Category: hierarchy change

  • Two middle relievers get shipped to contenders; Qualls’ quandries continue

    August 1, 2014 Chicago Cubs — Lefty reliever James Russell will have a chance to pitch for a contender after he was shipped to Atlanta as the trade deadline expired. Brian Schlitter, who picked up an eighth-inning hold on Thursday, his team-leading 12th of the season, is the likely candidate to pitch in front of Pedro…

  • Kyuji Fujikawa ready to return to Chicago

    July 31, 2014 Chicago Cubs — After an inquiry from the Players Association about their unusual demotion of Neil Ramirez, the Cubs elected to place him on the disabled list with a sore right arm. Meanwhile, Kyuji Fujikawa made a scoreless appearance for Iowa, perhaps his final rehab outing before returning to the big club. Updated hierarchy: Rondon | Strop…

  • Another Hitch for Will Smith

    July 30, 2014 Milwaukee Brewers — With only one earned run allowed in his first 26 innings, we started the season with Men in Black Will Smith: a man astride his craft, untouchable by mere mortals. A few hiccups in June downgraded him to Hancock — a flawed, complicated hero — and when he started July with nine runs in two innings, he had…

  • Adam Ottavino could get save chances soon

    July 29, 2014 Tampa Bay Rays – After notching his fifth post-All-Star-Break save on Monday, Jake McGee has now closed out Tampa victories in six of his last seven appearances. Will he get every opportunity for the surging Rays the rest of the way? With Joe Maddon around, probably not. But if he’s getting 86%…

  • Boxberger having a great month, Neil Ramirez sent down

    July 27, 2014 Tampa Bay Rays — Brad Boxberger pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Jake McGee picked up his 11th save of the season last night.  Boxberger has allowed zero runs in July and has recorded a win, a save, and six holds this month.  Jake McGee has gotten the last three save opportunities for…