August 6, 2015
Seattle Mariners – With a two-run lead and a man on first in the 8th inning, Carson Smith was summoned into the game. He was supposed to be unavailable, but was used for a single batter, and he got an inning-ending double play. After Joe Biemel took the first out of the 9th, Fernando Rodney was brought in to close the door. He imploded, giving up the tying runs and walking another hitter, then he was mercifully removed. Rodney had put together 5 scoreless appearances before this, but given how poor his overall year has been, he may not see many more chances. Smith’s usage in the 8th was odd, too, so Tom Wilhelmsen is someone to keep an eye on going forward in this mess of a bullpen.
Hierarchy remains: Smith | Rodney | Wilhelmsen.
Colorado Rockies – So much for John Axford sneaking back in to the closer conversation in Colorado — he gave up 2 runs in the 7th inning last night, and was on the hook for the loss until Fernando Rodney blew the save. His ERA now sits at an ugly 4.59, after being at 0.47 through his first 20 appearances.
Updated hierarchy: *Kahnle | Miller | Betancourt.
* = closer-by-committee
Detroit Tigers – After Blaine Hardy got the first two outs in the 9th, it was Alex Wilson who was called on to pick up the final one. He gave up a single, but got a fly out to end it for his 2nd save. Our favorite for the long term job, Bruce Rondon, struck out 2 in a scoreless 8th inning, but with Wilson picking up another save, he is close to kicking the asterisk.
Hierarchy remains: *Wilson | Rondon | Alburquerque.
* = closer-by-committee.
Texas Rangers – As predicted in the Vulture Save Watch, Sam Dyson was brought in to close out a one-run game. He worked around a leadoff single and a hit batsman to pick up his 2nd save of the year. With Texas having an off day today, look for Shawn Tolleson to resume closing this weekend.
Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Diekman.
Toronto Blue Jays – In a two-run game — and with John Gibbons trying to give Roberto Osuna some extra rest — it was LaTroy Hawkins who got the call to close out the game against the team that drafted him way back in 1991. Hawkins converted, creating a couple fun stats: Hawkins became the 13th player in major league history to record a save against all 30 teams, and the save also meant the Blue Jays have had both the youngest and oldest pitcher in the league record saves for their team, which is the first time that has ever happened. Normally, this would’ve been Aaron Sanchez’s spot, but he had just begun a three-game suspension. Since the suspension is so short, we won’t mess around with the hierarchy, but you can leave Sanchez on your bench for a couple days.
Hierarchy remains: Osuna | Sanchez | Hawkins.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. LaTroy Hawkins, Toronto Blue Jays – If Roberto Osuna needs any more time off, look for Hawkins to get another save chance.