Shawn Camp melts down again; James Russell and Carlos Marmol now leading Chicago save chase

April 16, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Another Shawn Camp meltdown tonight — this time in the 8th inning of a one-run game the Cubs were losing — means the weathered righthander is almost certainly finished as the Chicago closer.  James Russell still has a 0.00 ERA on the season, and is the fan favorite to inherit the role, but somewhat surprisingly, Carlos Marmol is also in the mix once again.  Two days after saying that Marmol wouldn’t be part of any 9th-inning platoon, Dale Sveum said Tuesday morning that Marmol was “working his way back into” the closer role.  Russell and Marmol are now the two men to watch for Chicago saves until Kyuji Fujikawa returns.  Hierarchy change: James Russell to Closer, Carlos Marmol to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Marmol |Camp |Fujikawa |4/16/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

Joel Hanrahan placed on disabled list; Andrew Bailey to close

April 16, 2013

Boston Red Sox – Joel Hanrahan is being placed on the DL with hamstring soreness.  Andrew Bailey will close in his absence.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-up, Andrew Miller to 2nd in line, Joel Hanrahan to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Uehara |Miller |Hanrahan |4/16/13 |Hanrahan(DL)|

Grab Edward Mujica while you still can

April 16, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Andrew Bailey got a save opportunity in Joel Hanrahan’s absence, giving up a few hits to tie the game before settling down and earning the win in the comeback.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Hanrahan |Bailey |Uehara |Hanrahan |4/16/13

 
Toronto Blue Jays — Sergio Santos was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained triceps, and young Aaron Loup was summoned today in a high-leverage eighth.  Hierarchy change: Aaron Loup to Set-up, Sergio Santos to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Loup |Oliver |Santos |4/16/13 |Santos(DL) |

 
St. Louis Cardinals — After Mike Matheny told reporters that he would eschew prescribed roles to play matchups with his bullpen, he threw Mitchell Boggs in a four-run game — and had Edward Mujica warming up when Boggs got into trouble. Mujica is probably the best Cardinal reliever to own, and certainly seems a better bet to pick up saves than Trevor Rosenthal.  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Set-Up, Trevor Rosenthal to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Boggs |Mujica |Rosenthal |Motte |4/16/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox — Joel Hanrahan is still day-to-day with a hamstring injury.
2. Jeff Russell, Chicago Cubs — Russell and Shawn Camp could be sharing opportunities for the Cubs.