Jared Hughes nabs a save; Kyle Farnsworth returns

July 1, 2012

Tampa Bay Rays – Kyle Farnsworth pitched his first inning of year on Saturday, logging a scoreless frame in the 7th inning.  The former closer immediately slots in to the Rays late-inning hierarchy, and could push Joel Peralta for the 8th inning role.  Hierarchy change: Kyle Farnsworth to 2nd in line, replacing Jake McGee.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTB |Rodney |Peralta |Farnsworth |Farnsworth |7/1/12

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Jared Hughes got the last out of the 8th inning with the Pirates up three runs, then stayed on for the 9th after the Pirates added to their lead.  Hughes does not fit in to the Pirates regular late-inning plans.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Cruz |Hanrahan |6/11/12

 
Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes was summoned in the 6th inning on Saturday with the A’s down by 4 runs, and he proceeded to give up a run on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings.  Bob Melvin has said that he’s trying to work Fuentes back into a late-inning role, but the lefty isn’t helping himself, as he now sports a 6.84 ERA.  Jerry Blevins (2.51 ERA) has been a much more reliable lefty for the A’s, as he picked up a 7th inning hold on Friday.  Hierarchy change: Jerry Blevins to 2nd in line, replacing Brian Fuentes. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Cook |Balfour |Blevins |Cook |7/1/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves pitched 2.1 innings yesterday in an extra inning game.
2. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen pitched 2 innings yesterday in an extra inning game.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – With with the Twins employing a true platoon, Jared Burton could get the save opp if there’s a righty-heavy ninth inning due up.

Brandon League to return to closer role soon; Jason Grilli ascending

June 11, 2012

Baltimore Orioles – Darren O’Day picked up his 4th win of the year on Sunday, pitching a scoreless frame in the 10th inning.  The submariner now has a 1.78 ERA and has shown that he can consistently get both righties and lefties out.  Hierarchy change: Darren O’Day to 2nd in line, replacing Luis Ayala.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |O'Day |Johnson |6/11/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Before Sunday’s game, Eric Wedge said that he’d likely put Brandon League back in the closer role “sooner rather than later.”  Tom Wilhelmsen has performed well in the role since League’s demotion– and League got knocked around a bit on Sunday– but it sounds as if Wilhelmsen will inevitably move back to a set-up role once Wedge reinstalls his former closer.  Tom Wilhelmsen to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |League |Furbush |League |6/11/12

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Up until Sunday, the Pirates had used Jason Grilli exclusively in the 8th inning, vaulting Juan Cruz from his 7th inning role into the closer role on nights when Joel Hanrahan was unavailable.  But yesterday, with Hanrahan getting the night off, the Pirates finally gave Grilli a save opp, and he converted.  Hierarchy change: Jason Grilli to Set-up, Juan Cruz to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Grilli |Cruz |Hanrahan |6/11/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs picked up the save last night, but looked a bit shaky, giving up his first earned run of the season.  Since Ernesto Frieri got his first opportunity, the Angels have given Downs three save chances, while Frieri has gotten four.  While there’s no end in sight to the platoon, Frieri still stands to get a few more opportunities than Downs.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |6/11/12 

 
Milwaukee Brewers – After John Axford got in trouble in the 9th inning on Sunday, Jose Veras came on and got the last out, recording his first save of the season.  Axford has struggled in non-save situations this year, but is 10/11 in save chances and is not in danger of losing his job.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |6/11/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Burnett/Brad Lidge, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight, and in five of the last six.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 7 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.

Manny Corpas potentially in the mix for saves in Chicago; Brad Lidge returns from DL

June 8, 2012

Texas Rangers – With Derek Holland injured, Alexi Ogando is moving to the rotation.  Koji Uehara (1.33 ERA, 0.54 WHIP), will assume Ogando’s role as the high-leverage 7th inning righty in the Rangers bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Koji Uehara to 2nd in line, replacing Alexi Ogando.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Adams |Uehara |Nathan |6/8/12

 
Washington Nationals – Brad Lidge returned from the disabled list yesterday.  While he won’t return to the shared closer role he held earlier this year, he’ll likely be one of the first guys that Davey Johnson looks to if Tyler Clippard falters.  Hierarchy change: Brad Lidge to Set-up, Sean Burnett to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Lidge |Burnett |Storen |6/8/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Chris Resop picked up a 10th inning save last night.  Joel Hanrahan had already pitched, blowing the save an inning earlier, but his job is not in jeopardy.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |6/8/12

 
Miami Marlins – Edward Mujica got knocked around on Thursday and saw his ERA rise to 4.74 as a result.  Steve Cishek also surrendered a few runs in the game, but has been solid all season, with a 1.82 ERA.  During Heath Bell’s well-documented struggles earlier this season, Mujica picked up 2 saves to Cishek’s 1, but Cishek has since passed him on the depth chart, and has set up for Bell three times over the past two weeks.  Hierarchy change: Steve Cishek to Set-up, Edward Mujica to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Bell |Cishek |Mujica |Bell |6/8/12

 
Chicago Cubs – With the Cubs leading yesterday, they used Shawn Camp in the 7th, and then used James Russell for just one batter in the 8th.  Manny Corpas followed, blowing the save but registering two scoreless innings, and Casey Coleman was called on in the 10th.  While Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, it’s silly season for the Cubs bullpen, and any one of these four could potentially nab a save on any night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Russell |Camp |Coleman |Marmol |6/8/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
2. Shawn Camp/Casey Coleman/Manny Corpas, Chicago Cubs – See above.

Brian Fuentes to close; Vicente Padilla ascending

Boston Red Sox – While he doesn’t have the best numbers, the Red Sox have continued to look to Vicente Padilla in close games.  He pitched the 8th inning yesterday, setting up for Alfredo Aceves.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Albers.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Morales |Padilla |Bailey |5/13/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Juan Cruz picked up the save on Saturday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Joel Hanrahan was on the bereavement list due to the death of his grandmother.  Hanrahan is expected to return to the team today.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |5/13/12

 
New York Yankees – Boone Logan picked up a save yesterday, throwing 1.1 innings in a game where the Yankees had a four-run lead.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Robertson |Soriano |Wade |Robertson |5/13/12

 
Oakland A’s – Brian Fuentes picked up the save last night in what initially appeared to be a match-up play; three of the four Tigers hitters due up that inning were lefties.  But early this morning, Bob Melvin told the Oakland Tribune that Fuentes was his man for the foreseeable future.  ”We’ll give Balfour a bit of a break,” he said.  Hierarchy change: Brian Fuentes to Closer, Grant Balfour to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Fuentes |Cook |Balfour |Cook |5/13/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luis Ayala, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop have both pitched on three consecutive days, and could both be given the day off.
2. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched on three consecutive days.

Juan Cruz as temporary closer; another save for Henry Rodriguez

April 19, 2012

Pittsburgh Pirates – As noted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Joel Hanrahan is still sidelined with a mild hamstring injury, allowing Juan Cruz to pick up his second save in as many days.  While Hanrahan could return as soon as Friday, the Pirates have shown that Cruz will get any save opportunities when Hanrahan is unavailable, while Jason Grilli remains the 8th inning guy regardless.  Hierarchy change: Juan Cruz to Set-up, Jason Grilli to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Hanrahan |Cruz |Grilli |Hanrahan |4/19/12

 
Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez got the save on Wednesday after Brad Lidge logged the Tuesday save.  It’s Lidge’s turn again in the Nats’ strict back-and-forth platoon.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Lidge |Rodriguez |Clippard |Storen |4/19/12 |Storen(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit/Phil Coke, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched on back to back days, and in three of the last four.  Joaquin Benoit has also been used heavily the past four days, but he or Phil Coke could get a save opp if the Tigers give Valverde the night off.