Tigers’ bullpen implodes, Boxberger bounces back

July 11, 2015

Detroit Tigers – It was an ugly night for the Tigers’ bullpen on Friday.  Bruce Rondon came on to get the last out of the 8th inning and then came back to try and close out a five run lead.  He allowed three hits, while only getting one out, and the Tigers decided it was time to bring in their closer.  Soria walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, and then hit the next batter to bring in a run.  After a single drove in two more, Brian Dozier came up and hit a walk-off homer.   As a result of Friday night’s debacle, Soria’s ERA jumped over a full run to 3.38 and Rondon’s ERA sits at 10.50.  In other news, former Tigers’ setup man Joba Chamberlain was released on Friday and is now a free agent.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Rondon | Alburquerque.

Tampa Bay Rays — Brad Boxberger bounced back from losses in his past two appearances, including giving up a walk-off grand slam, to record his 21st save yesterday.  Boxberger owners were happy to see that his recent struggles don’t appear to have impacted his status as closer, but Jake McGee, and his sixteen straight scoreless appearances, is still lurking.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians – Cody Allen has pitched in three straight
2. LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies – John Axford has also pitched in three straight, including a 31 pitch outing on Wednesday
3. Bruce Rondon/Al Alburquerque, Detroit Tigers – Soria blew the save last night in epic fashion and will likely get the day off Saturday.  Rondon also had a rough outing on Friday so if the Tigers want to give him a break as well, Alburquerque could get the call.
4. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Huston Street will be unavailable until the All-Star break.

Detroit is Joba-less and John Axford returns

July 4, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Just nine days ago, Joba Chamberlain had an ERA under 2, but after it doubled thanks to a few three-run outings, the Tigers shockingly cut the former Yankee phenom, designating him (and Tom Gorzelanny) for assignment. Bruce Rondon and Al Alburquerque will slide up a few spots in the team’s late-innings hierarchy but, given their recent performance, both should be worried about newly promoted Jeff Ferrell, a converted starter who earned 15 saves between Erie and Toledo this year.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Rondon | Alburquerque.

Texas Rangers — Well, never mind that business yesterday about Neftali Feliz. After his first outing (two scoreless innings, two hits, 1 K, high of 95 MPH) on Friday, the Rangers immediately designated him for assignment. Feliz will be released if he doesn’t attract trade interest or agree to a demotion to AAA.

Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Scheppers | Kela.

Colorado Rockies — John Axford returned to the team on Friday and is likely to be reactivated for Saturday’s game. During an incredibly stressful season, Axford has found baseball to be a peaceful haven.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Hawkins | Kahnle.

Cleveland Indians — After Zach McAllister retired the final batter in the seventh, Bryan Shaw came on and struck out two batters in the eighth. Shaw and his 1.88 ERA have moved ahead of McAllister in the Tribe pen.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Shaw | McAllister.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Over the last 10 days, Arquimedes Caminero has given up six runs in five innings; meanwhile, Jared Hughes has given up no runs and only three hits in his last 10 appearances.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Watson | Hughes.

Seattle Mariners — Carson Smith didn’t do himself any favors in the fight for Seattle saves, giving up a couple runs after coming on with a six-run lead in the ninth inning.

Hierarchy remains: *Rodney | Smith | Lowe.
* = closer-by-committee

Atlanta Braves — Jason Grilli got the night off after working in two straight, allowing Jim Johnson to pick up a vulture save.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Johnson | Masset.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants — Santiago Casilla saw a team doctor on Friday and is expected to avoid the DL, but he probably won’t pitch on Saturday.
2. Kevin Siegrist/Seth Maness, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal threw 24 pitches on Friday and has appeared in three of four games.
3. Hector Rondon/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — It’s Joe Maddon, you know the routine.
4. Yimi Garcia, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen picked up the loss on Friday and needed 24 pitches. He’s now thrown in three out of four (53 pitches).

Brad Boxberger the man in Tampa; Rafael Betancourt back in Colorado

June 27, 2015

Colorado Rockies — Rafael Betancourt was activated from the disabled list and immediately pitched the seventh inning in a close game. He will immediately return to high-leverage setup work in front of John Axford, and should soon be considered for vulture save work.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Tampa Bay Rays — After yet another conventional Jepsen-McGee-Boxberger use of the Tampa bullpen, we’re ready to pull the plug on the closer committee asterisk and acknowledge that Brad Boxberger has earned the job.

Updated hierarchy: Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.

Houston Astros — Chad Qualls was placed on the disabled list Friday with a pinched nerve in his neck. Josh Fields has been excellent this year, with a 0.90 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 22.1 IP.

Updated hierarchy: Gregerson | Neshek | Fields.

Seattle Mariners — With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols up in the eighth inning, Lloyd McClendon called on Carson Smith, leaving Fernando Rodney to face his first save situation since early June. Smith has done nothing wrong in his short term as head of Seattle’s closer committee, but we know McClendon is rooting for “proven closer” Rodney to earn his job back.

Hierarchy remains: *Smith | Rodney | Lowe.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets — Jeurys Familia has pitched in two straight games since battling groin tightness.
2. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers — Joakim Soria has pitched in the last two games (41 total pitches).
3. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton has gone in three of four…
4. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates — …as has Mark Melancon.

Bruce Rondon throws first major-league pitch in two years; two closers make returns

June 26, 2015

Detroit Tigers – Bruce Rondon is back, and the timing couldn’t be any better for the Tigers. Rondon struck out the only two batters he faced to close the sixth inning. Bullpen mate Joba Chamberlain was not nearly as impressive, coughing up three runs to put the game out of reach. Chamberlain is still in the late-innings conversation, but it’s probably time for Rondon to enter it, too, as manager Brad Ausmus said he will not hesitate to use Rondon in high-leverage situations. Apologies to Al Alburquerque, of course.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Chamberlain | Rondon.

Oakland Athletics — Tyler Clippard did his job, recording the save, but it’s who pitched ahead of him that caught our eye. In the seventh inning, we saw Drew Pomeranz, and in the eighth, we saw Edward Mujica, who returned from the DL last week and may start getting more looks in the late innings. Mujica closed for the Cardinals a couple years ago, and started this year as the Red Sox closer while Koji Uehara was hurt. Don’t forget that Clippard has been prominently mentioned in some trade rumors recently, and that Evan Scribner has recorded as many home runs allowed as he has strikeouts (three) over his last eight appearances (5.2 IP). Add it all up, and Mujica belongs in the hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Mujica | Pomeranz.

New York Mets — Pitching for the first time in almost a full week, closer Jeurys Familia nailed down the save with a clean ninth inning. Familia had been battling groin tightness, but it appears his groin has loosened up a bit.

Hierarchy remains: Familia | Parnell | Robles.

Cincinnati Reds — Closer Aroldis Chapman returned from paternity leave on Thursday, and threw a scoreless 11th inning in a 5-4 extra-innings win.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Parra.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Zach Duke/Jake Petricka, Chicago White Sox — David Robertson allowed two runs and threw 31 pitches Thursday night, so he could need a breather on Friday night.
2. Steve Delabar, Toronto Blue Jays — In a very unsettled bullpen situation, manager John Gibbons could turn to Delabar or Robert Osuna on any given night.
3. Pedro Strop/Jason Motte, Chicago Cubs — As long as Joe Maddon is in charge and Rafael Soriano is in the minor leagues, expect the committee to reign supreme in Chicago.
4. Jake McGee/Kevin Jepsen, Tampa Bay Rays — Death, taxes and the Tampa Bay Rays employing a closer committee.

Roberto Osuna’s stellar outing has him in contention for more saves

June 23, 2015

Toronto Blue Jays – While the Blue Jays’ bullpen remains unsettled, 20 year-old Roberto Osuna is making a name for himself with his 100 mph fastball. Last night Osuna was called on to get the Jays out of a jam in the 8th, which he did by striking out three Tampa hitters around a walk. He then returned and struck out two more in the 9th for his first save. John Gibbons said after the game that “you can’t say enough about Osuna,” but did not name him the new closer, which leads us to believe that tonight’s game is vital. Osuna is likely unavailable after his 33-pitch outing, so if the Jays get a save opp, and Cecil converts it, he probably hangs on to his job for at least a little while longer. But if he pitches badly, or doesn’t pitch at all, then that opens up the chance for Osuna to seize control of the gig going forward. Steve Delabar, two years removed from an All Star game appearance, also lurks as a candidate, while the Jays continue to be mentioned in talks for Jonathan Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez.

Hierarchy remains: *Cecil | Osuna | Delabar.
* = closer-by-committee

Chicago Cubs – Joe Maddon, the Lord of the Closer Committee, continues to keep us guessing. Hector Rondon had been emerging as the leader of the pack until last night, when he and Pedro Strop pitched scoreless innings ahead of 33 year-old birthday boy Jason Motte.

Hierarchy remains: *Rondon | Strop | Motte.
* = closer-by-committee

Arizona Diamondbacks – In a somewhat surprising move, Addison Reed was sent to the minors on Sunday. He’ll work on his stuff and could return to a prominent role later this season. Fan favorite David Hernandez moves up to take his place.

Updated hierarchy: Ziegler | Hudson | Hernandez.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. J.J. Hoover, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman is out on paternity leave, so Hoover may get a save chance today.
2. Steve Delabar, Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil hasn’t been publicly removed from the closer role yet, but if John Gibbons is planning on a demotion, then it’ll be Steve Delabar filling in for a recovering Roberto Osuna (33 pitches last night; 65 over the last four games) tonight.
3. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers – Joakim Soria has pitched in back to back games and has allowed a run in each appearance; he may get the day off.
4. Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies – Likewise, Jonathan Papelbon has gone in back to back games and allowed runs in each appearance. The Phillies may give him today off, as they likely don’t want to risk injuring one of their trade candidates.