Nate Jones with injury troubles; movement in New York

April 4, 2014

Chicago White Sox — It was a bad day for White Sox relievers: Nate Jones walked the two men he faced in the seventh, Maikel Cleto let them score, Ronald Belisario gave up a tying home run in the eighth, and Matt Lindstrom blew the save and got tagged for the loss in the ninth. He remains on the Hot Seat, while Jones has had a recurrence of his spring training gluteal strain. There are no good options for Robin Ventura at this point, and he could certainly do worse than Belisario. Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Set-up, Nate Jones to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CHWMatt LindstromRonald BelisarioNate JonesNate Jones4/4/14

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New York Mets — Jeurys Familia and Scott Rice each got smacked around on Thursday and, combined, they’ve retired precisely as many batters as they’ve allowed to score. Gonzalez Germen may have been the last reliever to make the team, but he’s been pretty effective, and we think he’d get the call over Familia, Rice, and Kyle Farnsworth if Jose Valverde falters. This is far from a theoretical exercise, as doctors have told Bobby Parnell he has only a 50-50 shot of avoiding surgery. Hierarchy change: Gonzalez Germen to Set-Up, Jeurys Familia to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
NYMJose ValverdeGonzalez GermenJeurys FamiliaBobby Parnell4/4/14
Bobby Parnell (DL)

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New York Yankees — Adam Warren made an excellent debut in a high-leverage spot, before yielding to Shawn Kelley and new closer David Robertson. Hierarchy change: Adam Warren to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Thornton.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
NYYDavid RobertsonShawn KelleyAdam WarrenDavid Robertson4/4/14

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Chicago Cubs — As predicted in Thursday’s Vulture Save Watch, with Jose Veras unavailable, Pedro Strop picked up the save. Veras had thrown 38 pitches after warming up five different times. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CHCJose VerasPedro StropHector RondonPedro Strop4/4/14

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Jim Johnson hits the Hot Seat while Josh Fields picks up the first Houston save

April 3, 2014

Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden might have the closing experience, but through two games of the 2014 season, David Carpenter is the one racking up the 8th inning holds — Carpenter has pitched the 8th in each of the Braves’ first two wins ahead of Craig Kimbrel.  Hierarchy change: David Carpenter to Set-up, Jordan Walden to 2nd in line. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelDavid CarpenterJordan WaldenCraig Kimbrel4/3/14

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Cincinnati Reds – J.J. Hoover’s run as the probably-closer will last for only one more week or so.  Jonathan Broxton, who pitched in several spring games but started the season on the DL, is getting ready to make his debut, and should be back within a week.  Bryan Price has already tapped the hard-throwing righty to close games once he gets settled in.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
CINJ.J. HooverSam LeCureLogan OndrusekAroldis Chapman4/3/14
Aroldis Chapman (DL)Jonathan Broxton (DL)Sean Marshall (DL)

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Boston Red Sox – Junichi Tazawa pitched the 8th inning on Wednesday night and has been mentioned alongside Edward Mujica as a possible fill-in at closer should Koji Uehara ever go down.  We’re big Craig Breslow fans, but he seems destined to be stuck in middle relief this year in Boston.  Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Breslow. 

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
BOSKoji UeharaEdward MujicaJunichi TazawaKoji Uehara4/3/14

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Oakland A’s – After taking a loss on Monday, Jim Johnson came on for the save last night and gave up three runs to blow the save.  Through two appearances, Johnson’s line is hideous: 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 5H, 3BB, 0 Ks.  He’s making a lot of money to be the stopper in Oakland, and thus far, the A’s are still giving him their full support.  But a few more outings like this one and they’ll have to turn elsewhere — most likely to hard-throwing lefty Sean Doolittle.  Jim Johnson to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
OAKJim JohnsonSean DoolittleLuke GregersonRyan Cook4/3/14
Ryan Cook (INJ)

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Houston Astros – Josh Fields picked up the save for the Astros tonight, pitching a sterling 9th after Matt Albers threw a strong 1.1 innings ahead of him.  Chad Qualls was nowhere to be found.  Fields said for much of the spring that he wanted the job, and Bo Porter has already talked about using Qualls and Albers against lefties, suggesting Fields is the guy when there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning, which should be more often than not.  Though this will probably still be a committee on paper, Fields now has the edge and has become the 4th middle reliever from our preseason top 15 to already ascend to a closer position.  Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to Closer, Matt Albers to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsMatt AlbersChad QuallsJosh Fields4/2/14
 Jesse Crain (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs – In blowing a save chance in the Cubs’ marathon win yesterday, Jose Veras threw 38 pitches.  If he needs the day off today, Strop could get a save chance.
2. Rex Brothers, Colorado Rockies – LaTroy Hawkins threw 36 pitches in a shaky 9th inning yesterday, and might need the day off today.
3. Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s – While Jim Johnson is still the closer, Bob Melvin hinted after last night’s blown save that there’s a chance Johnson needs a day off after throwing 29 pitches last night.

Josh Fields picks up save and jumps into lead in Houston’s committee

April 2, 2014

Houston Astros – Josh Fields picked up the save for the Astros tonight, pitching a clean inning after Matt Albers threw a strong 1.1 innings ahead of him.  Chad Qualls was nowhere to be found.  Fields said for much of the spring that he wanted the job, and Bo Porter has already talked about using Qualls and Albers against lefties, suggesting Fields is the guy when there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning, which should be more often than not.  Though this will probably still be a committee on paper, Fields now has the edge.  Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to Closer, Matt Albers to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsMatt AlbersChad QuallsJosh Fields4/2/14
 Jesse Crain (DL)

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Jose Valverde takes over in New York and Brian Wilson hits the DL

April 2, 2014

New York Mets — Bobby Parnell’s diminished velocity led to a blown save on Opening Day. After he complained of forearm tightness, an examination revealed a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his throwing arm. Parnell, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection, will rest for at least two weeks, then begin a throwing program to determine if surgery will be necessary. Hierarchy change: Jose Valverde to Closer, Jeurys Familia to Set-Up, Scott Rice to 2nd in line, Bobby Parnell to DL.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
NYMJose ValverdeJeurys FamiliaScott RiceBobby Parnell4/2/14
Bobby Parnell (DL)

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Houston Astros — In the first sign that Houston’s closer-by-committee system will be as unpleasant for fantasy owners as it is for the players involved, putative “closer” Chad Qualls was summoned Tuesday in the eighth inning, up six. We still think he has the inside track at the most save opportunities with Jesse Crain out, but it’s best to think of anything you get from any Astros pitcher as gravy. Specifically, the gravy that dog food makes. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
HOUChad QuallsJosh FieldsMatt AlbersJosh Fields4/2/14
 Jesse Crain (DL)

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Los Angeles Dodgers — How about this? We let you know that Brian Wilson is headed to the disabled list with nerve irritation, and you just go ahead and make up your own punchline. Hierarchy change: Chris Perez to Set-up, Brandon League to 2nd in line, Brian Wilson to DL.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenChris PerezBrandon LeagueKenley Jansen4/2/14
Brian Wilson (DL)

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Kansas City Royals — Ned Yost has picked $4.8 million man Wade Davis as the team’s official set-up guy with Luke Hochevar out for the year. Davis and Aaron Crow had a rough time on Monday, however, and what seemed like a strength for Kansas City now appears very shaky indeed. Hierarchy change: Wade Davis to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
KCGreg HollandWade DavisKelvin HerreraGreg Holland4/2/14

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Bobby Parnell has a partial MCL tear

April 1, 2014

New York Mets — Bobby Parnell’s diminished velocity led to a blown save on Opening Day. After he complained of forearm tightness, an examination revealed a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his throwing arm. Parnell, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection, will rest for at least two weeks, then begin a throwing program to determine if surgery will be necessary. Hierarchy change: Jose Valverde to Closer, Jeurys Familia to Set-Up, Scott Rice to 2nd in line, Bobby Parnell injured.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2015 Closer.Updated
NYMJose ValverdeJeurys FamiliaScott RiceBobby Parnell4/1/14
Bobby Parnell (INJ)

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