Jim Henderson blows second straight, 23rd for Brewers bullpen overall

August 16, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Before Vicente Padilla hit the DL, Andrew Miller was often the man who was summoned just ahead of him, as Bobby Valentine counted on the hard-throwing lefty to get key outs late in the game.  But oddly, that’s changed over the past week, as Miller’s last three appearances have seen him pitch in the 6th inning or earlier.  Andrew Bailey has thrown only 13 pitches in the big leagues so far this year, but given Miller’s recent usage, the righty would probably be thrust right into the closer role if Alfredo Aceves was unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to Set-up, Andrew Miller to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Bailey |Miller |Bailey |8/16/12 |Padilla(DL) |

 
Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson blew his second straight save on Wednesday, the 23rd blown save for the Brewers bullpen overall.  Ron Roenicke didn’t say anything about the closer role after the game, so Henderson remains on the Hot Seat and virtually anyone is a decent candidate for the next save.  Henderson and John Axford remain the best bets to seize the role for a significant period.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Loe |Axford |8/16/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joel Peralta/Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays – Fernando Rodney pitched four straight days from Saturday to Tuesday and may be given a second day off to recover.  Joel Peralta also pitched four straight, so Kyle Farnsworth could also get a save chance.

Andrew Bailey returns, could close by season’s end

August 15, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey returned from the disabled list on Tuesday, striking out one of the two hitters he faced.  Bailey had solid minor league numbers in his rehab appearances, and if he pitches well, he should rise quickly in the Red Sox bullpen.  It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him closing by the end of the year.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to 2nd in line, replacing Mark Melancon.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Miller |Bailey |Bailey |8/15/12 |Padilla(DL) |

 
Seattle Mariners – Stephen Pryor pitched a clean 1.2 innings last night, earning the win when the Mariners walked off against Fernando Rodney.  The young righty has only allowed 1 run in 10 appearances this season (0.84 ERA) and has 15 Ks and only 3 BBs.  Hierarchy change: Stephen Pryor to 2nd in line, replacing Josh Kinney.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Luetge |Pryor |Wilhelmsen |8/15/12 |Furbush(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays – Both Fernando Rodney and Joel Peralta have pitched in four straight games.
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.

Derek Lowe picks up his first save in 11 years

August 14, 2012

New York Yankees – Derek Lowe, just signed by the Yankees, picked up his first save since 2001, pitching the last four innings in an 8-2 victory for New York.  Lowe does not factor in to the Yankees usual late-inning plans.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |8/14/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kyle Farnsworth, Tampa Bay Rays – Both Fernando Rodney and Joel Peralta have pitched in three straight games.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman pitched in three straight games over the weekend.  Though the Reds were off yesterday, they’ve been especially careful with their young phenom’s arm– he’d pitched in three straight just once before all season– and he could be given a second day off to recover.
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.

Kameron Loe, Matt Albers rising; Heath Bell could lose the job he never had

August 13, 2012

Milwaukee Brewers – Kameron Loe picked up his first save of the season as Ron Roenicke continues to follow through on his threat that everyone in the Brewers bullpen will get a shot at closing.  Jim Henderson is still the best bet for saves moving on, but Loe should now be on fantasy radars.  Hierarchy change: Kameron Loe to 2nd in line, replacing Francisco Rodriguez. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Loe |Axford |8/13/12

 
Miami Marlins – Prior to Sunday, Heath Bell had only given up 1 run since the All Star break, and he had lowered his ghastly ERA by nearly a point and a half.  Ozzie Guillen had been impressed enough to say earlier this week that he’d be giving Bell another shot at closing.  The Marlins haven’t had a save chance since Guillen made his declaration, but in the 8th inning on Sunday, Bell took a major step back, allowing 4 earned runs while only recording 1 out.  Despite Guillen’s plans for Bell, Steve Cishek is now a great bet to get the next save opp.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Dunn |Bell |8/13/12

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt Albers, acquired in the Craig Breslow deal, pitched a clean 8th inning with the Diamondbacks leading by five runs.  Takashi Saito came on for the 9th and gave up two runs before JJ Putz came on to bail him out.  Saito’s ERA climbed to 6.14 with the bad outing, while Albers is yet to give up a run in the NL.  Hierarchy change: Matt Albers to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Albers |Putz |8/13/12

 
New York Mets – Jon Rauch picked up his second save of the season, bailing out both Josh Edgin and Frank Francisco, who couldn’t combine to get three outs in what was initially a blowout.  The Mets have already said that Bobby Parnell could get some save opps while Francisco regains his strength, and this outing makes Parnell all the more appealing.  Frank Francisco to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |8/13/12

 
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.

Dale Thayer and Grant Balfour inherit closer jobs again

August 12, 2012

Milwaukee Brewers – A day after inheriting the closer job from a struggling John Axford, Jim Henderson took the loss for the Brewers on Saturday night.  He came on in the 9th inning and struck out the side, but then couldn’t find the plate in the 10th, as all four runners he faced reached base.  Given the volatility of the Brewers bullpen and Ron Roenicke’s recent tendency to try anyone and everyone in the closer role, this outing is enough to put Henderson on notice.  Jim Henderson to Hot Seat.

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

 
Miami Marlins – Since Heath Bell supposedly regained his closer job a few days ago, the Marlins haven’t had a save opportunity.  But even if they’d had one last night (they ended up winning by four), it wouldn’t have gone to Bell, who pitched in the 8th inning with the Marlins up by two runs.  While this could’ve been a final tuneup before he re-enters the closer role, Steve Cishek is still certainly worth holding on to until Ozzie Guillen proves that he meant what he said earlier this week.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Dunn |Bell |8/12/12

 
Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin has removed Ryan Cook from the closer role, saying he wanted to use the rookie in lower-pressure situations.  Melvin emphasized that the move may not be permanent, but that he’d go with a closer-by-committee for the time being.  Grant Balfour got the save on Saturday after Cook pitched in the 7th and 8th, and Balfour is the best short-term (and possibly long-term) option for saves at this point.  Hierarchy change: Grant Balfour to Closer, Ryan Cook to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Balfour |Cook |Neshek |Cook |8/11/12

 
San Diego Padres – Huston Street took his 21 1/3-inning scoreless streak to the disabled list today after straining his calf on the final play of last night’s game. Bud Black offered three options to the San Diego Union-Tribune last night: a return to Dale Thayer, an elevation of Luke Gregerson, or the dreaded “closer-by-committee.” Although Gregerson has the best numbers in the Padres pen, it seems most likely that Black will keep him in the set-up role and go back to Thayer come the 9th. Hierarchy change: Huston Street to DL, Dale Thayer to Closer, Brad Brach to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Brach |Street |8/11/12 |Street (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games, and the Reds have used him thrice in a row only once all season.
2. Wesley Wright/Fernando Rodriguez, Houston Astros – Wilton Lopez threw 40 pitches over two innings on Saturday, his second consecutive night of work.  The Astros could play match-ups to determine their closer tonight.
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.