A farewell to (both) arms: Pat Venditte hits the DL

June 13, 2015

Oakland Athletics — Nothing (green and) gold can stay. Switch-pitching Pat Venditte, who started his career with 5.2 scoreless innings, became the latest Oakland player to hit the disabled list, with a frayed right labrum. And no, everyone, he can’t just pitch with his left arm, not if he wants his shoulder to heal right. We’ll toss Eric O’Flaherty in the hierarchy for now, based solely on his history as an above-average reliever, but Billy Beane is probably taking applications if you’re interested.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Scribner | O’Flaherty.

New York Mets — Terry Collins apparently bought Bobby Parnell’s explanation for minor league hitters teeing off on him at Binghamton and St. Lucie (.373 average against, one walk per inning); he plans to use Parnell if a save situation arises while Jeurys tends to his Familia on paternity leave.

Updated hierarchy: Familia | Parnell | C.Torres.

New York Yankees — Joe Girardi clarified that lefthander Justin Wilson will move into the primary set-up role now that Dellin Betances has become the Yankees’ closer. Chris Martin could get an occasional look in the eighth too, depending on matchups. Brian Cashman has said that Andrew Miller could be out for a month.

Updated hierarchy: Betances | Wilson | Martin.

Cleveland Indians — Nick Hagadone’s recent usage puts him back behind Bryan Shaw in the Indians’ hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | McAllister | Shaw.

Tampa Bay Rays — As foretold by the Vulture Save Watch, Jake McGee was summoned for the save on Friday night, allowing Brad Boxberger to take a night off.

Hierarchy remains: *Boxberger | McGee | Jepsen.

Boston Red Sox — Matt Barnes and Junichi Tazawa had a Friday evening to forget. The Red Sox were up four runs when Barnes began the seventh. He gave up three straight hits, Tazawa yielded four hits and a baserunner via error, and Tommy Layne finished up by surrendering a home run, giving Toronto a seventh-inning cycle and nine straight runs scored. It’s unlikely that this debacle will change Boston’s late-innings approach, but we couldn’t let it pass without comment.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Barnes.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Bobby Parnell, New York Mets — As noted above, the Mets are ready to toss Parnell back into a save situation if needed. Jeurys Familia threw 25 pitches on Friday and could become a father any day.
2. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street has pitched back-to-back (45 total pitches).
3. Jason Motte/Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon took an extra-inning loss on Friday and needed 25 pitches to do it. Rondon has pitched in two straight games, and his position isn’t secure right now.
4. Aaron Loup/Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays — It took the Jays 34 games to get Friday’s save, and it took Brett Cecil 30 pitches to earn it. Osuna threw 24 pitches himself, and Loup has pitched in three of four games, so the Jays are probably hoping lightning doesn’t strike in two straight games.
5. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman (who has been linked to a possible trade to Washington) has pitched in two of three, and four of six. J.J. Hoover pitched two innings (30 pitches) on Friday.
6. Yimi Garcia, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has pitched in three of four games. So has Garcia, but he threw only seven pitches on Friday; Jansen needed almost thrice as many.

Boyer records save for Twins, Doolittle back to DL

May 31, 2015

Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins got the day off on Saturday and the Twins went to Blaine Boyer to close out the game.  Boyer pitched a perfect 9th to record his first save of the season.  Boyer should continue to see save chances when Perkins is unavailable.

Hierarchy remains: Perkins | Boyer | Fien.

Oakland Athletics – Sean Doolittle is headed back to the DL with a left shoulder strain.  The injury will likely keep Doolittle out until at least the All-Star break.  Tyler Clippard should continue to close in his absence.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Scribner | Otero.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Randall Delgado recorded his first career save on Saturday, the three-inning variety.  Delgado entered the game in the 7th inning with the Diamondbacks up 5 runs, and he was able to finish the last three innings of the win, giving up only 1 run.

Hierarchy remains: *Reed | Ziegler | Hudson.

Cleveland Indians — With the Indians up 1 run and the bases loaded in the 7th inning, Nick Hagadone got the call.  Hagadone struck out Kyle Seager on three pitches with the help of a new cutter.  He would stay on to get the first 2 outs on the 8th inning before giving way to closer Cody Allen, who picked up a four out save.  Manager Terry Francona likes that Hagadone can get both righties and lefties out, and he has trusted the lefty in big spots late in games.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | McAllister | Hagadone.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Cingrani/Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has appeared in two straight and five of the last seven, throwing a total of 108 pitches during that time.
2. Rafael Betancourt, Colorado Rockies – John Axford has pitched in two in a row and three of the last four.
3. Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays – Boxberger got the save yesterday so maybe Sunday is the day that McGee gets his first save opportunity of the season.

 

 

Weekly Hot Seat Update: May 8, 2015

We are a little over a month into the season and closers seem to be settling into their roles.  Steve Cishek has three straight scoreless appearances, recording two saves during that span.  Fernando Rodney has converted six consecutive save chances after giving up six runs in 1.1 innings in the middle of April.  Let’s take a look at the closer with the highest ERA, as well as some closers coming back from injury.

Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen entered May with an ERA in the double digits, and even after yesterday’s scoreless outing, it still sits at a healthy 9.00.  Although his ERA is high, Allen has some things going for him.  He has maintained a very good strikeout rate with 15 Ks in 10 innings.  Cleveland also doesn’t have any other strong options to close games.  Bryan Shaw has not been as good as he was last year and his usage has been strange.  Manager Terry Francona likes to match up his relievers, and that has resulted in 10 of Shaw’s 14 appearances lasting less than a full inning.  Lefty Nick Hagadone has shown some flashes, but he is still too inconsistent to be considered a serious threat to Allen.  The guy who might end up challenging Allen, if he continues to struggle, started out the season in the Indians’ starting rotation.  After one bad start, Zach McAllister was moved to the bullpen and has thrived there.  Pitching coach Mickey Callaway has said that the team trusts McAllister in any situation right now, and that he could even close a game if needed.  Allen is coming off a great season, and the Indians will likely give him every chance to hold on to the closer’s job.  Still, if he doesn’t get that ERA under control, McAllister could end up getting a shot.

Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Durham on Friday, and will need a few more outings before rejoining the Rays.  Manager Kevin Cash has said that he will continue to manage his bullpen without anointing a closer.  Brad Boxberger has been excellent so far this season, recording seven saves already.  McGee should see save chances once he returns, but don’t expect him to immediately become the primary closer, as Boxberger will still very much be in the mix for saves.

Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle is expected back later this month after having a great bullpen session on Tuesday.  Unlike McGee, Doolittle should immediately take over as the closer when he comes back.  The A’s bullpen has really struggled, and getting Doolittle back in the closer’s role will allow them to move Tyler Clippard back to the 8th inning and Evan Scribner to the 7th.

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen had a tough rehab outing, but is still targeting a May 15th return.  Jansen has established himself as one of the best closers in the baseball over the past couple seasons.  Nobody from the Dodgers’ closer committee has run away with the job, and Jansen should slide right back into his normal role as closer when gets back.

Jumbo Diaz highlights Ohio’s bullpen troubles

April 30, 2015

Cincinnati Reds – Jumbo Diaz had another tough outing on Wednesday, highlighted by a Ryan Braun grand slam that put the game out of reach. Diaz didn’t blow a lead, as he entered the eighth inning with the Reds down a run, but he did run his ERA to a bloated 9.72. Tony Cingrani has been the Reds’ best pitcher ahead of Aroldis Chapman this season, and despite manager Bryan Price’s confidence in Diaz, it’s hard to ignore Cingrani’s success.

Updated hierarchy: Chapman | Cingrani | Diaz.

Cleveland Indians – Zach McAllister entered the seventh with a two-run lead and struck out three in two innings to earn his first hold of the season. The Cleveland bullpen has struggled mightily this season and it may be due to a heavy workload. If manager Terry Francona wishes to rest guys more often, pitchers like McAllister may see more hold opportunities. This may also mean that both Bryan Shaw and Nick Hagadone see time in the eighth, but time will ultimately tell.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Hagadone.

Tampa Bay Rays –Ernesto Frieri picked up the save in a 13-inning game after committee colleagues Kevin Jepsen and Brad Boxberger had already pitched.

Hierarchy remains: *Boxberger | Jepsen | Frieri.
* closer-by-committee

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners — Fernando Rodney has pitched in four consecutive games.
2. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers — Joakim Soria has a save in four of the last five games and he threw 27 pitches on Wednesday.

Cody Allen struggling; Jake McGee on the mend

April 21, 2015

Cleveland Indians – Nick Hagadone is getting more opportunities in the late innings — he shared the 8th inning with Bryan Shaw last night — and is in line for more holds going forward. Cody Allen, meanwhile, imploded in the 9th, surrendering 4 runs and blowing a 3-run lead. He’s been very shaky so far this year, but after a stellar 2014 campaign, we don’t think his job is in jeopardy quite yet.

Updated hierarchy: Allen | Shaw | Hagadone.

Tampa Bay Rays – Jake McGee is on his way to the Durham Bulls to begin a rehab assignment after throwing a successful bullpen session on Sunday. Brad Boxberger has pitched well in the closer role to start the season, but expect McGee could potentially compete for save opportunities as soon as he completes his stint in Triple-A.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | Jepsen | Frieri.

Kansas City Royals – An MRI revealed that Greg Holland suffered a low-grade strain to his right pectoral muscle. As expected, Holland’s injury is not serious and should not have him sidelined for very long. Wade Davis will get saves in his absence, especially now that Kelvin Herrera may be suspended following his foray into headhunting on Sunday.

Hierarchy remains: Davis | Herrera | Frasor.

Detroit Tigers – In other injury news, Bruce Rondon is on the mend and has returned to throwing off a mound following being shut down with biceps tendonitis. He will return to the Tigers’ bullpen and could quickly become a strong holds option, pitching ahead of Joakim Soria until Old Man Joe Nathan hobbles back to the Hot Seat.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Chamberlain | Krol.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Chad Qualls/Pat Neshek, Houston Astros – Luke Gregerson has pitched in three straight.
2. Roberto Osuna/Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays – John Gibbons has mixed and matched relievers for the past week.
3. Tanner Scheppers/Shawn Tolleson, Texas Rangers – Neftali Feliz might need a second day off after a marathon 47-pitch outing on Sunday.