Steve Cishek closing again for Miami; Juan Cruz healthy again and pitching well

August 18, 2012

Pittsburgh Pirates – Juan Cruz, who returned from the DL a week ago, pitched in the 7th inning last night.  Cruz should return to that role on a regular basis, especially given how shaky Chad Qualls has been lately.  Hierarchy change: Juan Cruz to 2nd in line, replacing Chad Qualls.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Cruz |Hanrahan |8/18/12

 
Miami Marlins – Heath Bell pitched the 8th while Steve Cishek got the save in the 9th last night.  A little over a week ago Manager Ozzie Guillen said that Bell would get another chance to close this season.  However since those comments Bell has been used in the 7th inning once and 8th inning three times so Guillen has not been saving him for a possible save in the 9th.  Cishek has pitched well as the closer and should continue in that role.  Hierarchy change: Steve Cishek to Closer, Heath Bell to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Bell |Dunn |Bell |8/17/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. 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.

Astros pick Francisco Cordero over Wilton Lopez to close following Myers trade

July 22, 2012

Chicago White Sox – The White Sox acquired Brett Myers from the Astros on Saturday, but Addison Reed will keep his job for the time being, said White Sox GM Kenny Williams.  Myers will pitch in a set-up role and will get save chances on nights when Reed is unavailable.  Also on Saturday, Jesse Crain returned from the disabled list.  He, too, will factor in the late innings for the White Sox.  Hierarchy change: Brett Myers to Set-up, Jesse Crain to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Myers |Crain |Reed |7/22/12

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow pitched the 8th inning with the Royals up by 2 runs, then stayed on for the 9th after the Royals stretched their lead.  Despite earning his second save of the year, he’s still behind Greg Holland on the Royals depth chart.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |7/22/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Brad Lincoln was summoned in the 8th inning with the Pirates up by 4 runs and several runners on base.  He got out of the jam, then stayed on for the 9th to record his first save of the season.  Lincoln won’t often get a save chance, but with Juan Cruz recently hitting the DL, he will play an increasingly important role in the Pirates bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lincoln to 2nd in line, replacing Juan Cruz.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Lincoln |Hanrahan |7/22/12

 
Oakland A’s – With Ryan Cook getting the night off after pitching three games in a row, the A’s went to Sean Doolittle, who pitched a clean 9th inning for his first save.  The hard-throwing lefty now has 29 strikeouts in 19.1 innings and has surpassed Jerry Blevins on the depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Sean Doolittle to 2nd in line, replacing Jerry Blevins.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Doolittle |Cook |7/22/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros have traded Brett Myers to the Chicago White Sox.  Saturday evening, Astros GM Brad Mills told an MLB.com reporter that Francisco Cordero will close. Wilton Lopez will continue on in his set-up role. Hierarchy change: Francisco Cordero to Closer, Wilton Lopez to Set-up, Wesley Wright to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Cordero |Lopez |Wright |Lopez |7/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in the last two games, and four of the past five.
2. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Both Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett have pitched in the last two games, and four of the last five.
3. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – The Marlins are employing a closer-by-committee and thus far, Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn have each picked up one save.  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.
4. 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.

Brandon League to return to closer role soon; Jason Grilli ascending

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.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |O'Day |Johnson |6/11/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Before Sunday’s game, Eric Wedge said that he’d likely put Brandon League back in the closer role “sooner rather than later.”  Tom Wilhelmsen has performed well in the role since League’s demotion– and League got knocked around a bit on Sunday– but it sounds as if Wilhelmsen will inevitably move back to a set-up role once Wedge reinstalls his former closer.  Tom Wilhelmsen to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |League |Furbush |League |6/11/12

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Up until Sunday, the Pirates had used Jason Grilli exclusively in the 8th inning, vaulting Juan Cruz from his 7th inning role into the closer role on nights when Joel Hanrahan was unavailable.  But yesterday, with Hanrahan getting the night off, the Pirates finally gave Grilli a save opp, and he converted.  Hierarchy change: Jason Grilli to Set-up, Juan Cruz to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Cruz |Hanrahan |6/11/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs picked up the save last night, but looked a bit shaky, giving up his first earned run of the season.  Since Ernesto Frieri got his first opportunity, the Angels have given Downs three save chances, while Frieri has gotten four.  While there’s no end in sight to the platoon, Frieri still stands to get a few more opportunities than Downs.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |6/11/12 

 
Milwaukee Brewers – After John Axford got in trouble in the 9th inning on Sunday, Jose Veras came on and got the last out, recording his first save of the season.  Axford has struggled in non-save situations this year, but is 10/11 in save chances and is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |6/11/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Burnett/Brad Lidge, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight, and in five of the last six.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 7 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.

Brian Fuentes demoted, Ryan Cook to lead closer by committee in Oakland

June 10, 2012

Washington Nationals – After Brad Lidge struggled Friday in his first outing since returning from the DL, Washington went to Sean Burnett in the 8th inning on Saturday.  Burnett (0.95 ERA) pitched another clean inning and continues to have a stellar season.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Set-up, Brad Lidge to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Lidge |Storen |6/10/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle before Saturday’s game that he would employ a closer-by-committee going forward, with Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Grant Balfour involved.  Melvin also said that Ryan Cook was his best option in any tough situation, making him the best bet to win the job.  Hierarchy change: Ryan Cook to Closer, Brian Fuentes to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Fuentes |Balfour |Cook |6/10/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates – Joel Hanrahan has pitched in three straight, and in four of the last five.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in back to back games, and in four of the last five.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten 2 of the Cubs 3 save opportunities since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will determine who is used in the 9th today.

Brian Fuentes to close; Vicente Padilla ascending

Boston Red Sox – While he doesn’t have the best numbers, the Red Sox have continued to look to Vicente Padilla in close games.  He pitched the 8th inning yesterday, setting up for Alfredo Aceves.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Albers.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Padilla |Bailey |5/13/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Juan Cruz picked up the save on Saturday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Joel Hanrahan was on the bereavement list due to the death of his grandmother.  Hanrahan is expected to return to the team today.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |5/13/12

 
New York Yankees – Boone Logan picked up a save yesterday, throwing 1.1 innings in a game where the Yankees had a four-run lead.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Robertson |Soriano |Wade |Robertson |5/13/12

 
Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes picked up the save last night in what initially appeared to be a match-up play; three of the four Tigers hitters due up that inning were lefties.  But early this morning, Bob Melvin told the Oakland Tribune that Fuentes was his man for the foreseeable future.  ”We’ll give Balfour a bit of a break,” he said.  Hierarchy change: Brian Fuentes to Closer, Grant Balfour to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Fuentes |Cook |Balfour |Cook |5/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luis Ayala, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop have both pitched on three consecutive days, and could both be given the day off.
2. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched on three consecutive days.