Hot Seat: August 29, 2015

Hottest – In a committee, or on the verge of losing their job right now

30. Sean Doolittle (cuff: Drew Pomeranz)
29. Junichi Tazawa (cuff: Jean Machi)
28. Bruce Rondon (cuff: Alex Wilson)

-Sean Doolittle is ostensibly still the most likely reliever in the A’s bullpen to be closing by the end of the year, but his return to the majors thus far has included two seventh inning appearances where he’s allowed runs. So Drew Pomeranz is still worth holding on to. Junichi Tazawa has been awful — the best thing going for him is the lack of any other decent arms in the Boston bullpen. Similarly, the best thing going for Bruce Rondon is that the Tigers are out of the playoff hunt and are giving him a longer leash to see if he can win the job. But he’s been unconvincing at best, thus far, while Alex Wilson continues to get outs.

Hot – Closers who could be in danger after their next blown save

27. Greg Holland (cuff: Wade Davis)
26. John Axford (cuff: Scott Oberg)
25. Glen Perkins (cuff: Kevin Jepsen)
24. Santiago Casilla (cuff: Sergio Romo)

-Holland is kinda hurt and definitely not the pitcher that Wade Davis is at this point. Axford would be in more trouble if there was even a single reasonable alternative in the Colorado bullpen. Perkins is coming off injury and Kevin Jepsen pitched very well in his absence, while Casilla continues to just kinda make us nervous.

Warmish – Two blown saves in a row and these players might be in trouble

23. Tom Wilhelmsen
22. Luke Gregerson
21. Brad Boxberger

-Tom Wilhelmsen has posted three efficient saves in six days since taking over the job and has already earned himself a leash. Gregerson has been decent lately, but the bullpen behind him is excellent. Boxberger had a better outing on Thursday after a rough stretch.

Cool – These players would have to blow 3 consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy

20. Brad Ziegler
19. AJ Ramos
18. Hector Rondon
17. Arodys Vizcaino
16. David Robertson
15. Francisco Rodriguez
14. Jeurys Familia
13. Huston Street
12. Roberto Osuna
11. Kenley Jansen
10. Cody Allen
9. Ken Giles
8. Mark Melancon
7. Shawn Tolleson
6. Aroldis Chapman

-The fact that Brad Ziegler and his 1.46 ERA ranks last in this category shows how solid all of these guys are. Aroldis Chapman tops this section of the list after proving himself healthy and should re-enter Sub-zero as long as he doesn’t have a setback. Shawn Tolleson drops into this category after a blown save and with the recent additions to the Texas bullpen (Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman) pitching exceptionally well.

Sub-zero – These players would have to blow 4+ consecutive saves for their jobs to be in jeopardy

5. Zach Britton
4. Jonathan Papelbon
3. Trevor Rosenthal
2. Andrew Miller
1. Craig Kimbrel

-Not much to be said about the pitchers in this group, who are all locks to close for the rest of the season, barring injury.

Junichi Tazawa could be on the way out in Boston

August 29, 2015

Boston Red Sox — Junichi Tazawa is not making things comfortable in Boston. Up three in the tenth, Tazawa gave up a single, induced a double play, then walked one guy after another after another after another. Craig Breslow (the last guy left in the bullpen) bailed him out and earned a save for his trouble. Because a trainer came out to examine Tazawa after the double play, many speculated that his back was bothering him, but after the game, he claimed that he simply lost his release point. Red Sox fans wish Torey Lovullo would lose his phone number. In August, Tazawa has a 9.31 ERA, 2.28 WHIP, and only 3 Ks in 10 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Tazawa | Machi | Ogando.
* = closer-by-committee

Minnesota Twins – Kevin Jepsen did indeed get the save on Friday, but Glen Perkins returned from his back spasms to pitch a scoreless seventh, and will return to the closer role going forward.

Hierarchy remains: Perkins | Jepsen | May.

Colorado Rockies — John Axford has pitched well since regaining the closer role, but the rest of the Colorado bullpen continues to stink. Friday, the team sent Tommy Kahnle down to Albuquerque, leaving Scott Oberg as the only remaining pedigreed reliever — and he celebrated by giving up two runs in a tied eighth to pick up the loss. With no hope of playoff baseball, the Rockies are trying some new guys in the ‘pen, including big-armed Venezuelan Jairo Diaz, who has a 100+ MPH fastball and a plus slider.

Updated hierarchy: Axford | Oberg | Diaz.

Philadelphia Phillies — Jerome Williams, by all accounts a friendly guy, is nonetheless the very worst pitcher on the very worst team in baseball. On Friday, demoted from the rotation, Jerome pitched a high-leverage eighth to give his beleaguered bullpen a rest, then headed back out for a pressure-free save, newly staked to a six-run lead. That strange feeling, Philadelphia? It’s joy. It’ll pass. Eat Arby’s.

Hierarchy remains: Giles | Garcia | Gomez.

Atlanta Braves — Left fielder Jonny Gomes was a more effective pitcher than Andrew McKirahan on Friday night, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the rookie sent down before Saturday’s game. There isn’t much else to choose from for the Braves right now, so by default we must turn to Peter Moylan, in honor of his Rec Specs and his relief dominance (okay, competence) back in ’07, ’09, and ’10.

Updated hierarchy: Vizcaino | Jackson | Moylan.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jean Machi, Boston Red Sox — Junichi Tazawa needed 28 pitches on Friday and looked so bad that he probably won’t get the next save chance.
2. Seth Maness/Steve Cishek, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal is out all weekend on paternity leave, and Kevin Siegrist struggled immensely on Friday night. Jonathan Broxton threw 27 pitches himself, so Maness and Cishek are the best-rested options.
3. Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has gone in two straight and is pitching through arm stiffness.
4. Sam Dyson/Keone Kela, Texas Rangers — Shawn Tolleson has pitched on three of the last four days (56 pitches), and six of the last eight! Maybe Lucille Fleming, who throws at 103, is available.
5. Bryan Shaw, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen has pitched in three of four and four of six.