Casey Janssen solidifies Toronto set-up role; Santiago and Guerra get the day off

April 30, 2012

Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton’s save last night against the heart of the Red Sox order was explained by Robin Ventura as a matchup-based decision. “Nothing against Hector, he still will be in there in the ninth.” Savvy fantasy owners know, though, that Santiago’s leash is growing shorter and shorter. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/30/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – As predicted in Sunday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen collected the save for the Dodgers, striking out the side with two walks. Don Mattingly stressed after the game that he intends to keep Javy Guerra in the closer role, however. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Lindblom |Guerra |4/30/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Before Sunday’s game, manager John Farrell explicitly identified Casey Janssen as the team’s set-up man, and proved it by using him in a high-leverage eighth. Luis Perez didn’t make the choice difficult, with a four-run tenth on Friday. Hierarchy change: Casey Janssen to Set-Up, Luis Perez to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Cordero |Janssen |Perez |Santos |4/30/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Another astonishingly bad outing by Carlos Marmol on Sunday, who responded to a four-run lead by loading the bases and walking in a run before inducing a game-ending groundout. After the game, Dale Sveum reiterated his support for his closer, but also noted, “You’ve got to be patient, but there’s only so much you be patient with.” Indeed. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/30/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Rafael Dolis, Chicago Cubs — As noted, Carlos Marmol had a bad 34-pitch outing and is in line for some rest on Monday. Dolis went on Sunday, but only threw 10 pitches.
2. Jeff Gray, Minnesota Twins –– Matt Capps threw 30 pitches in his Sunday save, and because Burton and Perkins each set him up, Jeff Gray has the potential to come out for the Twins’ ninth on Monday.
3. Miguel Batista/Ramon Ramirez, New York Mets ––  The Mets managed to overcome lousy performances by Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco on Sunday, and they badly need a comfortable win. If the bullpen is called upon again, however, it may be Batista or Ramirez, two who threw relatively few (and effective) pitches yesterday.

Kenley Jansen and Rafael Dolis get saves

April 28, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  Manager Don Mattingly said after the game on Wednesday that Guerra was still his guy so he might have just been giving him a day off after taking a line drive off his jaw his last time out.  Guerra is already on the hot seat but hasn’t lost his job yet.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Guerra |Jansen |Elbert |Guerra |4/28/12

 
Chicago Cubs- Rafael Dolis got the 2 inning save last night.  Dolis entered in the 8th with a 2 run lead and after the Cubs added 2 more runs to make it a 4 run lead, he came back on for the 9th and finished the game. With Kerry Wood on the disabled list, Dolis is the Cubs’ second-best reliever.  Hierarchy change: Kerry Wood to DL, Rafael Dolis to Set-up, James Russell to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Dolis |Russell |Marmol |4/28/12 |Wood (DL) |

 
Atlanta Braves- Kris Medlen got a three inning save last night in a 5 run win.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Venters |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/28/12

 
Washington Nationals – Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list.  Tyler Clippard will move into the set-up spot with Sean Burnett moving to second in line.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lidge to DL, Tyler Clippard to set-up, Sean Burnett to 2nd in line

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |4/28/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Cashner/Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres –  Huston Street has pitched three days in a row so there’s a good chance he gets the day off Saturday.  Cashner has pitched two days in a row including throwing 25 pitches last night so if he is unavailable as well look for Luke Gregerson to get a shot at closing out the game.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
New closers in Chicago, KC; Marmol and Peralta struggling
 
 
April 8, 2012
San Diego Padres- Luke Gregerson was the set-up man for the Padres late last season, but yesterday, they went to Gregerson in the 7th inning of a tie game, saving Andrew Cashner for the 8th.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Cashner to Set-up, Luke Gregerson to 2nd in line.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Cashner |Gregerson |Street |4/8/12
 
Washington Nationals- Davey Johnson has said that he would alternate between Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge for save opportunities, and he stayed true to his word, calling on Rodriguez to pitch the 9th yesterday.  He closed the game out successfully, and the next opportunity should go back to Lidge.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/8/12 |Storen(DL) |
 
Chicago Cubs- Carlos Marmol had another ugly performance on Saturday, two days after taking the loss in the Cubs’ opener.  Marmol, who blew 10 saves in 2011, would be in more danger if set-up man Kerry Wood had been anything less than awful as well.  But should Marmol continue to struggle, the Cubs may be forced to look to Wood, or perhaps to young Rafael Dolis, for the 9th inning role.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat. 
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Wood |Dolis |Marmol |4/8/12
 
Tampa Bay Rays- Joel Peralta was brought in to stop the Yankees rally yesterday, but only faced two hitters, the second of whom hit a HR off him.  Jake McGee was then brought in for one batter before Fernando Rodney came in to close it out.  Based on Peralta’s success filling in as closer last year, he figures to get another shot, but could be in danger of losing the job should he falter again.  Joel Peralta to Hot Seat.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTB |Peralta |Rodney |McGee |Farnsworth |4/8/12 |Farnswor(DL)|
 
Cleveland Indians- Tony Sipp was shelled on Saturday, two days after he looked shaky in the season’s opener.  For the time being, the Indians will likely call on Rafael Perez when they need a lefty, at least while Sipp works himself out.  Hierarchy change: Rafael Perez to 2nd in line, replacing Tony Sipp.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |R.Perez |C.Perez |4/8/12
 
Chicago White Sox- Hector Santiago closed out the White Sox victory on Saturday.  The White Sox mystery closer has been revealed, though the young lefty was not the trendy choice until he was seen warming up in the bullpen for a possible save opportunity that never materialized on Friday.  Jesse Crain seems to have fallen into a middle inning role, leaving Matt Thornton and Addison Reed to pitch the 7th and 8th.  Hierarchy change: Hector Santiago to Closer, Matt Thornton to Set-up.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Santiago |Thornton |Reed |Reed |4/7/12
 
Kansas City Royals- The Royals, up 4 runs in the 8th inning, went to Greg Holland first.  Jonathon Broxton pitched the 9th in a non-save situation and will close for the foreseeable future.  Hierarchy change: Jonathon Broxton to Closer, Greg Holland to Set-up.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |4/7/12 |Soria(DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH:
None.
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