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Arizona Diamondbacks Fantasy Baseball Closer Information and Depth Chart

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Previous updates:

June 18, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks – Heath Bell was the losing pitcher on Monday night; the game marked the third straight appearance in which Bell allowed at least one run. Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

May 13, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks – Heath Bell looked like the Heath Bell of 2012 on Sunday, blowing the save and watching as the Diamondbacks lost in the 10th.  It was Bell’s first blown save since inheriting the job, but since Kirk Gibson said early on that Bell and David Hernandez could both be used in the 9th inning, Bell might not get another opportunity if he blows up again.  Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

May 11, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks - Heath Bell was given the night off, as predicted, and David Hernandez picked up the save.  Heath Bell is still the guy to own for now but Hernandez has shown that he can close if Bell struggles.  No hierarchy change.

May 8, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks - J.J. Putz gave up a four-pitch walk to start the ninth Tuesday night, then immediately exited with elbow stiffness. Although Heath Bell is allowing 1.5 baserunners per inning, he has significant experience as a closer and has probably outpitched David Hernandez so far this year. Kirk Gibson might give lip service to a closer-by-committee system, but we see him moving Bell into the ninth, while Hernandez keeps his set-up role. Hierarchy change: Heath Bell to Closer, Brad Ziegler to 2nd in line.

May 1, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks - J.J. Putz blew another save last night, dropping him to a woeful 5-for-9 on the year. The Diamondbacks have no shortage of options in the bullpen, including strong set-up man David Hernandez, experienced veteran Heath Bell, and impressive lefty Matt Reynolds (who has allowed no runs and only seven baserunners through 13 innings), so Putz should be looking over his shoulder in earnest.  No hierarchy change.

April 25, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt Reynolds got his 2nd extra-inning save in as many nights on Wednesday, but JJ Putz hasn’t lost the closer job yet despite a bad start to the season; last night, he was just unavailable due to being overworked.  Also of note in Arizona is the resurgence of Heath Bell, who started the season badly but has now pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in his last six outings, racking up 11 strikeouts (with 0 walks) in the process.  He pitched the 8th inning of a tie game last night.  Hierarchy change: Heath Bell to 2nd in line, replacing Brad Ziegler.  JJ Putz to Hot Seat.

April 8, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks – Heath Bell picked up his first save of the season on Sunday.  The save came two innings after JJ Putz had blown it in the 9th, and David Hernandez and Brad Ziegler had already pitched.  The blown save was the first of the season for Putz, who is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change.

April 6, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks - Arizona has used Brad Ziegler in a few high-leverage spots so far this season, while Heath Bell’s only appearance left him with an 81.00 ERA and more home runs allowed than batters retired. At this point, Bell is strictly a reliever of last resort. Hierarchy change: Brad Ziegler to 2nd in line, replacing Heath Bell.

February 24, 2013
Arizona Diamondbacks – Starting 2013 hierarchy: Closer- JJ Putz, Set-up- David Hernandez, 2nd in line- Heath Bell.

October 1, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt Lindstrom tossed another scoreless inning on Sunday, and finished September having allowed only 1 run in 11 outings. Brad Ziegler has given up runs in three of his last four outings, while Lindstrom picked up two holds in the last week. Hierarchy change: Matt Lindstrom to 2nd in line, replacing Brad Ziegler.

September 13, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – With J.J. Putz out with an ailing back, David Hernandez picked up his second straight save. No hierarchy change.

August 23, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – Brad Ziegler finished off the 7th inning in the first game of Arizona’s doubleheader on Wednesday, earning his 9th hold of the year. Ziegler is having a solid season, and with 19 career saves, he has some experience as a closer. He could get an odd save chance on nights when JJ Putz and David Hernandez are not available. Hierarchy change: Brad Ziegler to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Albers.

August 13, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt Albers, acquired in the Craig Breslow deal, pitched a clean 8th inning with the Diamondbacks leading by five runs. Takashi Saito came on for the 9th and gave up two runs before JJ Putz came on to bail him out. Saito’s ERA climbed to 6.14 with the bad outing, while Albers is yet to give up a run in the NL. Hierarchy change: Matt Albers to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

July 23, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – After notching a couple of saves early in the season, Bryan Shaw has struggled in recent weeks, and on Sunday, the Diamondbacks sent him to the minors. Fortunately, for Arizona, Takashi Saito recently came off the disabled list and will pitch in the 7th inning for the time being. Hierarchy change: Takashi Saito to 2nd in line, replacing Bryan Shaw.

July 12, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – They haven’t performed as well as expected, but the Diamondbacks are only four games out of first. But as of right now, they’re sellers, reportedly listening to offers to Justin Upton. J.J. Putz is an interesting trade target, and though his name hasn’t surfaced in trade talks yet, but he’s in the last year of his contract (the D’Backs have a club option) and could generate interest from contenders. However, this might be more likely to hurt his value than help it, as he could land with a team that puts him in a set-up role. David Hernandez would inherit the role if he gets traded. TRADE DEADLINE BUY: David Hernandez. SELL: J.J. Putz.

July 9, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – Patrick Corbin picked up a 3-inning save on Sunday. He does not factor in to Arizona’s normal late-inning plans. No hierarchy change.

June 23, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – David Hernandez got out of a tough spot in the 8th inning, and then stayed on for the 9th with the D’Backs up 6-1 to earn his second save of the year. This was not a typical save situation and JJ Putz’s job is not in jeopardy. No hierarchy change.

May 31, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz arrived at the ballpark with a sore back yesterday and wasn’t able to pitch. David Hernandez got the save in his place. No hierarchy change.

May 23, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, raising his ERA to an ugly 7.20. David Hernandez (2.25 ERA, 29 Ks in 20 IPs) proved to be a solid fill-in closer last year and would get the first chance to close if the D’Backs look elsewhere. JJ Putz to Hot Seat.

April 16, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz was given the day off on Sunday– Bryan Shaw got the save in his place– after giving up a walk-off 2-run HR to the Rockies on Saturday. But Saturday was Putz’s first blown save of the year and his job is not in jeopardy. No hierarchy change.

April 13, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw pitched the 8th inning in front of JJ Putz yesterday, and, in Takashi Saito’s absence, has established himself as the go-to set-up man when David Hernandez is unavailable. Hierarchy change: Brian Shaw to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

April 9, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw picked up the save on Sunday, as JJ Putz had pitched two consecutive days prior. No hierarchy change.

March 18, 2012
Arizona Diamondbacks- The top relievers in the Diamondbacks bullpen remain unchanged, with David Hernandez backing up JJ Putz. Recently acquired Takashi Saito could also be a longshot for saves in the event of injuries. Starting 2012 hierarchy: Closer- JJ Putz, Set-up- David Hernandez, 2nd in line- Takashi Saito.

Sept. 9, 2011
Arizona Diamondbacks- Brad Ziegler finished off the 8th inning for the D’Backs last night. With a sub-2 ERA, the laredo man has been ascending the depth chart. Hierarchy change: Ziegler to 2nd in line, replacing Paterson.