Jim Johnson hits the Hot Seat while Josh Fields picks up the first Houston save

April 3, 2014

Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden might have the closing experience, but through two games of the 2014 season, David Carpenter is the one racking up the 8th inning holds — Carpenter has pitched the 8th in each of the Braves’ first two wins ahead of Craig Kimbrel.  Hierarchy change: David Carpenter to Set-up, Jordan Walden to 2nd in line. 

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Cincinnati Reds – J.J. Hoover’s run as the probably-closer will last for only one more week or so.  Jonathan Broxton, who pitched in several spring games but started the season on the DL, is getting ready to make his debut, and should be back within a week.  Bryan Price has already tapped the hard-throwing righty to close games once he gets settled in.  No hierarchy change.

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Boston Red Sox – Junichi Tazawa pitched the 8th inning on Wednesday night and has been mentioned alongside Edward Mujica as a possible fill-in at closer should Koji Uehara ever go down.  We’re big Craig Breslow fans, but he seems destined to be stuck in middle relief this year in Boston.  Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Breslow. 

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Oakland A’s – After taking a loss on Monday, Jim Johnson came on for the save last night and gave up three runs to blow the save.  Through two appearances, Johnson’s line is hideous: 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 5H, 3BB, 0 Ks.  He’s making a lot of money to be the stopper in Oakland, and thus far, the A’s are still giving him their full support.  But a few more outings like this one and they’ll have to turn elsewhere — most likely to hard-throwing lefty Sean Doolittle.  Jim Johnson to Hot Seat.

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Houston Astros – Josh Fields picked up the save for the Astros tonight, pitching a sterling 9th after Matt Albers threw a strong 1.1 innings ahead of him.  Chad Qualls was nowhere to be found.  Fields said for much of the spring that he wanted the job, and Bo Porter has already talked about using Qualls and Albers against lefties, suggesting Fields is the guy when there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning, which should be more often than not.  Though this will probably still be a committee on paper, Fields now has the edge and has become the 4th middle reliever from our preseason top 15 to already ascend to a closer position.  Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to Closer, Matt Albers to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – In blowing a save chance in the Cubs’ marathon win yesterday, Jose Veras threw 38 pitches.  If he needs the day off today, Strop could get a save chance.
2. Rex Brothers, Colorado Rockies – LaTroy Hawkins threw 36 pitches in a shaky 9th inning yesterday, and might need the day off today.
3. Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s – While Jim Johnson is still the closer, Bob Melvin hinted after last night’s blown save that there’s a chance Johnson needs a day off after throwing 29 pitches last night.