Carson Smith ascending; Adam Ottavino out for the year

May 5, 2015

New York Yankees – After Chase Whitley tossed 7 innings of shutout ball, Chris Martin and Dellin Betances surrendered 3 runs between them. Martin was tagged with the loss and Betances credited with his first blown save of the year. With Andrew Miller getting some rest following a long outing last night, it is safe to say that Betances did not make the most of his chance to stake a claim to the 9th inning.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Chris Hatcher was tasked with holding on to the Dodgers’ two-run lead in the 8th inning, coming into the game with 2 inherited runners on base. He was ineffective, coughing up three runs and earning his third loss and first blown save of the season. Though he might still get a chance at a hold here or there, we’d be a bit surprised to see him get any more save chances before Kenley Jansen’s return.

Hierarchy remains: *Garcia | Hatcher | Baez.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Confirming what many had already suspected, Adam Ottavino needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of 2015.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Seattle Mariners – In a bit of a surprise, Yoervis Medina was optioned to AAA over the weekend. Medina had been among the names mentioned by speculators when Fernando Rodney was struggling, but Medina had struggled with his control in recent weeks (5 BBs in his last 4.2 innings) and will attempt to straighten himself out in the minors. Fortunately for the Mariners, righty Carson Smith (0.73 ERA) has emerged as a reliable arm in the bullpen. Smith picked up his 5th hold of the season on Sunday and should be considered for save chances on nights when Fernando Rodney is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Farquhar | Smith.

Oakland A’s — Ryan Cook’s early struggles got him sent back to the minors; Dan Otero is probably the best of Oakland’s remaining seventh-inning options until Sean Doolittle’s return relieves some of the pressure on the A’s pen. Otero had made late-inning appearances in five straight games before Monday night.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Scribner | Otero.

Washington Nationals – Tanner Roark picked up his first career save after the Nationals gave up and subsequently regained the lead late in the ballgame. Drew Storen had pitched two days in a row and three of the last four.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Barrett | Roark.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod has pitched in three straight.
2. Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three straight.

Weekly Hot Seat Update: April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015

Since last week, LaTroy Hawkins has lost his job, and Chris Hatcher and Dellin Betances are no longer the head of their committees.  Who else is in danger of losing their job and what’s going on with all those committees?

Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners
It’s probably not a good sign for a closer when your local newspaper is running a poll asking whether or not they are concerned about you.  Rodney has given up 7 hits and 6 runs in his last 2 outings.  Manager Lloyd McClendon has already said that Rodney is still the guy.  However, the Mariners have other options with Yoervis Medina, who already has a save this season, and Danny Farquhar, who had 16 saves just two seasons ago.

Miguel Castro, Toronto Blue Jays
Miguel Castro has converted both of his save opportunities since Brett Cecil was removed as closer.  He also has given up zero earned runs on the young season (though he did give up an unearned run and took the loss on Tuesday).  So why is he on this list?  One reason is Cecil has pitched well since his opening night struggles, throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.  The other reason is Castro entered in the 7th inning the other night, which is not typical for a traditional closer.  Castro has pitched well enough so far to keep the job, but the Blue Jays might want to give Roberto Osuna and Cecil some save chances as well.

Andrew Miller, New York Yankees
After David Robertson left in the off-season, most people figured Dellin Betances would slide right in and dominate hitters in the 9th inning, like he did in the 7th and 8th inning last year.  Unfortunately for Betances’ fantasy owners, that has not happened.  Betances has struggled to throw strikes, as he has 6 walks against 5 strikeouts in only 4.1 innings.  Andrew Miller, on the other hand, has picked up right where he left off last season.  Miller has made three scoreless appearances, earning two saves, and has yet to give up a hit.  Betances had an encouraging outing last night as he threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, and more importantly, no walks.  Miller is the better bet to get saves in the short-term, but Betances could still factor in long term, especially if he can get his walks under control.

Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
The Mets have already changed closers once this season, after Jenrry Mejia got hurt (and then suspended).  Jeurys Familia has stepped up and recorded three saves, while only giving up a couple runs in five outings.  The Mets could have a new closer returning from injury soon.  Bobby Parnell, who saved 22 games for the Mets two years ago, has started a rehab assignment.  Manager Terry Collins said before the season that the closer’s role would be Bobby Parnell’s to lose once he returns from injury so if he sticks to that, Familia’s days as closer could be numbered.

 

Koji Uehara activated; Chris Hatcher has another bad outing

April 13, 2015

Pittsburgh Pirates – After a ridiculous spring that included a 21:1(!) K:BB ratio, Arquimedes Caminero has brought his 101-mph fastball to the 7th inning in Pittsburgh. On Sunday, he picked up his 2nd hold of the season, and he’s now totaled 2.2 scoreless to start the year.

Updated hierarchy: Melancon | Watson | Caminero.

Chicago White Sox – Zach Duke picked up his second straight 8th inning hold on Sunday. The White Sox have been wise to make good on their offseason investment (3 years, $15M), as Duke has been one of the only reliable arms in the Chicago bullpen thus far. Would-be set-up man Zach Putnam has struggled out of the gate (4 ERs in 2 innings) after struggling during the spring (9.35 ERA) and might be looking at a trip to the minors if he can’t sort things out soon.

Updated hierarchy: Robertson | Duke | Guerra.

Tampa Bay Rays – Ernesto Frieri cleaned up an 8th inning mess and then stayed on for the 9th after the Rays tacked on a run. Frieri allowed a run himself, but picked up a vulture save.

Hierarchy remains: Boxberger | Jepsen | Balfour.

Colorado Rockies – John Axford has left the Rockies for a while to be with his son, who just had surgery following a rattlesnake attack. His absence may be poorly timed for Axford owners, as LaTroy Hawkins just blew his second save in a row and remains firmly on the Hot Seat. With Axford away, Adam Ottavino and Boone Logan are the relievers who could benefit if the Rockies are looking to give Hawkins a break.

Hierarchy remains: Hawkins | Ottavino | Logan.

Seattle Mariners – Fernando Rodney had an atrocious outing on Sunday afternoon, allowing the A’s to score four runs in the bottom of the 9th inning — Yoervis Medina would eventually pick up the save in extras. Rodney also had a shaky spring, with 7 walks in 8.1 IPs, and with his control problems spilling over into the regular season, those in deeper leagues might look to stash either Medina or Danny Farquhar should Rodney end up on the Hot Seat. (He’s already pretty close.)

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Farquhar | Medina.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Chris Hatcher had another brutal outing on Sunday, allowing 3 runs to score while only recording one out. Joel Peralta came in afterwards to lock down the 1-out save, and is now firmly in the lead in the Los Angeles committee; in fact, the way things have gone thus far, it would surprise us to see anyone other than Peralta used in the 9th going forward. We’ll hold off on lifting the asterisk for one more save, but frankly, Hatcher might not even stay in the bigs for very much longer if he keeps pitching the way he has (33.75 ERA) over the season’s first week.

Updated hierarchy: *Peralta | Hatcher | Howell.
*closer-by-committee

Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara will come off the disabled list today and will resume closing immediately.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Mujica | Ogando.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers – Joakim Soria has pitched in three straight.
2. Roman Mendez, Texas Rangers – Neftali Feliz and Shawn Tolleson have both pitched in three straight.
3. Eric O’Flaherty, Oakland A’s – Tyler Clippard has pitched in two straight and three of four, throwing 57 pitches in the process.
4. Jumbo Diaz, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in four of the last five games.

2015 AL West preview

March 6, 2015

Houston Astros — Houston bolstered its bullpen again this offseason, bringing in ex-A Luke Gregerson (3 years, $18.5 million) and dubious All-Star Pat Neshek (2 years, $12.5 million) to challenge incumbent Chad Qualls, the oldest player in Astros camp, for the closer role. We think Gregerson has the edge over Qualls, Neshek, and Josh Fields (in that order). New manager A.J. Hinch is confident in all his options and won’t rush into a decision.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Gregerson | Qualls | Neshek.
Holds candidates: Neshek, Tony Sipp.

Los Angeles Angels — Huston Street (acquired last July from San Diego) and Joe Smith have the last two innings locked down. After the departure of Kevin Jepsen to Tampa, the Angels have their eye on Mike Morin as their next seventh-inning man. 23-year-old Cam Bedrosian could have an increased role later this year as well, and if Hector Santiago doesn’t make the rotation, he might find a spot as a lefty reliever.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Street | Smith | Morin.
Holds candidates: Smith, Fernando Salas.

Oakland A’s — With Sean Doolittle starting the year on the disabled list — and sleeping on the couch after his semifinal loss in the #FaceofMLB contest — the uber-durable Tyler Clippard will start the season as the closer. Clippard led the NL in holds in 2011, 2013, and 2014, and saved 32 games for Washington in 2012. Lefty Eric O’Flaherty and righty Ryan Cook will back him up, along with Dan Otero and Fernando Abad. If the ambidextrous Pat Venditte can somehow make the team, he could set a new record for appearances — in games, and in Closer Monkey updates.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Clippard | Cook | O’Flaherty.
Holds candidates: Cook, Clippard (eventually).

Seattle Mariners — Almost everyone from Seattle’s surprisingly effective 2014 bullpen is returning this season, including Fernando Rodney, who led MLB and set a Mariners record with his 48 saves, and inspired the Little League champions to skew their hats and fire imaginary arrows. Danny Farquhar and Yoervis Medina will be back in their set-up roles too, ensuring that Seattle’s pen will once again lead the league in Scrabble points (non-Rzepczynski division).

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Rodney | Farquhar | Medina.
Holds candidates: Charlie Furbush, Medina.

Texas Rangers — The Texas hierarchy has seen its fair share of adversity. Neftali Feliz, low strikeout rate and all, is finally starting a season as the closer after his 2013 Tommy John surgery. Tanner Scheppers, a great reliever in 2013, hurt his elbow last year after starting on Opening Day for the Rangers. Although he still wants to start, the team will keep him in the eighth this year. And Shawn Tolleson overcame back surgery in 2013 to be Texas’s most consistent reliever last season. Meanwhile, young Alex Claudio looks like the top lefty option for new manager Jeff Banister. Kyuji Fujikawa, another veteran of Tommy John surgery, also has an outside shot at high-leverage innings.

Starting 2015 hierarchy: Feliz | Scheppers | Tolleson.
Holds candidates: Scheppers, Tolleson.

David Carpenter has only just begun

August 14, 2014

Atlanta Braves — David Carpenter picked up his second high-leverage hold in four days; although Shae Simmons is nearing a return from the disabled list, memories of Carpenter’s astounding 2013 performance (and the fact that his K/9 and FIP have actually improved this year) should keep him in the top three regardless.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Walden | Carpenter.

Boston Red Sox — As foretold in Wednesday’s Vulture Save Watch, it was again Edward Mujica who got the save opportunity with Koji Uehara unavailable. Mujica gave up two singles to start the inning, but escaped with the help of a strikeout on a foul bunt.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Mujica | Tazawa.

Seattle Mariners — Don’t tell Fernando Rodney he needs rest — not before an off day. On Wednesday night, he pitched for the fifth time in six days, running his weekly pitch count to 90. Yoervis Medina took the eighth, but as we mentioned a few times in July, until he actually spells Rodney one of these times, we’ll keep him behind Danny Farquhar.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Farquhar | Medina.