April 7, 2016
Philadelphia Phillies – For the second straight game the Philadelphia bullpen could not close out a one-run game. This time it was Dalier Hinojosa who blew a 9th-inning lead, loading the bases before allowing a walk-off double. After the game, Pete Mackanin said he might go back to Hinojosa, but also praised Jeanmar Gomez and David Hernandez, leaving little clarity in what is quickly becoming the majors’ most volatile bullpen. Don’t be surprised if Hernandez or Gomez gets the next save opportunity.
Hierarchy remains: *Hinojosa | Hernandez | Gomez.
* = closer-by-committee
Tampa Bay Rays – As the first Vulture Save Watch of the year predicted, Alex Colome was unavailable after a 34-pitch outing on Tuesday. However, Kevin Cash is nothing if not consistent with his bullpen. He has let the reliever who pitched the eighth inning finish the game in each of the last two outings, with Erasmo Ramirez the latest pitcher to do so. Ramirez may return to the rotation when Brad Boxberger returns to the bullpen. Meanwhile, Xavier Cedeno was seen warming up for the ninth, and given that Danny Farquhar has made two straight 7th-inning appearances with the Rays trailing, it seems that Cedeno is being trusted with higher-leverage situations in the early going. Until Boxberger returns from injury, it looks like Kevin Cash will keep his promise to play matchups, which means we will be monitoring the Rays bullpen closely for the next few weeks.
Updated hierarchy: *Colome | Cedeno | Farquhar.
* = closer-by-committee
Texas Rangers – The Rangers are the latest team to see their closer get shelled in the early going. Two days after picking up a tough save, Shawn Tolleson gave up five runs without recording an out in a miserable 14-pitch outing. It was the second straight day of bullpen problems in Texas. Jeff Bannister was at least hinting at a situational closer this spring, and this meltdown could begin to push him in that direction, but Tolleson was stellar last year, so it’s a bit early to pull the plug. However, another bad outing and it could be Sam Dyson finding his way into some saves.
Hierarchy remains: Tolleson | Dyson | Kela.
New York Yankees — Ivan Nova picked up the first long-relief save of the year, pitching four scoreless innings in a 10-run blowout. Nova is still fighting for a rotation spot and does not normally factor into the Yankees’ late-inning mix.
Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Shreve.
Oakland A’s — With Sean Doolittle getting a night off after pitching in the past two games, Ryan Madson picked up the save. Madson has looked solid in the early going, and could definitely push Doolittle for the closer’s role, but Madson himself is calling Doolittle the “anchor.”
Hierarchy remains: Doolittle | Madson | Axford.
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sam Dyson, Texas Rangers — Shawn Tolleson may get a night off after yesterday’s nightmare outing.
