Bobby Parnell likely to earn a few more save chances; Alexi Ogando rising

August 5, 2012

Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook on Saturday blew his second save in a row and his fourth in his last six chances.  He’s now got 7 blown saves on the year, which leads the league, and could be in danger of losing his job to former closer Grant Balfour.  On the other end of the bullpen, Pat Neshek, called up two days ago, has not allowed a hit in 3 innings while striking out 4, and earned his first hold of the season last night.  Hierarchy change: Pat Neshek to 2nd in line, replacing Sean Doolittle.  Ryan Cook to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Neshek |Cook |8/5/12

 
Texas Rangers – A little over a week ago, reports emerged that the Rangers were trying to stretch Alexi Ogando out, and they seemed validated when Ogando was used for 2.2 innings nine days ago.  But since then, he’s gone back to pitching 1 inning at a time, including last night, when he picked up his second save in a row (Joe Nathan needed a second day off after two marathon outings on Thursday and Friday).  While Mike Adams will stick as the 8th inning guy regardless, Ogando appears to be the man the Rangers will use when Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Alexi Ogando to Set-up, Mike Adams to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ogando |Adams |Nathan |8/5/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Darren Oliver picked up an 11th inning save on Saturday.  Casey Janssen had already pitched earlier in the night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Oliver |Lyon |Santos |8/5/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros placed Francisco Cordero on the DL earlier this weekend, and last night, Fernando Rodriguez pitched the 7th inning ahead of Wesley Wright and Wilton Lopez.  Lopez earned his first save.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodriguez to 2nd in line, Francisco Cordero to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Rodriguez |Lopez |8/5/12

 
Minnesota Twins – Jared Burton picked up his second save in as many days on Saturday.  Glen Perkins had pitched the 8th inning in a game that had been tied at the time.  The Twins are continuing to use Perkins and Burton in a platoon– Perkins now has 6 saves and Burton has 5– though Perkins still has a slight edge due to his durability and strikeout rate.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Perkins |8/5/12 |Capps(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets – Frank Francisco earned his first save Saturday since coming off the DL.  But his ability to pitch on back-to-back days is in question, and the Mets said that Bobby Parnell will get any save opps when Francisco can’t go.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two consecutive games.  He’s only pitched three in a row once all season, so Broxton will likely get the save chance today.
3. Grant Balfour, Oakland A’sRyan Cook has pitched in three straight.
4. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight.
5. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Wilton Lopez finally to close for Houston; Brandon League traded to Dodgers

July 31, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – Jerome Williams pitched the last 4 innings of a blowout on Monday, earning his first save.  Williams’s outing was pretty hideous (8 hits, 5 ERs), and he doesn’t factor in the the Angels usual late-inning plans.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Jepsen |Walden |7/31/12

 
Seattle Mariners – The Mariners traded set-up man Brandon League to the Dodgers early Tuesday morning.  Lucas Luetge and Josh Kinney will now share 8th inning duties.  With Tom Wilhelmsen getting a night off last night (his wife was expecting a child), Kinney and Luetge combined to get through the 9th inning, with Luetge picking up the one-out save.  Hierarchy change: Lucas Luetge to Set-up, Josh Kinney to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Luetge |Kinney |Wilhelmsen |7/31/12 |Furbush(DL) |

 
New York Mets – In a game with lots of bullpen ineptitude on both sides, Manny Acosta picked up a shaky save for the Mets in the 10th inning.  Acosta does not fit in to the Mets usual late-inning plans; they’d already used all their top arms when they summoned him last night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Edgin |Francisco |7/31/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
Houston Astros – Some speculated that Francisco Cordero’s decent outing on Sunday may have saved his job, but tonight, he was the first man out of the bullpen for the Astros.  Coming on in the 7th inning, Cordero allowed an inherited runner to score, then gave up the tying run.  He also pitched to one batter in the 8th, allowing a leadoff double, before being lifted and eventually taking the loss.  Based on Cordero’s usage tonight, and his general awfulness in his return to the National League thus far, Wilton Lopez looks like he will finally get his shot to finish games.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Closer, Wesley Wright to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Cordero |Lopez |7/30/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Lucas Luetge/Josh Kinney, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen’s wife just gave birth, so the Seattle closer may still be unavailable today.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Francisco Cordero pitches 7th inning, is likely done as Astros closer

July 30, 2012

Houston Astros – Some speculated that Francisco Cordero’s decent outing on Sunday may have saved his job, but tonight, he was the first man out of the bullpen for the Astros.  Coming on in the 7th inning, Cordero allowed an inherited runner to score, then gave up the tying run.  He also pitched to one batter in the 8th, allowing a leadoff double, before being lifted.  Based on his usage tonight, and his general awfulness in his return to the National League thus far, Wilton Lopez looks like he will finally get his shot to finish games.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Closer, Wesley Wright to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Lopez |Wright |Cordero |Lopez |7/30/12

John Axford likely returning to closer role; Francisco Cordero could lose job

July 26, 2012

Houston Astros – Francisco Cordero blew his second save in two days, making him 0/2 since joining the Astros.  After the game, Brad Mills did not say he was removing Cordero from the closer role, only saying that Cordero would not close on Thursday because he’d thrown a lot of pitches over the previous two days.  Cordero remains on the Hot Seat at best, and could be removed from the role entirely soon.  If that happens, Wilton Lopez would take over in the 9th.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Cordero |Lopez |Wright |Lopez |7/26/12

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Jared Hughes pitched the 7th inning in a 1-run game on Wednesday, notching his 9th hold.  The righty now has a 1.90 ERA and has picked up three holds this week.  Hierarchy change: Jared Hughes to 2nd in line, replacing Brad Lincoln.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Hughes |Hanrahan |7/26/12

 
Atlanta Braves – Jonny Venters pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the Braves last night.  Kris Medlen was also stellar, throwing 3 clean innings with five strikeouts, but the Braves are looking to stretch him out so he can be a starter down the line.  Hierarchy change: Jonny Venters to 2nd in line, replacing Kris Medlen. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Venters |Kimbrel |7/26/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers – Francisco Rodriguez blew his second save in three days on Wednesday, prompting manager Ron Roenicke to say about the closer role: “We’ll talk about it… Tomorrow, we’ll see what we’re going to do.”  While Roenicke wasn’t entirely committal, many Brewers beat writers have already predicted that John Axford, who threw 2 perfect innings with 3 Ks today, will be given the 9th-inning job back tomorrow.  Hierarchy change: John Axford to Closer, Francisco Rodriguez to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |7/25/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Wilton Lopez, Houston Astros – Francisco Cordero has thrown 57 pitches over the past two days and will have the day off today.

Francisco Cordero already on the verge of losing job in Houston

July 25, 2012

New York Mets – Pedro Beato was one of the Mets’ best relievers in 2011, but he started this year on the disabled list, and hasn’t been the same.  After being called up two weeks ago, Beato has struggled and was sent back down on Tuesday.  There is almost nothing to like about the Mets bullpen right now, but youngster Josh Edgin has been a bright spot as of late.  He now has 13 Ks in just 7 innings after a 3-strikeout outing last night.  Hierarchy change: Josh Edgin to 2nd in line, replacing Pedro Beato.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Edgin |Francisco |7/25/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
Houston Astros – When the Astros named Francisco Cordero closer, Wilton Lopez owners groaned, rightfully saying that the youngster was a significantly better pitcher than the 37-year-old righty.  But Lopez owners may get their wish soon, as Cordero got shelled in his first save opportunity as Astro, allowing three runs and five baserunners before getting yanked.  Francisco Cordero to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Cordero |Lopez |Wright |Lopez |7/25/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – The Marlins are employing a closer-by-committee and thus far, Steve Cishek has picked up two saves to Mike Dunn’s one.  Cishek is still the best bet for a save on any given night, but Dunn could get the call if the Marlins are facing a lefty-heavy 9th inning.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.