Jose Valverde on the verge of losing his job; Pedro Strop looks like Chicago closer

April 20, 2014

Detroit Tigers – After a rough start the season, Joba Chamberlain has now gone five straight appearances without allowing a run.  He has a 11/1 K/BB ratio and has been entrusted with the set-up role in his last two outings, including yesterday, when he earned an 8th inning hold ahead of Joe Nathan.  Hierarchy change: Joba Chamberlain to Set-up, Al Alburquerque to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
DETJoe NathanJoba Chamberlain Al AlburquerqueJoe Nathan4/20/14

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Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall was activated from the disabled list yesterday, and will give the Reds a strong pair of lefties in the back end of their bullpen.  Marshall probably won’t immediately jump Manny Parra, who is having the best year of his career so far, but the duo will give the Reds the opportunity to play match ups at will in the late innings, with Sam LeCure continuing to figure in the mix for 7th and 8th inning holds.  Hierarchy change: Manny Parra to Set-up, Sean Marshall to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CINJonathan BroxtonManny ParraSean MarshallAroldis Chapman4/20/14
Aroldis Chapman (DL)

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New York Mets – Another disastrous outing from Jose Valverde, in which he stymied a potential Mets comeback by allowing a 3-run HR, has Terry Collins thinking about making a change at closer.  If they do make a move, the best in-house option is Kyle Farnsworth, with Carlos Torres and Gonzalez Germen also potentially in the mix.  Free agent Joel Hanrahan, who the Mets recently scouted, is a possibility as well.  Jose Valverde to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
NYMJose ValverdeKyle FarnsworthCarlos TorresBobby Parnell4/20/14
Bobby Parnell (DL)

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San Diego Padres – Joaquin Benoit picked up the save on Saturday.  Huston Street had thrown 52 pitches over his previous two outings and was just getting the night off.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
SDHuston StreetJoaquin BenoitDale ThayerHuston Street4/20/14

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Houston Astros – The Houston committee continues to struggle, with Chad Qualls being the latest to blow a save in a horrific 9th inning on Saturday.  We’ve previously complained that Matt Albers hasn’t gotten any opportunities despite being the best arm in the bullpen (which he reinforced yet again with a clean 8th inning yesterday), and we have to think that after yesterday, he has at least moved ahead of Qualls in the Houston hierarchy.  Hierarchy change: Matt Albers to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsMatt AlbersChad QuallsJosh Fields4/20/14
Jesse Crain (DL)

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Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden picked up a one-out, bases-loaded save on Saturday night, bailing out an ineffective Craig Kimbrel.  Despite being the go-to guy in the 8th inning all season, David Carpenter has struggled mightily, and his ERA shot up to 6.43 after he was knocked around last night.  After Walden’s clutch performance last night, we think he’d probably be the best bet for saves if Kimbrel’s early season struggles continue.  Hierarchy change: Jordan Walden to Set-up, David Carpenter to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenDavid CarpenterCraig Kimbrel4/20/14

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Chicago Cubs – It wasn’t a save chance, but the Cubs hierarchy was made very clear Saturday, when Hector Rondon pitched the 7th and 8th innings in a 4-run game, while Pedro Strop got the 9th.  Despite giving up his first run of the year today, Rondon’s ERA is more than 3 full points better than Strop’s, but it seems that Strop will be the one given first crack at saves after the demotion of Jose Veras.  Hierarchy change: Pedro Strop to Closer, Hector Rondon to Set-up.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CHCPedro StropHector RondonJustin GrimmHector Rondon4/19/14

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod continues to pitch lights out, but the closer has pitched in back to back games and three of the last four.  He might get Sunday off to recover.
2. Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s – Luke Gregerson has seen more save chances that Doolittle since Jim Johnson’s demotion but this is still looking like a committee so Doolittle could get the call based on match-ups.
3. Chad Qualls/Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Though Matt Albers is our favorite option in the Houston bullpen, he’s likely to get the day off today after throwing 62 pitches in the last four days.

Jonathan Broxton starting the season on the DL

March 21, 2014

Cincinnati Reds — Jonathan Broxton will pitch again today, but manager Bryan Price announced this morning that Broxton will also start the season on the disabled list, removing all obstacles between J.J. Hoover and the ninth inning — although Price won’t anoint a specific closer. The manager’s comments suggest that Broxton will have the inside track at the job if his DL stint is as short as expected. With Sean Marshall also banged up to start the year and Alfredo Simon moving to the starting rotation, Logan Ondrusek will see some high-leverage action, with Manny Parra called on to face lefties. Hierarchy change: J.J. Hoover to Closer, Sam LeCure to Set-Up, Logan Ondrusek to 2nd in line, Jonathan Broxton injured.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CINJ.J. HooverSam LeCureLogan OndrusekAroldis Chapman3/21/14
Aroldis Chapman [DL]Jonathan Broxton [DL]Sean Marshall [DL]

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Aroldis Chapman hit in face with line drive

March 20, 2014

Cincinnati Reds — Wednesday’s game between the Reds and Royals was called off after Aroldis Chapman was hit in the face (WARNING: video may be disturbing) with a line drive. X-rays indicated fractures above his left eye and nose. Chapman will undergo further testing, and is a sure bet to begin the 2014 season on the disabled list. After Jonathan Broxton’s successful spring debut, we think he is most likely to take over the closer role, with J.J. Hoover, Sam LeCure, and Sean Marshall close behind. Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to Closer, Aroldis Chapman injured.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CINJonathan BroxtonJ.J. HooverSam LeCureAroldis Chapman3/20/14
Aroldis Chapman [DL]

 

Josh Fields is officially Houston’s closer, for whatever that’s worth

September 17, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks — David Hernandez and Brad Ziegler ably finished Monday night’s one-run win over the Dodgers, but lurking in the background is the newly healthy J.J. Putz. Kirk Gibson intends to use him in very brief outings at first, but if, as we suspect, the D-Backs intend to use him as their closer next year, he might get some higher-leverage opportunities before long. Hierarchy change: J.J. Putz to Set-Up, David Hernandez to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ARIBrad ZieglerJ.J. PutzDavid HernandezJ.J. Putz9/17/13

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Houston Astros — It was a slow night for closer news, so we’ll take the time to point out that, over the weekend, Bo Porter confirmed what we’d suspected for weeks: Josh Fields is officially the Astros closer. We forecast him to earn precisely one more save than your mother over the next two weeks, and she might be easier on your WHIP. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsJosh ZeidKevin ChapmanJosh Fields9/17/13

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Cincinnati Reds — Sean Marshall returned to Cincinnati on Monday, but after four months off, he’ll be the third lefty out of the Reds’ pen. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanJ.J. HooverSam LeCureJonathan Broxton9/17/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres — Huston Street is off for another day to attend his grandmother’s funeral.
2. Jose Veras, Detroit Tigers — Although Joaquin Benoit hasn’t had to throw many pitches lately, he has appeared on three of the last four days.

Chia: the ERA that grows!

September 10, 2013

Houston Astros — Chia-Jen Lo entered with a one-run lead in the seventh and exited with a one-run deficit. Lo has been pretty bad over the last three weeks (9 ER, 8 H, 7 BB, 7 K, 7.2 IP), and lefty Kevin Chapman — who earned the win with a clean eighth on Monday — has to have passed him for vice-president of the Astros’ putative closer committee. Josh Fields still holds the top job, although his latest save included a solo home run by former Sacramento Kings center Mariners shortstop Brad Miller. Hierarchy change: Kevin Chapman to Set-up, Chia-Jen Lo to 2nd in line.

 .Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOU Josh Fields Kevin Chapman Chia-Jen Lo Josh Fields 9/10/13

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Cincinnati Reds — Lefty Sean Marshall, on the DL since late May with shoulder trouble, will pitch a simulated game on Tuesday and could be back with the Reds this week. No hierarchy change.

 .Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CIN Aroldis Chapman J.J. Hoover Sam LeCure Jonathan Broxton 9/10/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Yoervis Medina, Seattle Mariners — Danny Farquhar has pitched in three of the last four games, including a 26-pitch blown save last night.
2. Joe Smith, Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez threw 27 pitches on Monday after 19 on Sunday.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins — Glen Perkins has thrown 22 pitches on consecutive days.