Casey Janssen solidifies Toronto set-up role; Santiago and Guerra get the day off

April 30, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton’s save last night against the heart of the Red Sox order was explained by Robin Ventura as a matchup-based decision. “Nothing against Hector, he still will be in there in the ninth.” Savvy fantasy owners know, though, that Santiago’s leash is growing shorter and shorter. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/30/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – As predicted in Sunday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen collected the save for the Dodgers, striking out the side with two walks. Don Mattingly stressed after the game that he intends to keep Javy Guerra in the closer role, however. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |4/30/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Before Sunday’s game, manager John Farrell explicitly identified Casey Janssen as the team’s set-up man, and proved it by using him in a high-leverage eighth. Luis Perez didn’t make the choice difficult, with a four-run tenth on Friday. Hierarchy change: Casey Janssen to Set-Up, Luis Perez to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Cordero |Janssen |Perez |Santos |4/30/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Another astonishingly bad outing by Carlos Marmol on Sunday, who responded to a four-run lead by loading the bases and walking in a run before inducing a game-ending groundout. After the game, Dale Sveum reiterated his support for his closer, but also noted, “You’ve got to be patient, but there’s only so much you be patient with.” Indeed. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/30/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Rafael Dolis, Chicago Cubs — As noted, Carlos Marmol had a bad 34-pitch outing and is in line for some rest on Monday. Dolis went on Sunday, but only threw 10 pitches.
2. Jeff Gray, Minnesota Twins –– Matt Capps threw 30 pitches in his Sunday save, and because Burton and Perkins each set him up, Jeff Gray has the potential to come out for the Twins’ ninth on Monday.
3. Miguel Batista/Ramon Ramirez, New York Mets ––  The Mets managed to overcome lousy performances by Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco on Sunday, and they badly need a comfortable win. If the bullpen is called upon again, however, it may be Batista or Ramirez, two who threw relatively few (and effective) pitches yesterday.

Matt Thornton gets save over Hector Santiago in Chicago

April 29, 2012

Chicago White Sox- Matt Thornton got the save today, working a perfect 1.1 innings with 2 Ks.  Hector Santiago was warming up in the bullpen in the 9th but Thornton made quick work of the Red Sox to finish the game.  Manager Robin Ventura backed Santiago after his last blown save on Wednesday, so it’s hard to say that Thornton is the new closer at this point.  Thornton is having a great season and still may be worth having on your roster but it’s not clear if he will be getting all the saves in the future.  Closer Monkey will continue to monitor the situation to see what manager Robin Ventura has to say.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/29/12

Javy Guerra has another poor outing, Vincente Padilla moving up in Boston pen

April 29, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Josh Lindblom pitched the 8th last night and has been used recently in close game situations in the later innings.  Scott Elbert started the 9th because there were two lefties up and it looks like he will be used more as a situational lefty.  Ultimately Javy Guerra came on and gave up the go ahead runs.  No closer change yet but it will be interesting to see who gets called on for the next save opportunity.  Hierarchy change: Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Elbert. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |4/29/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vincente Padilla came on to record the last out in the 8th with a 1 run lead last night.  He has had a couple good appearances since his 5 run meltdown and has re-established himself as a late innings option for the Red Sox.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line, replacing Junichi Tazawa.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Padilla |Bailey |4/29/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers  – Javy Guerra threw 22 pitches giving up the go ahead runs last night and Mattingly may want to give his a closer a mental break on Sunday.  Mattingly also may be finally ready to make the move from Guerra to Jansen.  Either way there is a pretty good chance that Jansen is brought on for the save if there is an opportunity.

Kenley Jansen and Rafael Dolis get saves

April 28, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  Manager Don Mattingly said after the game on Wednesday that Guerra was still his guy so he might have just been giving him a day off after taking a line drive off his jaw his last time out.  Guerra is already on the hot seat but hasn’t lost his job yet.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Elbert |Guerra |4/28/12

 
Chicago Cubs- Rafael Dolis got the 2 inning save last night.  Dolis entered in the 8th with a 2 run lead and after the Cubs added 2 more runs to make it a 4 run lead, he came back on for the 9th and finished the game. With Kerry Wood on the disabled list, Dolis is the Cubs’ second-best reliever.  Hierarchy change: Kerry Wood to DL, Rafael Dolis to Set-up, James Russell to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/28/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
Atlanta Braves- Kris Medlen got a three inning save last night in a 5 run win.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/28/12

 
Washington Nationals – Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list.  Tyler Clippard will move into the set-up spot with Sean Burnett moving to second in line.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lidge to DL, Tyler Clippard to set-up, Sean Burnett to 2nd in line

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |4/28/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Cashner/Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres –  Huston Street has pitched three days in a row so there’s a good chance he gets the day off Saturday.  Cashner has pitched two days in a row including throwing 25 pitches last night so if he is unavailable as well look for Luke Gregerson to get a shot at closing out the game.