Ernesto Frieri is getting worse; a parting gift from Kevin Gregg

July 31, 2013

Los Angeles Angels — In a wild game characterized by awful relief by both teams, Ernesto Frieri blew another save. Frieri has retired only 6 of the last 20 batters he’s faced, and although Dane de la Rosa and Kevin Jepsen were even worse last night, Frieri’s seat is getting hot enough for Mike Scioscia to discuss the possibility of playing matchups in the ninth going forward. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri7/31/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

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Houston Astros — Bo Porter, who is 2 1/2 years younger than Mariano Rivera, is telling us that any of his seven relievers could be used at any point after the sixth inning. We remain convinced that Travis Blackley and Jose Cisnero have the inside track. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroTravis BlackleyJosh ZeidJose Cisnero7/31/13

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Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg’s final showcase appearance before the trade deadline ended in disaster; he loaded the bases and gave up a two-run single to blow what could be his final save opportunity as a Cub. Frog, meet scorpion. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHCKevin GreggPedro StropBlake ParkerPedro Strop7/31/13

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Milwaukee Brewers — John Axford entered Tuesday afternoon’s game in the fifth inning after Yovani Gallardo left with hamstring tightness; just another reason to doubt that this is really a platoon situation. Axford has allowed four runs and eight hits in his last three appearances (1.2 IP). No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MILJim HendersonJohn AxfordBrandon KintzlerJim Henderson7/31/13

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Los Angeles Dodgers — Bearded weirdo Brian Wilson was signed to a minor-league contract, reportedly worth a cool $1 million, plus performance bonuses. After a few weeks in the minors, he’ll get a shot at the big club, where he’s expected to take on a set-up role, hopelessly confuse many older Beach Boys fans, and ultimately become the first active major league player to marry Lady Gaga during a regulation game (in a non-strike season). No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenPaco RodriguezRonald BelisarioKenley Jansen7/31/13

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Toronto Blue Jays — The impressive Steve Delabar struck out the side in the eighth inning on nine pitches, a feat accomplished only 50 times before in baseball history. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSteve DelabarBrett CecilSergio Santos7/31/13
Sergio Santos (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Kevin Gregg has pitched in four of five games, he threw 34 pitches on Tuesday, and he’ll probably be on another team by tomorrow night anyway.
2. John Axford/Burke Badenhop, Milwaukee Brewers — Jim Henderson got two saves on Tuesday (42 total pitches), and the Milwaukee bullpen has been overtaxed lately. If Ron Roenicke still trusts Axford, he’ll use him in a Wednesday save opportunity. If not, he might be forced to use Henderson or Badenhop.
3. LaTroy Hawkins, New York Mets — Bobby Parnell has pitched in three straight.
4. Chad Qualls, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek pitched two innings and picked up the loss on Tuesday, and he needed 39 pitches to do it.
5. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez has pitched on four of the last five days, although he’s thrown only 41 pitches over that time.
6. Paco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has also thrown in four of five games.

Trade deadline moves abound: Veras, Downs, and Crain on the move

July 30, 2013

Los Angeles Angels — Scott Downs was traded to Atlanta on Monday, and Ernesto Frieri had his second terrible outing in his last three appearances, blowing the save and catching the loss. If Frieri keeps this up, Dane de la Rosa and Kevin Jepsen would be Mike Scioscia’s next options to close. Jepsen has a longer track record with the team, but de la Rosa has been picking up some important holds — he pitched the eighth on Monday, while Jepsen has often come in with the team trailing. Keep an eye on this fluid situation if you’re relying on Frieri. Hierarchy change: Dane de la Rosa to Set-up, Ernesto Frieri to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri7/30/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

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Houston Astros — In the aftermath of the Jose Veras trade, we suspected the Astros might return to the mediocre Hector Ambriz to protect their vanishingly rare late-inning leads. Houston had other ideas, however, optioning Ambriz to Oklahoma City and recalling two relievers no one has ever heard of: Chia-Jen Lo and Josh Zeid. The seventh-inning role is in flux and could be filled by any of several lousy options: Josh Fields and his sparkling 6.35 ERA, lefty Wesley Wright, who boasts a 1.46 WHIP, or even Lo, who was pitching in the low-A New York-Penn League just five weeks ago. We think Zeid, who had a 10.92 K/9 ratio and 13 saves in 15 opportunities at AAA, is the best of the bunch. Faint praise. Hierarchy change: Josh Zeid to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Ambriz.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroTravis BlackleyJosh ZeidJose Cisnero7/30/13

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Detroit Tigers — The Tigers acquired Jose Veras from Houston, and are likely to use him and Drew Smyly interchangeably in the seventh and eighth innings, based on how the matchups fall. Veras’s attractive contract terms also make him the new favorite to close for Detroit in 2014. Hierarchy change: Jose Veras to Set-Up, Drew Smyly to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJoaquin BenoitJose Veras Drew SmylyJose Veras7/30/13

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Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays took a gamble on Jesse Crain; if he’s able to return from his injury with the same form he exhibited earlier in the season, he’ll be in the thick of the bullpen mix with Joel Peralta and Jake McGee down the stretch. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line (DL).

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TBFernando RodneyJoel PeraltaJake McGeeFernando Rodney7/30/13
Jesse Crain (DL)

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Atlanta Braves — As we expected, Jordan Walden got a vulture save opportunity on Monday, but blew it, giving Scott Downs a vulture win in his first appearance as a Brave. Although Downs was serving in a set-up role for the Angels, we don’t see him challenging the existing hierarchy in Atlanta, at least at this point. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenLuis AvilanCraig Kimbrel7/30/13

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Chicago White Sox — Injured All-Star righthander Jesse Crain was traded to the Rays on Monday. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHWAddison ReedMatt LindstromNate JonesAddison Reed7/30/13

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John Axford struggling since being mentioned for closer role

July 29, 2013

Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford merely had to hear his name mentioned in the same sentence as “closer,” and he’s turned back in to his old erratic self.  Since Ron Roenicke’s declaration that he’d go back and forth between Axford and Jim Henderson, Axford has given up 3 runs in 2.1 innings (and a loss last night), despite not actually getting a 9th inning save chance yet.  The value of Henderson, who has gotten two saves since the K-Rod trade, continues to grow with each Axford stumble.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MILJim HendersonJohn AxfordBrandon KintzlerJim Henderson7/29/13

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Seattle Mariners – The Seattle bullpen is one of the hardest in the league to make sense of, as seemingly every reliever down there has gotten an 8th inning hold over the past month.  Yesterday, it was Danny Farquhar’s turn, as the young righty turned in an exceptional performance, striking out 5 hitters over 2 innings of work before giving way to Tom Wilhelmsen.  Farquhar’s numbers are ugly; he’s got a 6.00 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.  However, in just 30 innings of work since being called up in mid-May, he’s also got 46(!) strikeouts, which is almost identical to the K/9 rate that Craig Kimbrel is rocking this year.  Farquhar obviously has a live arm, and when he’s on, like last night, he’s virtually unhittable.  If he can string together a few more good outings, he’ll become an intriguing late-inning option in Seattle.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEATom WilhelmsenOliver PerezCharlie FurbushTom Wilhelmsen7/29/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jordan Walden, Atlanta Braves – Craig Kimbrel has pitched in three straight.
2. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg has pitched in three straight.

Joe Nathan on the trade block?

July 28, 2013

Texas Rangers – The Rangers are discussing trading Joe Nathan.  While it seems unlikely that the Rangers would deal Nathan, sources say that Joakim Soria could be an option to close.   There is no mention of Tanner Scheppers so it sounds like the Rangers would rather go with the experienced former closer.   Hierarchy change: Joakim Soria to Set-up, Tanner Scheppers to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TEXJoe NathanJoakim SoriaTanner ScheppersJoe Nathan7/28/13

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Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson got the save on Saturday while John Axford gave up a run in the 8th inning.  Ron Roenicke said he was going to use both Henderson and Axford to close out games but Henderson has received both save opportunities since the K-Rod trade.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MILJim HendersonJohn AxfordBrandon KintzlerJim Henderson7/28/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg has pitched in two straight and three of the past four.
2. Paco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in two straight and four of the past five.
3. Craig Stammen, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano has pitched in three straight and will likely get the day off Sunday. Tyler Clippard has also pitched in three straight and four of the last 5.