Another save for Luke Gregerson suggests likely platoon in San Diego

August 28, 2012

Colorado Rockies – Matt Belisle picked up his second save of the season on Monday.  He finished off the top of the 8th inning in a 3-run game, then stayed on for the ninth after the Rockies scored 7 runs in the interim.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Brothers |Betancourt |8/28/12

 
San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer returned from paternity leave yesterday, but he was used in the 8th inning, while Luke Gregerson picked up the save in the 9th.  Gregerson has been on fire, having not allowed a run since July 3.  He’s now likely sharing opportunities with Thayer until Huston Street returns.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Layne |Street |8/28/12 |Street(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Luke Gregerson, Josh Lindblom, Mark Melancon, Shawn Camp all pick up random saves

August 27, 2012

San Diego Padres – With Dale Thayer still on paternity leave, Luke Gregerson picked up a save in his absence.  Thayer returns today and will resume closing until Huston Street is healthy.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Layne |Street |8/27/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Philadelphia Phillies – Josh Lindblom picked up a 1.2 inning save on Sunday, as Jonathan Papelbon had the day off after pitching three in a row.  Antonio Bastardo has been the 8th inning man lately, so this may have been a match-up play– four of the five hitters Lindblom faced were righties.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Lindblom |Papelbon |8/27/12

 
Boston Red Sox – With both Andrew Bailey and Vicente Padilla unavailable, the Red Sox went to Mark Melancon in the 9th inning on Sunday.  Craig Breslow has been pitching better than anyone else in the Boston bullpen lately, but the Red Sox appear to prefer Melancon’s experience in the closer role.  While there won’t be many nights where both Bailey and Padilla (and the suspended Alfredo Aceves) are unavailable, Melancon could see more late-inning work going forward.  Hierarchy change: Mark Melancon to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Breslow.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Melancon |Bailey |8/27/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

 
Chicago Cubs – Shawn Camp pitched the 8th inning with the Cubs up by 2 runs, and ended up earning the save when the game was rained out in the bottom of the 8th.  Camp will continue to be the 8th inning man moving forward, as he was tonight.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Camp |Russell |Marmol |8/27/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Andrew Bailey takes over as closer with Alfredo Aceves suspended

August 26, 2012

Oakland A’s – Sean Doolittle pitched the 8th inning ahead of Grant Balfour on Saturday, striking out 2 in a perfect inning for his 9th hold of the year.  The A’s have gone back and forth between Doolittle and Jerry Blevins over the past month or so, using whoever is pitching better as their go-to lefty.  Lately, that’s been Doolittle, who over his last 7 innings pitched has allowed 0 runs while striking out 13.  Hierarchy change: Sean Doolittle to 2nd in line, replacing Jerry Blevins.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Balfour |Cook |Doolittle |Cook |8/26/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has been suspended for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.  At the moment, it is unclear whether he was suspended for his expletive-laden media comment after his last blown save, or due to an explosive meeting he had with Bobby Valentine after being bypassed for the save yesterday.  Either way, this might be it for the mercurial righty, as Bailey, barring any slip-ups, should take the job and run with it from here.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to Closer, Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line, Alfredo Aceves suspended.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Breslow |Bailey |8/25/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three straight games.
2. Craig Breslow, Boston Red Sox – Both Andrew Bailey and Vicente Padilla have pitched in three straight.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Alfredo Aceves suspended; Andrew Bailey to take over, possibly for good

August 25, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has been suspended for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.  At the moment, it is unclear whether he was suspended for his expletive-laden media comment after his last blown save, or due to an explosive meeting he had with Bobby Valentine after being bypassed for the save yesterday.  Either way, this might be it for the mercurial righty, as Bailey, barring any slip-ups, should take the job and run with it from here.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to Closer, Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line, Alfredo Aceves suspended.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Breslow |Bailey |8/25/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

Andrew Bailey close to winning job; John Axford struggles again

August 25, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey picked up his first save of the season on Friday, throwing a clean 9th inning.  He’s definitely on track to win the closer job soon, but he’s not officially the man yet.  “I wish he had a little more [appearances] so I could make that determination,” Bobby Valentine told mlb.com.  Alfredo Aceves has blown three of his last five save chances, and remains on a blazing Hot Seat, but the job is still his for the time being.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Bailey |Padilla |Bailey |8/25/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Garrett Richards got the game’s final two outs on Friday, earning his first save of the year.  Richards does not factor in to the Angels usual late inning plans; Ernesto Frieri and Kevin Jepsen were unavailable, having both pitched three games in a row, and Scott Downs had already pitched.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Jepsen |Frieri |8/25/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers – Kameron Loe got the last two outs of the game after John Axford couldn’t close the door on Friday.  Axford returns to the Hot Seat with the bad outing, and the uncertainty continues in Milwaukee.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Henderson |Loe |Axford |8/25/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up his fourth save of the season on Friday.  He’s now earned three of the last four save chances for the Giants, but two of his recent saves have been less than one inning long.  Lopez won’t accumulate saves at this rate moving forward, but he’s just as likely as Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt to get the last out in the 9th at this point.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer is on paternity leave and was not with the team on Friday.  He may not return until tomorrow.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, it’s time for Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez to join Jared Burton as regular members of the vulture save watch.  Either could get a save on any night.