Greg Holland to close in KC; deadline moves affect hierarchies for Reds, Cardinals

August 1, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds acquired Royals closer Jonathan Broxton on Tuesday.  Aroldis Chapman will remain the closer, while Broxton will share the 8th inning role with Sean Marshall.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Broxton |Madson |8/1/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals acquired Edward Mujica from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.  Mujica will likely pitch the 7th inning for the Cardinals, which is a role they’ve been trying to fill all season.  Hierarchy change: Edward Mujica to 2nd in line, replacing Victor Marte.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Marte |Motte |8/1/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was placed on the DL prior to Tuesday’s game.  With a 4-run lead, Kevin Jepsen got out of a jam in the 7th inning before giving way to Jason Isringhausen for the 8th.  Ernesto Frieri pitched the 9th in a non-save situation.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to Set-up, Jason Isringhausen to 2nd in line, Scott Downs to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Jepsen |Isringhausen|Walden |8/1/12 |Downs(DL) |

 
Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales got a 1-out save in the 6th inning on Tuesday, retiring a hitter before the tarp came out.  The game was never resumed, and Morales was awarded one of the more bogus saves of the season.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |8/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After pitching three of the last four games, including a blown save on Monday, Santiago Casilla was given the night off.  In a 3-run game, Jeremy Affeldt pitched the last two innings for his second save of the year.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |8/1/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, said Royals manager Ned Yost, though Aaron Crow will be nipping at Holland’s heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Jonathan Broxton traded; Greg Holland to close in Kansas City

July 31, 2012

Kansas City Royals – The Royals have traded closer Jonathan Broxton to the Cincinnati Reds, where he will serve as a set-up man.  Greg Holland will inherit the closer job in Kansas City, with Aaron Crow nipping at his heels if he struggles.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Closer, Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Crow |Herrera |Holland |7/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

Astros pick Francisco Cordero over Wilton Lopez to close following Myers trade

July 22, 2012

Chicago White Sox – The White Sox acquired Brett Myers from the Astros on Saturday, but Addison Reed will keep his job for the time being, said White Sox GM Kenny Williams.  Myers will pitch in a set-up role and will get save chances on nights when Reed is unavailable.  Also on Saturday, Jesse Crain returned from the disabled list.  He, too, will factor in the late innings for the White Sox.  Hierarchy change: Brett Myers to Set-up, Jesse Crain to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Myers |Crain |Reed |7/22/12

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow pitched the 8th inning with the Royals up by 2 runs, then stayed on for the 9th after the Royals stretched their lead.  Despite earning his second save of the year, he’s still behind Greg Holland on the Royals depth chart.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |7/22/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Brad Lincoln was summoned in the 8th inning with the Pirates up by 4 runs and several runners on base.  He got out of the jam, then stayed on for the 9th to record his first save of the season.  Lincoln won’t often get a save chance, but with Juan Cruz recently hitting the DL, he will play an increasingly important role in the Pirates bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lincoln to 2nd in line, replacing Juan Cruz.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Lincoln |Hanrahan |7/22/12

 
Oakland A’s – With Ryan Cook getting the night off after pitching three games in a row, the A’s went to Sean Doolittle, who pitched a clean 9th inning for his first save.  The hard-throwing lefty now has 29 strikeouts in 19.1 innings and has surpassed Jerry Blevins on the depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Sean Doolittle to 2nd in line, replacing Jerry Blevins.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Doolittle |Cook |7/22/12

 
Houston Astros – The Astros have traded Brett Myers to the Chicago White Sox.  Saturday evening, Astros GM Brad Mills told an MLB.com reporter that Francisco Cordero will close. Wilton Lopez will continue on in his set-up role. Hierarchy change: Francisco Cordero to Closer, Wilton Lopez to Set-up, Wesley Wright to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Cordero |Lopez |Wright |Lopez |7/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in the last two games, and four of the past five.
2. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Both Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett have pitched in the last two games, and four of the last five.
3. Mike Dunn, Miami Marlins – The Marlins are employing a closer-by-committee and thus far, Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn have each picked up one save.  Cishek is still the best bet for a save on any given night, but Dunn could get the call if the Marlins are facing a lefty-heavy 9th inning.
4. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever the Twins are facing a righty-heavy lineup.

Greg Holland returns to 8th inning role for Royals

July 15, 2012

Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland has re-taken the lead as the Royals go-to set-up man, an important spot to watch, given the likelihood that Jonathan Broxton will be dealt.  Holland helped to finish off the 7th, and then pitched the 8th inning for the second night in a row, earning the win.  Hierarchy change: Greg Holland to Set-up, Aaron Crow to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |7/15/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
New York Mets – The Mets bullpen is a mess at the moment, but the recently returned Pedro Beato could help provide some stability.  Beato was often used in the 8th inning last year, and could ease back in to a late inning role soon.  Hierarchy change: Pedro Beato to 2nd in line, replacing Tim Byrdak.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Beato |Francisco |7/15/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins – Ron Gardenhire said he wanted to give Matt Capps one or two lower-pressure roles before re-inserting him as closer.  Capps got one such appearance yesterday, pitching the 8th inning in a blowout, but if the Twins want to hold him out of the 9th inning for another day, Glen Perkins will get the save chance.

Aaron Crow now the set-up man in Kansas City

June 28, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his fourth save of the season on Wednesday.  Both Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt had pitched the night before, and in 4 of the last 5.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Affeldt |Romo |Wilson |6/28/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – Aaron Crow finished the 8th inning yesterday, keeping the game tied and eventually earning a win when the Royals scored in the bottom half.  On Tuesday, he pitched the 8th inning with the Royals ahead by 2 runs.  Greg Holland has struggled over the past two weeks, allowing 11 baserunners in his last 3.1 innings.  Hierarchy change: Aaron Crow to Set-up, Greg Holland to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Crow |Holland |Broxton |6/28/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. David Robertson, New York Yankees – Rafael Soriano threw 30 pitches in earning the save last night, and has now pitched in four of the last five games.