Scott Downs picks up rare save; Jose Valverde released

May 27, 2014

New York Mets — They say that if you love something, you should let it go; apparently, the Mets have a thing for mediocre relievers on the high side of 35. On the heels of turning Kyle Farnsworth into Inigo Montoya, New York axed Jose Valverde on Monday for giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Even after his successful spot start on Sunday, Dice-K still appears to be the next guy up in the bullpen — but if Vic Black, freshly recalled from AAA, can improve his command, the Mets might be able to leave thirtysomethings behind them for good.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Matsuzaka.

Los Angeles Dodgers — After Hyun-Jin Ryu lost his perfect game and shutout in the eighth inning, Brian Wilson entered and loaded the bases while yielding two inherited runs. Kenley Jansen bailed everyone out with a four-out save, but the rest of the Dodgers’ bullpen has become a series of question marks. Wilson has allowed an astonishing 36 baserunners in 16.2 innings, and Chris Perez’s ERA over the last three weeks is 17.35. On the whole, LA relievers are 4-12 with a 1.42 WHIP. Brandon League and J.P. Howell have been pitching the best, if only by default, but Howell is limited by his status as the only non-Paul Maholm lefty in the pen. We think Wilson’s last outing has dropped him below these two, but in this bullpen right now, nothing is certain.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | League | Howell.

Chicago White Sox — After Zach Putnam loaded the bases with a four-run lead in the eighth, Scott Downs came in and retired his fellow lefty, pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy. Downs stayed on to pitch the ninth and earn his first save of the year. As the only lefty in the White Sox pen, Downs is likely to see continued use in a matchup role.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Webb | Petricka.

Pittsburgh Pirates — As predicted in Monday’s Vulture Save Watch, Mark Melancon earned another save on Monday as Jason Grilli is eased back into the closer role.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Melancon | Watson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Adam Warren, New York Yankees — David Robertson has pitched on three of the last four days.
2. Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers — K-Rod has pitched on two straight days, including a 21-pitch blown save on Monday.

Matt Lindstrom out for three months; Cubs turn to Schlitter

May 22, 2014

Chicago White Sox — Bad news for Matt Lindstrom Wednesday; the righthander will need surgery on his injured ankle and is unlikely to return before late August. In his absence, Robin Ventura has chosen Ronald Belisario and his speedy sinker as the team’s closer.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Webb | Petricka.

Los Angeles Dodgers — Chris Perez hasn’t pitched since May 17, and when he has been used, he’s been strikingly ineffective in some low-leverage spots. We can’t yet tell you whether injury, fatigue, or ineffectiveness is to blame for him being passed over in situations like Wednesday’s tight seventh and eighth, but we’re concerned enough to move him out of the top three until he proves he’s okay.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | Wilson | League.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Jason Grilli expects to return on Saturday, and should slide back into the closer role soon thereafter. He’s owned in over 80% of ESPN and Yahoo! leagues, so we won’t issue an email alert when he comes back, but if he’s available in your league, act now.

Hierarchy remains: Melancon | Watson | Wilson.

San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla injured his right hamstring during a rare plate appearance late Wednesday. He’ll be tough to replace, but the search should start with Jean Machi, who’s working on a 15-game scoreless streak.

Updated hierarchy: Romo | Machi | Lopez.

Chicago Cubs — The euphonious Brian Schlitter pitched a scoreless eighth before Hector Rondon blew his first save of the year and Jose Veras lost a game of dodgeball with John Ryan Murphy. Schlitter happens to be getting what passes for high-leverage work in the Cubs bullpen lately.

Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Ramirez | Schlitter.

Texas Rangers — When Tanner Scheppers returns from the disabled list after this weekend’s rehab assignment, he will do so as a set-up reliever, the role that he filled so ably for the team in 2013.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Frasor | Ogando.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson/Jim Johnson, Oakland A’s — New closer Sean Doolittle might not be ready to pitch in three straight games.
2. Chris Perez, Los Angeles Dodgers — If he’s healthy and mentally sound, he’s the best-rested option.
3. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles — Still a possibility at any time.

Cleveland committee gets murkier; Jeurys Familia poised to seize closer role

May 12, 2014

Cleveland Indians – Marc Rzepczynski was struggling in the 8th inning, so Cody Allen came on to clean up the mess, but the de facto leader of Cleveland’s closer by committee struggled to throw a strike, ultimately hitting a batter and allowing a base hit and sacrifice fly before escaping the inning. With Allen having thrown 22 pitches, the 9th went to Bryan Shaw, who pitched a clean frame for the save. It’s hard to know what would have happened if Scrabble hadn’t needed the 8th inning bailout — had he gotten through the 8th, it might’ve been Allen who got the save opp. Regardless, managers tend not to mess with formulas they’ve had success with, so Shaw’s spotless outing inches him into the lead for saves in Cleveland. We suspect Allen could still get 9th inning chances while John Axford sorts himself out, though Francona’s tendency to summon him in high-leverage spots, regardless of the inning, might end up hurting his value.

Hierarchy change: Shaw | Allen | Atchison.

Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen was activated from the disabled list on the same day that former fill-in closer Sergio Santos hit the DL. Janssen should resume closing immediately.

Hierarchy change: Janssen | Cecil | Delabar.

New York Mets – On the heels of another strong outing by Jeurys Familia, manager Terry Collins is getting close to giving the young righty the keys to the 9th inning, saying after Sunday’s game that “he’s real close” to winning the job from a struggling Kyle Farnsworth. This assertion comes as a bit of a surprise, as Collins has had a tendency to value experience in the 9th inning, especially this year, when he gave Jose Valverde, Farnsworth, and Daisuke Matsuzaka chances in the 9th inning before allowing either Familia or Gonzalez Germen a crack at closing. But for Familia, at least, that appears to be changing.

Hierarchy change: Farnsworth | Familia | Matsuzaka.

Atlanta Braves – David Carpenter pitched a clean 9th inning for the Braves on Sunday, earning his second save of the season. As mentioned in the Vulture Save Watch, Craig Kimbrel had thrown 43 pitches over the previous two days and got the night off.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Carpenter | Varvaro.

Milwaukee Brewers – Will Smith picked up his 10th hold of the season on Sunday, pitching a clean 8th inning ahead of Francisco Rodriguez. We at Closer Monkey are excited about Smith’s ascension, as it gives us the ability to make more terrible jokes about his name.

Hierarchy change: Rodriguez | Smith | Kintzler.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen allowed 5 baserunners to reach in the 10th inning on Sunday, and after 3 of them scored, saddling him with the loss, his ERA climbed to 4.58. Once considered a top closer in the game, Jansen has had a rough go of it so far this year, and with Chris Perez doing fine work in the 8th inning, the hard-throwing righty has reasons to be concerned about his job.

Kenley Jansen to Hot Seat.

San Francisco Giants – Jean Machi picked up a 10th inning save on Sunday after Sergio Romo had already pitched. Romo blew the save in the 9th, but it was his first blown save in 13 chances, and his job is not in jeopardy.

Hierarchy remains: Romo | Casilla | Lopez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Chad Qualls has been more effective as of late, but Anthony Bass could get a 9th inning chance at any time.

Chris Perez blows save, Blue Jays go with committee

May 4, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers gave Kenley Jansen the night off last night and went with Chris Perez in the 9th inning.  Perez blew the save by walking in the game tying run.  Jansen is tied for the league lead in appearances this season, and he hasn’t been his usual dominant self, giving up 25 base runners in 15.1 innings.  The Dodgers will probably try to monitor Jansen’s usage moving forward so Chris Perez could continue to see save opportunities when Jansen is rested.

Hierarchy change remains: Jansen | Perez | Wilson.

Toronto Blue Jays – Manager John Gibbons has officially removed Sergio Santos from the closer’s role and has announced that they will go with a committee until Janssen is back.  Gibbons mentioned Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup as the main guys in the committee.  We like Cecil better because of his strikeout potential.  On another note, Casey Janssen could begin a rehab assignment on Monday.

Hierarchy change: Cecil | Loup | Delabar. 

Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones is going to have surgery on his lower back.  The White Sox have said this will not end his season, but this is not good news for those holding out hope that Jones would come back and take over as closer.  Hierarchy remains: Lindstrom | Belisario | Webb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks – Addison Reed has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Hector Rondon has recorded save in the past two days and pitched in three of the last four.
3. A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has appeared in three straight games
4. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo has thrown 37 pitches over the past two games and pitched in three of the past four games.
5. Jim Johnson, Oakland A’s – We think Jim Johnson gets the next save chance in Oakland, and the job should be his again if he converts it.
6. Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays are going with a committee and Brett Cecil is unavailable tonight so Loup will get the call if there is a save opportunity
7. Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – It looks like Qualls and Bass will be the main guys for a little while.

Zach Britton pitching his way out of long relief

May 2, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers – Chris Perez came on in a save spot in the 8th inning, and then stayed on for the 9th after the Dodgers stretched their lead for his first save of the year.  He’s entrenched as the Los Angeles set-up man and stands to inherit the job should anything happen to Kenley Jansen.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenChris PerezBrian WilsonKenley Jansen5/2/14

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Minnesota Twins – Coming in to 2014, Jared Burton had every reason to be given a long leash as the Twins primary set-up man, as he was the team’s steadiest and best middle reliever over the past two years.  But it’s been a different story for the righty this year, as he’s got an ERA of almost 9 and a 6/9 K/BB ratio through 10.1 innings thus far.  Despite the terrible numbers, he was still being used ahead of Glen Perkins — prior to Thursday, his last two outings were 8th inning holds.  But maybe Ron Gardenhire has finally realized that he’s actually got a great bullpen this year (Casey Fien, Brian Duensing, and Michael Tonkin have all been excellent), and yesterday, Burton was finally given a low-leverage inning to sort himself out.  We still get the feeling that Burton could be used as the backup closer if Perkins needs a night off, so we’ll monitor his usage closely over the weekend.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
MINGlen PerkinsJared BurtonCasey FienGlen Perkins5/2/14

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Toronto Blue Jays – Aaron Loup picked up a long relief save on Thursday, but he doesn’t factor in to the usual late-inning plans for Toronto.  No hierarchy change. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
TORSergio SantosBrett CecilSteve DelabarSergio Santos5/2/14
Casey Janssen (DL)

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Baltimore Orioles – He started the season as a long reliever, but Zach Britton has been getting more high-leverage innings as of late.  In the first game of the Orioles’ doubleheader on Thursday, he pitched the 7th inning and earned his 4th hold of the year.  Hierarchy change: Zach Britton to 2nd in line, replacing Brian Matusz.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
BALTommy HunterDarren O’DayZach BrittonTommy Hunter5/2/14

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays – Grant Balfour picked up saves in both halves of Tampa’s doubleheader on Thursday and will likely be unavailable today.
2. Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles – Both Tommy Hunter and Darren O’Day pitched in both games of the Orioles’ doubleheader on Thursday.
3. Jim Johnson, Oakland A’s – As we’ve said for the past week, we think Jim Johnson gets the next save chance in Oakland, and we think the job is his again if he converts it.
4. Chad Qualls/Raul Valdes, Houston Astros – What would the Vulture Save Watch be without a couple of awesome Houston relievers on it?  (Answer: Shorter and less sarcastic.)