Ryan Cook, Shawn Camp earn first saves of the season

June 13, 2012

Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol pitched in a tie game in the 8th, eventually earning the win last night.  After Marmol pitched, Shawn Camp earned his first save of the season, pitching a clean ninth inning.  Camp has now gotten the last two save opportunities (he blew the first one), after James Russell got the first two chances following Rafael Dolis’s demotion.  Russell remains firmly on the Hot Seat, and another save chance for Camp could signal a shift in the Cubs’ ugly closer-by-committee.  Hierarchy change: Carlos Marmol to 2nd in line, replacing Casey Coleman.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Camp |Marmol |Marmol |6/13/12

 
Oakland A’s – In the A’s first save opportunity since Bob Melvin announced the platoon, Ryan Cook got the call, striking out 2 and earning his first save.  Grant Balfour pitched the 7th and 8th innings.  While Fuentes may still get a save chance if match-ups are right, he hasn’t pitched since being demoted.  Hierarchy change: Grant Balfour to Set-up, Brian Fuentes to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Fuentes |Cook |6/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has registered 2 saves for the Cubs since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will likely determine who is used in the 9th today.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 5 of the last 8 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.

Casey Janssen’s value rising as Sergio Santos suffers another setback

June 12, 2012

Toronto Blue Jays – Sergio Santos suffered another setback in his rehab this weekend and could be out until after the All Star break, or longer.  Casey Janssen has performed well in his stead and with this news, his value continues to rise.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Cordero |Frasor |Santos |6/12/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched on three consecutive days.
2. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten 2 of the Cubs 3 save opportunities since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will likely determine who is used in the 9th today.

Brandon League to return to closer role soon; Jason Grilli ascending

June 11, 2012

Baltimore Orioles – Darren O’Day picked up his 4th win of the year on Sunday, pitching a scoreless frame in the 10th inning.  The submariner now has a 1.78 ERA and has shown that he can consistently get both righties and lefties out.  Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to 2nd in line, replacing Luis Ayala.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |O'Day |Johnson |6/11/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Before Sunday’s game, Eric Wedge said that he’d likely put Brandon League back in the closer role “sooner rather than later.”  Tom Wilhelmsen has performed well in the role since League’s demotion– and League got knocked around a bit on Sunday– but it sounds as if Wilhelmsen will inevitably move back to a set-up role once Wedge reinstalls his former closer.  Tom Wilhelmsen to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |League |Furbush |League |6/11/12

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Up until Sunday, the Pirates had used Jason Grilli exclusively in the 8th inning, vaulting Juan Cruz from his 7th inning role into the closer role on nights when Joel Hanrahan was unavailable.  But yesterday, with Hanrahan getting the night off, the Pirates finally gave Grilli a save opp, and he converted.  Hierarchy change: Jason Grilli to Set-up, Juan Cruz to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Cruz |Hanrahan |6/11/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs picked up the save last night, but looked a bit shaky, giving up his first earned run of the season.  Since Ernesto Frieri got his first opportunity, the Angels have given Downs three save chances, while Frieri has gotten four.  While there’s no end in sight to the platoon, Frieri still stands to get a few more opportunities than Downs.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |6/11/12 

 
Milwaukee Brewers – After John Axford got in trouble in the 9th inning on Sunday, Jose Veras came on and got the last out, recording his first save of the season.  Axford has struggled in non-save situations this year, but is 10/11 in save chances and is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |6/11/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Burnett/Brad Lidge, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight, and in five of the last six.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 7 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.

Brian Fuentes demoted, Ryan Cook to lead closer by committee in Oakland

June 10, 2012

Washington Nationals – After Brad Lidge struggled Friday in his first outing since returning from the DL, Washington went to Sean Burnett in the 8th inning on Saturday.  Burnett (0.95 ERA) pitched another clean inning and continues to have a stellar season.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Set-up, Brad Lidge to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Lidge |Storen |6/10/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle before Saturday’s game that he would employ a closer-by-committee going forward, with Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Grant Balfour involved.  Melvin also said that Ryan Cook was his best option in any tough situation, making him the best bet to win the job.  Hierarchy change: Ryan Cook to Closer, Brian Fuentes to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Fuentes |Balfour |Cook |6/10/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates – Joel Hanrahan has pitched in three straight, and in four of the last five.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in back to back games, and in four of the last five.
3. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten 2 of the Cubs 3 save opportunities since the demotion of Rafael Dolis; Camp has gotten the other.  Matchups will determine who is used in the 9th today.

Ryan Cook most likely to emerge in Oakland’s closer by committee

June 9, 2012

Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin told the San Francisco Chronicle before Saturday’s game that he would employ a closer-by-committee going forward, with Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Grant Balfour involved.  Melvin also said that Ryan Cook was his best option in any tough situation, making him the best bet to win the job going forward.  Cook could get a save chance as soon as tonight.  Hierarchy change: Ryan Cook to Closer, Brian Fuentes to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Fuentes |Balfour |Cook |6/9/12