Drew Storen out until All Star break; Scott Downs injured

April 13, 2012

Los Angeles Angels- Set-up man Scott Downs suffered a gruesome ankle injury on Thursday, and was seen on crutches after the game.  The Angels have yet to determine whether to place him on the DL, but he’ll likely miss some action.  In the mean time, the Angels could look to Jason Isringhausen, who is spotless in three outings so far this year and has surpassed LaTroy Hawkins on the depth chart, to close games on nights that Jordan Walden is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Jason Isringhausen to Set-up, replacing Scott Downs.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Walden |Isringhausen|Hawkins |Walden |4/13/12 |Downs(INJ) |

 
Detroit Tigers- Phil Coke was the last of several relievers used by the Tigers to bridge the gap to 8th inning man Joaquin Benoit yesterday, and he’s been used 3 times in the 8th inning in pressure spots, pitching to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to 2nd in line, replacing Octavio Dotel.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |4/13/12

 
Washington Nationals- Drew Storen underwent surgery earlier this week and will be out until the All Star break, with Davey Johnson indicating that he would continue to alternate between Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez.  Lidge, however, blew the save Thursday; another bad outing for him could mean Rodriguez wins the full-time job.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/13/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw pitched the 8th inning in front of JJ Putz yesterday, and, in Takashi Saito’s absence, has established himself as the go-to set-up man when David Hernandez is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Brian Shaw to 2nd in line, replacing Takashi Saito.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |4/13/12

 
Texas Rangers- Mike Adams, yesterday’s #1 candidate for a vulture save, filled in yesterday for Joe Nathan, who had the night off.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Ogando |Nathan |4/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals- It’s Rodriguez’s turn for a save opp in Davey Johnson’s back-and-forth rotation between he and Brad Lidge.  Rodriguez should be owned in all leagues at this point.
2. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers- Jose Valverde has pitched on three consecutive nights and will almost certainly get the day off on Friday.
3. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra has also pitched three consecutive nights, so the Dodgers will look to Jansen for any save chances.
4. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins- Matt Capps has pitched on two consecutive nights, and in three of the last four.
5. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants- Brian Wilson has pitched on two consecutive nights, throwing a total of 56 pitches.

Joe Smith establishing himself in Indians’ bullpen

April 12, 2012

Cleveland Indians- The middle-inning portion of the Indians bullpen continues to be shaky, as lefty specialist Rafael Perez had a bad outing on Wednesday.  Joe Smith, who in past years has been used exclusively against righties, has been one of the few steady arms thus far, and this year is being used against both lefties and righties.  Hierarchy change: Joe Smith to 2nd in line, replacing Rafael Perez. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |Smith |C.Perez |4/12/12

 
Colorado Rockies- Long reliever Tyler Chatwood recorded a three-inning save in a Rockies blowout on Wednesday.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Brothers |Belisle |Betancourt |4/12/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers- Joe Nathan has pitched on each of the last two days, including a 26-pitch blown save yesterday, and may get the night off.
2. Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres- Given Huston Street’s history of fragility, the Padres may give him the night off after two outings in a row.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers- Jose Valverde has pitched two days in a row, including a 23-pitch outing yesterday.
4. Kenley Jansen/Matt Guerrier, Los Angeles Dodgers- Javy Guerra has pitched two days in a row, and could conceivably get a night off.  Kenley Jansen could as well, as he’s thrown more pitches than Guerra in the last two days.

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Late inning roles for Miguel Batista, Mitchell Boggs

April 11, 2012

New York Mets- The Mets had an uneventful game, bullpen-wise, on Tuesday.  However, earlier this week, Terry Collins surprisingly indicated that Miguel Batista would be his 9th inning man on any days when Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch are unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Miguel Batista to 2nd in line, replacing Ramon Ramirez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Batista |Francisco |4/11/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers- Francisco Rodriguez was called on for the save last night because– as was noted in yesterday’s vulture save watch– John Axford had thrown 53 pitches over the previous two games.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |4/11/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals- Mitchell Boggs pitched two perfect innings of relief on Tuesday and has established himself as a reliable late-inning replacement for the ailing Scott Linebrink.  Hierarchy change: Mitchell Boggs to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Linebrink. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Salas |Boggs |Motte |4/11/12

 
Kansas City Royals- Aaron Crow picked up the save last night in a rain-shortened game that only went 7 1/2 innings.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |4/11/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
David Robertson/Rafael Soriano, New York Yankees-  Mariano Rivera has pitched on consecutive days and could get the night off.  David Robertson could get the call, but he has also pitched two days in a row, opening the door for a possible Rafael Soriano save opp.
Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals- Davey Johnson is going back and forth between Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez, and Lidge pitched last night in a 4-run game.  He didn’t record a save, so it still could be his “turn,” but with Rodriguez idle yesterday, the Nats will probably go with him tonight.

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Sergio Santos looking shaky; Franklin Morales’s new role

April 10, 2012

Toronto Blue Jays- Sergio Santos blew his second consecutive save on Sunday and looked ugly doing it, walking three hitters and only recording two outs.  Experienced set-up man Francisco Cordero could see some opportunities if Santos continues to falter.  Sergio Santos to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Santos |Cordero |Janssen |Santos |4/10/12

 
Boston Red Sox- Alfredo Aceves, yet to record an out this year, pitched a clean inning in recording the save on Monday.  However, as Aceves closed out the game, Bobby Valentine had Franklin Morales– not Mark Melancon, who has given up runs in both of his appearances thus far– staying loose in the bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Franklin Morales to Set-up, Mark Melancon to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Melancon |Bailey |4/10/12

 
Washington Nationals- Henry Rodriguez took the loss Monday, allowing a walk-off single in a tie game, but the real news came off the field, as Drew Storen was sent to Dr. James Andrews for further evaluation on his elbow.  Manager Davey Johnson said the outlook isn’t good, but Storen’s season appears to be in jeopardy.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/10/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers– John Axford has pitched on each of the last two days, throwing a combined 53 pitches.

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New closer in TB; Red Sox bullpen a mess

Boston Red Sox- Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon both blew save chances in Sunday’s Red Sox game, with manager Bobby Valentine saying after the game that there were lots of options on the table, including possibly bringing Daniel Bard back to the bullpen.  Franklin Morales, who had a strong outing Sunday, could also be a candidate to close.  Hierarchy change: Franklin Morales to 2nd in line, replacing Vicente Padilla.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Melancon |Morales |Bailey |4/9/12

 
Arizona Diamondbacks- Bryan Shaw picked up the save on Sunday, as JJ Putz had pitched two consecutive days prior.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Saito |Putz |4/9/12

 
Tampa Bay Rays- Fernando Rodney closed out Sunday’s game against the Yankees, notching his second save in as many days.  It seems that Joel Peralta’s leash was at short as it could be, as Rodney will close until Kyle Farnsworth returns from the DL.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodney to Closer, Joel Peralta to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTB |Rodney |Peralta |McGee |Farnsworth |4/9/12 |Farnswor(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
Kerry Wood- Carlos Marmol has pitched two days in a row, and in three of the last four.
Vinnie Pestano/Rafael Perez- Chris Perez has pitched two days in a row, and in three of the last four.  So, too, has Pestano, however, so Rafael Perez is also a candidate for a vulture save opp.
Jon Rauch- Frank Francisco has pitched two days in a row, and in three of the last four.
Greg Holland- Jonathon Broxton has pitched two days in a row.

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