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Baltimore Orioles Fantasy Baseball Closer Information and Depth Chart

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Previous updates:

June 19, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Tuesday night marked the third straight eighth-inning appearance for Tommy Hunter; in two of those games, Buck Showalter used Darren O’Day earlier, including with a four-run lead in the 6th on Tuesday. Both men are pitching very well, but Hunter has nosed ahead. Hierarchy change: Tommy Hunter to Set-up, Darren O’Day to 2nd in line.

May 27, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson picked up the save on Saturday but blew another one on Sunday.  The blown save on Sunday was his fourth of the season and he is still very much on the hot seat.  No hierarchy change.

May 21, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – In under a week, a Jim Johnson blown save has gone from historical oddity to disturbing three-time trend. It’s likely that Johnson, never conventionally dominant, is simply reverting to the mean via a run of particularly bad luck. On the heels of a six-game losing streak in the competitive AL East, however, Buck Showalter may not long have the luxury of keeping faith in his large righthander. Jim Johnson to Hot Seat.

May 15, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson blew the save last night, managing to squeeze four singles, a hit batsman, and three outs from a mere 13 pitches. Of course he’s in no danger, as it was his first blown save since last July, a string of 35 successes broken. Perhaps someone could inform the Oriole ”fans“ on Twitter. No hierarchy change.

May 8, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop continues to slide down the Baltimore bullpen hierarchy, while Tommy Hunter was summoned again in a late/close situation and picked up his second vulture win in four days. Hierarchy change: Tommy Hunter to 2nd in line, replacing Pedro Strop.

May 6, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Darren O’Day on Sunday entered the game in the 8th inning with a few runners on and got out of the jam, retiring the first man he faced.  With the Orioles up 4, he stayed on for the 9th inning, and picked up his first save of the season.  O’Day has had a tremendous season so far, but he’s not a threat to take Jim Johnson’s job at this point.  No hierarchy change.

April 22, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Nearly all season, Darren O’Day has served as the 8th inning man for the Orioles.  Pedro Strop was the go-to set-up man for Baltimore last year, but has struggled out of the box this year, having posted a 9.45 ERA through the season’s first three weeks.  He pitched yesterday in the 7th inning of a game the Orioles were losing, and will need to get back on track before he’s used in high-leverage situations again.  Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to Set-up, Pedro Strop to 2nd in line.

April 21, 2013
Baltimore Orioles - Tommy Hunter picked up a three inning save in the second game of the double header yesterday.  Hunter has pitched relatively well this season out of the bullpen, but he still does not currently factor into the Orioles late inning options. No hierarchy change.

February 24, 2013
Baltimore Orioles – Starting 2013 hierarchy: Closer- Jim Johnson, Set-up- Pedro Strop, 2nd in line- Darren O’Day.  

July 27, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Submariner Darren O’Day pitched the 7th inning last night, picking up his 6th hold of the year. He now has a 2.97 ERA and has been pitching in higher-leverage spots than Matt Lindstrom as of late. Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Lindstrom.

July 13, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles bullpen has been spectacular, top to bottom, thus far this year. Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop have been solid in their roles, and the Orioles are unlikely to seek any help at the deadline. They’re leading the race for the second Wild Card and aren’t going to be selling, either. TRADE DEADLINE BUY/SELL: None.

June 30, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Matt Lindstrom got the final out of the 7th inning on Friday, and eventually earned the win in his second appearance since returning from the DL. The hard-throwing righty has a 1.80 ERA on the season, and given his past closer experience, he’d likely be the guy the Orioles went to if Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop were unavailable. Hierarchy change: Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line, replacing Darren O’Day.

June 11, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Darren O’Day picked up his 4th win of the year on Sunday, pitching a scoreless frame in the 10th inning. The submariner now has a 1.78 ERA and has shown that he can consistently get both righties and lefties out. Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to 2nd in line, replacing Luis Ayala.

May 19, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop picked up a save in the 11th inning on Friday. As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jim Johnson had pitched three nights in a row and had a day off. No hierarchy change.

May 5, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Luis Ayala pitched two innings in a tie game Friday, and has now gone 13 innings without allowing a run this season. He’s surpassed Matt Lindstrom on the depth chart. Hierarchy change: Luis Ayala to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Lindstrom.

April 27, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – With Jim Johnson hospitalized all week with a mystery illness, the Orioles have had to turn elsewhere in the ninth during their last three games. After two straight saves for Pedro Strop, Thursday was Luis Ayala’s turn. Manager Buck Showalter says Johnson could be released from the hospital Friday “if he can hold the food down.” No hierarchy change.

April 26, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson remained hospitalized on Wednesday and Pedro Strop again got the save. Johnson is still the closer when he comes back but Strop is definitely the guy to own as Johnson’s backup. No hierarchy change.

April 25, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop got the save last night as Jim Johnson spent Monday night in a hospital with flulike symptoms and was unavailable. No hierarchy change.

April 14, 2012
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop pitched in the 8th last night with the Orioles up one. Strop has only given up one run so far this season while Kevin Gregg has gotten off to a slow start. Hierarchy change: Pedro Strop to Set-up, replacing Kevin Gregg.

March 24, 2012
Baltimore Orioles- Jim Johnson remains the closer after taking the job from Kevin Gregg last season. Gregg is being actively shopped by the O’s, but for now remains the setup man. Matt Lindstrom, acquired in the offseason via a trade with the Rockies, is expected to be the 7th-inning man. Starting 2012 hierarchy: Closer- Jim Johnson, Set-up- Kevin Gregg, 2nd in line- Matt Lindstrom.

Sept. 25, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- With Jim Johnson having thrown 25 pitches the night before, as well as having pitched in 4 of the previous 5 games, the Orioles gave Kevin Gregg another save chance, and the veteran delivered. No hierarchy change.

Sept. 23, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Jim Johnson was given the night off after pitching on three consecutive nights. Kevin Gregg got the save in his stead. No hierarchy change.

Sept. 20, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Since being acquired in the Mike Gonzalez deal, Pedro Strop has been quietly solid for the Orioles. He was one of four relievers the O’s used to bridge the gap between their starting pitcher and closer Jim Johnson last night, and currently sports a sub-3 ERA. Hierarchy change: Pedro Strop to 2nd in line, replacing Chris Jakubauskas.

Sept. 13, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Jim Johnson picked up the save tonight. Kevin Gregg was available, having not pitched in three days, so it appears that the Orioles have finally handed the job to the hard-throwing sinkerballer. Hierarchy change: Jim Johnson to Closer, Kevin Gregg to Set-up.

Sept. 10, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Kevin Gregg was rested last night after throwing 52 pitches in the previous two games, so Jim Johnson pitched the ninth, picking up his 4th save of the season. No hierarchy change.

Sept. 8, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Jim Johnson picked up an 11th inning save last night after Kevin Gregg had already pitched. No hierarchy change.

Sept. 1, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- With the trade of Mike Gonzalez, Jim Johnson returns to the set-up role for now. The O’s still want to give him a start or two though, so this could change quickly. Hierarchy change: Johnson to Set-up, Jakubauskas to 2nd in line.

Aug. 25, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Mike Gonzalez looked sharp again for Baltimore, striking out all three batters he faced in the 8th. The O’s are looking to move Jim Johnson in to the rotation, so Gonzalez may assume the set-up role soon. Hierarchy change: Gonzalez to Set-Up, Johnson to 2nd in line.

Aug. 21, 2011
Baltimore Orioles- Jim Johnson pitched 3 scoreless innings last night, while Mike Gonzalez was used for only 0.2 innings in the 6th. While Gonzalez has more career saves, Johnson is clearly the best pitcher in the Orioles bullpen, including closer Kevin Gregg, who blew the save last night. Hierarchy change: Johnson to Set-Up, Gonzalez to 2nd in line. Gregg to Hot Seat.