June 23, 2012
Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins picked up his second save of the week on Friday. As noted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Matt Capps is still nursing an injury, but should be back soon. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Capps |Perkins |Burton |Capps |6/23/12
Arizona Diamondbacks – David Hernandez got out of a tough spot in the 8th inning, and then stayed on for the 9th with the D’Backs up 6-1 to earn his second save of the year. This was not a typical save situation and JJ Putz’s job is not in jeopardy. No hierarchy change.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |6/23/12
Oakland A’s – All year, Ryan Cook’s dirty little secret has been his hideous BB/IP ratio (5.7 per 9), and yesterday, it finally came back to bite him, as he blew his second save of the season after walking the inning’s first two batters on nine pitches. Under most circumstances, one outing wouldn’t be enough to endanger his job, but Cook has never actually been officially named the closer, and former 9th inning man Grant Balfour has been stellar all month, having allowed 0 runs and 3 hits in his last 9.2 innings. Ryan Cook to Hot Seat.
|Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Fuentes |Cook |6/23/12
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde’s injury isn’t particularly serious, but he will be out through the weekend. Joaquin Benoit will get save chances until he returns.
2. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins – If Matt Capps still can’t go today, Perkins could get another save opp.
3. Grant Balfour, Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook has pitched in three of the last four games, including his worst outing of the season last night. He could get the day off.
