2014 – Page 40 – Closer Monkey

Heath Bell struggles; Oakland committee humming along

April 14, 2014

Milwaukee Brewers – With Francisco Rodriguez and Jim Henderson both getting the night off, lefty Will Smith was summoned for the one-out save chance, striking out the only man he faced on three pitches. He’s the slickest they is, but he’s unlikely to get any more save opportunities while K-Rod and Henderson are both sporting 0.00 ERAs. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
MIL		Francisco Rodriguez		Jim Henderson		Will Smith		Jim Henderson		4/14/14
						Brandon Kintzler (DL)

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Tampa Bay Rays – A day after Jake McGee got an 8th hold inning for the Rays, Heath Bell was called upon to pitch in the 7th of a game that the Rays were losing by four. Bell didn’t help matters, allowing two earned runs and raising his season ERA to 5.40. His peripherals aren’t great so far, either, and at age 36, he’s got to start proving that he still belongs. Hierarchy change: Jake McGee to 2nd in line, replacing Heath Bell.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
TB		Grant Balfour		Joel Peralta		Heath Bell		Grant Balfour		4/14/14

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Texas Rangers – Joakim Soria was unavailable after pitching in back to back games, so Alexi Ogando got the save in his place. With Neftali Feliz still in the minors, Ogando would have little competition for the closer gig should something happen to Soria. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
TEX		Joakim Soria		Alexi Ogando		Neal Cotts		Joakim Soria		4/14/14

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, Oakland A’s – On Saturday, Sean Doolittle got the 8th and Luke Gregerson got the 9th. Roles were reversed on Sunday, and both times, the duo got it done. We’ve still got Doolittle as our listed closer, but until the A’s decide to give Jim Johnson another chance, either of these two could get the call on any given night.
2. B.J. Rosenberg, Philadelphia Phillies – Both Jonathan Papelbon and Antonio Bastardo have pitched in three straight.

A’s call on Gregerson, Bass gets save for Astros

April 13, 2014

Oakland A’s –Luke Gregerson picked up the first save for Oakland since Jim Johnson was removed as closer. Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect 8th and also got the first out of the 9th before Gregerson came on to finish the game. Tonight’s usage was likely matchup-driven, as there were 2 lefties and a switch hitter due up in the 8th inning. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
OAK		Sean Doolittle		Luke Gregerson		Ryan Cook		Ryan Cook		4/13/14

Houston Astros – It seems like every pitcher in the Astros bullpen (except, of course, Matt Albers, who has pitched the best) gets a chance to close out games. Manager Bo Porter went to Kevin Chapman for the 9th inning with the Astros up 1, and he promptly gave up the game-tying home run on his 2nd pitch. Anthony Bass ended up getting the save in the 10th inning. Bass now has 2 saves (which is more than the 1 K he has on the season), but it’s hard to say that he is the guy moving forward. If you have a bunch of free roster spots, go ahead and pick up everybody in the Astros bullpen. Otherwise, pick your favorite and hope for the best. Hierarchy change: Anthony Bass to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Albers.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
HOU		Josh Fields		Chad Qualls		Anthony Bass		Josh Fields		4/11/14
				Jesse Crain (DL)

Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara was unavailable yesterday, but could attempt long toss today before the Red Sox decide if he needs to go back to Boston for further tests. Edward Mujica will be the closer while Uehara is out. No Hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
BOS		Koji Uehara		Edward Mujica		Junichi Tazawa		Koji Uehara		4/13/14

Philadelphia Phillies – Antonio Bastardo pitched a scoreless 8th inning in a tie game last night. His numbers aren’t very impressive on the young season (6 walks vs. only 4 Ks, in 6.1 innings) but he has pitched the 8th in each of his last 3 appearances. If anything happens to Papelbon, it looks like Bastardo could get the first shot to close. Hierarchy change: Antonio Bastardo to Set-up, B.J. Rosenberg to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
PHI		Jonathan Papelbon		Antonio Bastardo		B.J. Rosenberg		Jonathan Papelbon		4/13/14
				Mike Adams (DL)

Milwaukee Brewers – Brandon Kintzler has been placed on the DL. Will Smith has been getting jiggy with it so far this year, throwing 6 scoreless innings with 8 Ks, and could see more time in the later innings. Hierarchy change: Will Smith to 2nd in line, Brandon Kintzler to DL

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
MIL		Francisco Rodriguez		Jim Henderson		Will Smith		Jim Henderson		4/13/14
						Brandon Kintzler (DL)

Chicago Cubs — Rick Renteria announced that Jose Veras will be moved from the closer role, and Cubs save situations going forward will be matchup-dependent. As we mentioned earlier today, Hector Rondon has been pitching great and would be our pick to close — but unfortunately for him, he’s pitched the last three days (and four of the last five), and is almost certainly unavailable today. If there’s a save situation today that goes to Pedro Strop, Strop just might get the opportunity to make the job his own. We’ll be watching closely. Hierarchy change: Hector Rondon to Closer, Pedro Strop to Set-Up, Justin Grimm to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
CHC		Hector Rondon		Pedro Strop		Justin Grimm		Hector Rondon		4/12/14

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Edward Mujica, Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara is day-to-day with shoulder tightness, and Mujica will close if Uehara can’t go today.
2. Luke Gregerson, Oakland Athletics — Luke Gregerson could get the call based on matchups.
3. Jim Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers — K-Rod has pitched three games in a row.
4. Pedro Strop/Justin Grimm, Chicago Cubs — The Cubs will could use Rondon, Strop or Grimm based on the matchup.
5. Chad Qualls/Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – The Astros have made it pretty clear so far that anybody in their bullpen could be used to close out a game.

Veras out as Cubs closer; Rondon, Strop, Grimm all in the mix

April 12, 2014

Chicago Cubs — Rick Renteria just announced that Jose Veras will be moved from the closer role, and Cubs save situations going forward will be matchup-dependent. As we mentioned earlier today, Hector Rondon has been pitching great and would be our pick to close — but unfortunately for him, he’s pitched the last three days (and four of the last five), and is almost certainly unavailable today. If there’s a save situation today that goes to Pedro Strop, Strop just might get the opportunity to make the job his own. We’ll be watching closely. Hierarchy change: Hector Rondon to Closer, Pedro Strop to Set-Up, Justin Grimm to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
CHC		Hector Rondon		Pedro Strop		Justin Grimm		Hector Rondon		4/12/14

Koji Uehara has tightness in shoulder, Veras blows another save

April 12, 2014

Boston Red Sox – Edward Mujica pitched a perfect 9^th inning last night to pick up his first save of the season. Closer Koji Uehara was unavailable with shoulder tightness. The Red Sox are saying the injury is not serious but Uehara said he experienced similar tightness in Texas a couple years ago and it took him two months to get over it. Junichi Tazawa has pitched better this season but manager John Farrell likes that Mujica has had success as a closer before so he might be the first option to close if Uehara misses more time. Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to Set-up, Junichi Tazawa to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
BOS		Koji Uehara		Edward Mujica		Junichi Tazawa		Koji Uehara		4/12/14

Chicago Cubs — Jose Veras blew another save last night and his ERA is over 12 so far this season. The ERA will obviously come down but he also has 7 walks in 3.2 innings. Manager Rick Renteria said that Veras is still their closer. Hector Rondon ended up getting the save as he pitched a scoreless 11^th inning. Pedro Strop pitched the 8^th ahead of Veras, but Rondon has now made 15 straight scoreless appearances dating back to last season and could be given a chance to close if Veras continues to struggle. Hierarchy change: Hector Rondon to Set-up, Pedro Strop to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
CHC		Jose Veras		Hector Rondon		Pedro Strop		Pedro Strop		4/12/14

Cincinnati Reds — Jonathon Broxton got his first work of the season last night, pitching a scoreless 9^th inning with 2 ks. Manager Bryan Price previously said that he didn’t want to use Broxton in a save situation for his first appearance. Now that Broxton has gotten that first inning out of the way he should see the save opportunities until Aroldis Chapman is able to return. Speaking of Chapman, he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Monday. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
CIN		Jonathan Broxton		Sam LeCure		Manny Parra		Aroldis Chapman		4/12/14
		Aroldis Chapman (DL)				Sean Marshall (DL)

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Edward Mujica/Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox — Koji Uehara is day-to-day with shoulder tightness. Mujica got the call last night but the Red Sox could use Tazawa as well.
2. Chad Qualls/Matt Albers, Houston Astros – Josh Fields remains the best bet for Astros save chances, but with a committee in place, anything could happen.

Oakland’s committee becoming a little more clear

April 11, 2014

Oakland A’s – Bob Melvin is giving Jim Johnson a break from closing duties for the time being. Johnson may have the chance to win the job back if he pitches well, but for now, the A’s are going closer by committee. Sean Doolittle, Luke Gregerson, Ryan Cook, and Dan Otero all figure to be involved, though Melvin offered a hint yesterday about his preferred options when he summoned Cook in the 8th inning of a 4-run game. Cook had 16 saves over his first two seasons, but he’s still rounding into form after starting the season on the DL. His usage yesterday suggests that Luke Gregerson is the preferred right-hander in the committee right now. Hierarchy change: Sean Doolittle to Closer, Luke Gregerson to Set-up, Ryan Cook to 2nd in line.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
OAK		Sean Doolittle		Luke Gregerson		Ryan Cook		Ryan Cook		4/10/14

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New York Yankees – With both Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren unavailable, David Phelps picked up his 2nd career save, throwing a spotless 2.1 innings with 3 Ks. With the rest of the bullpen now rested, Phelps will return to his swingman role and is unlikely to see many more late game appearances. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
NYY		Shawn Kelley		Adam Warren		Matt Thornton		David Robertson		4/11/14
		David Robertson (DL)

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Houston Astros – After Chad Qualls pitched the 8th, Josh Fields came on for the 9th inning in a 5-run ballgame yesterday. But Fields, who previously had been considered the likely leader of Houston’s closer by committee, had his worst outing of the year, allowing three runs to score. With Matt Albers on paternity leave, Anthony Bass was called upon to bail Fields out, and Bass picked up his first save of the year. Houston’s bullpen is more volatile than any other team’s in baseball right now, so Bass could certainly get another opportunity like this in the future, but for now, we still consider him to be behind Fields, Qualls, and Albers. No hierarchy change.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
HOU		Josh Fields		Chad Qualls		Matt Albers		Josh Fields		4/11/14
				Jesse Crain (DL)

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New York Mets – Carlos Torres came on in a tie game in the 6th inning on Thursday night, then stayed on for the 7th after the Mets took the lead. Torres would go on to earn the win, striking out 3 in his 2 innings of work. Hierarchy change: Carlos Torres to 2nd in line, replacing Gonzalez Germen.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
NYM		Jose Valverde		Kyle Farnsworth		Carlos Torres		Bobby Parnell		4/11/14
		Bobby Parnell (DL)

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Chicago White Sox – Other than Matt Lindstrom, who is entrenched as Chicago’s not-very-good closer, the White Sox bullpen has been a different animal almost every night this season. Yesterday, it was Daniel Webb who bridged the gap to Lindstrom, throwing two perfect innings with 2 Ks. Webb now has a 2.84 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and a 7/2 K/BB ratio this season. As mentioned yesterday, Ronald Belisario is hurting and has an ERA in the teens. Hierarchy change: Daniel Webb to Set-up, replacing Ronald Belisario.

	.	Closer	.	Set-Up	.	2nd in line	.	2015 Closer	.	Updated
CHW		Matt Lindstrom		Daniel Webb		Maikel Cleto		Nate Jones		4/11/14
						Nate Jones (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Chad Qualls/Matt Albers/Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – I guess Anthony Bass has to be in here every day now, too. Gross.

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