA, 1.032 WHIP) would be the team's closer to start the 2012 season. | Insight: While Oakland doesn't figure to be in a pennant race, the closer on any major league team should be able to post 20-plus saves. Andrew Bailey and Brian Fuentes combined for 36 saves last season in Oakland. | | |
| 6/29/2011 9:50:00 AM |
Description: The Oakland Athletics have placed right-handed reliever Grant Balfour on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right oblique. | Insight: The A's brought back RHP Trystan Magnuson from AAA Sacramento to take Balfour's spot on the roster. Magnuson pitched in two games for the A's in May. Balfour has allowed one run over his past 10 innings, a span of 10 games. He is 4-1 with a pair of saves and a 2.48 ERA. | | |
| 5/26/2011 7:46:00 AM |
Description: The A's have named Grant Balfour as the team's closer.
SOURCE: Yahoo Sports | Insight: Don't expect Balfour to hold this role long, with either Brian Fuentes reclaiming the job or with Andrew Bailey's return. | | |
| 1/14/2011 10:55:00 AM |
Description: The A's are close to signing RP Grant Balfour to a multi-year deal.
SOURCE: Jon Morosi via Twitter | Insight: Balfour would be a solid set-up man for Andrew Bailey and could land a few saves in 2011, as Bailey has battled injury recently. | | |
| 1/10/2011 3:43:00 PM |
Description: Grant Balfour is still a free agent because, according to scouts, his velocity has dropped.
SOURCE: Boston Globe | Insight: Balfour has minimal value in mixed leagues; wait to see where he signs before considering him for your roster. | | |
| 7/31/2010 1:24:00 PM |
Description: Grant Balfour has been placed on the DL with a rib strain. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
SOURCE: MARC TOPKIN ON TWITTER | Insight: It's a big blow for the Rays' bullpen but not for fantasy owners. He was only useful in AL-Only leagues. | | |
| 3/5/2010 8:51:00 AM |
Description: Balfour allowed two runs on three hits in one inning in his Spring debut against Baltimore. | Insight: Balfour will once again be an important part of the Rays' bullpen. (SportsBuff.com) | | |
| Cold | 6/8/2009 4:40:00 AM |
Description: Balfour allowed three runs - two earned - and two hits a third of an inning in Sunday's loss to the New York Yankees. The righthander also walked a batter in falling to 2-1 on the season. | Insight: Balfour, whose ERA rose to 6.31, has allowed runs in four of his last five outings. Though the Rays' closer job is wide-open, Balfour hasn't been a contributor. At this point, he has no value in any format. (SportsBuff.com) | | |
| Steady | 4/1/2009 4:19:00 AM |
Description: Balfour struggled in the eighth inning Tuesday, giving up three runs on three hits while getting just two outs before getting pulled with two runners on. Balfour walked two and gave up a two-run double and the go-ahead single, according to the St. Petersburg Times. | Insight: "Grant just got fastballs in a bad spot," Rays manager Joe Maddon told the Times. "Normally last year he was able to throw that fastball by people. He just hasn't been as sharp with his velocity or his location. But I believe he's going to be fine." (SportsBuff.com) | | |