Jeremy Affeldt getting no love in San Francisco’s closer by committee

August 31, 2012

San Francisco Giants – After Santiago Casilla was demoted, Jeremy Affeldt received the first two save opportunities.  With the ability to pitch to both lefties and righties (as opposed to Javier Lopez) and with the ability to pitch in multiple games in a row without injury concerns (as opposed to Sergio Romo), Affeldt looked like the best bet to seize the majority of the San Francisco committee’s saves.  But since blowing his second save chance, he hasn’t gotten another look.  Meanwhile, Lopez has nabbed four saves and Sergio Romo has picked up three, including one last night.  While Lopez is leading the committee in saves since Casilla’s demotion, most of them have been a bit fluky, as he’s induced several double plays to end games while other relievers were warming.  Romo will likely get the most chances from here on out.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Javier Lopez to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Affeldt |Wilson |8/31/12 |Wilson(DL) |

Ronald Belisario to close; Kenley Jansen’s season in jeopardy

August 30, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves returns from a team-imposed suspension on Tuesday.  While Bobby Valentine said on Monday that he wasn’t sure what role the righty would assume upon returning, Aceves’s usage yesterday suggests he’s definitely no longer the team’s closer.  With the Red Sox down by 7, Aceves was summoned for two innings of mop-up relief.  He’d still likely assume the closer role again if Andrew Bailey struggles, but he’s no longer the man in Boston.  Hierarchy change: Alfredo Aceves to Set-up, Vicente Padilla to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Aceves |Padilla |Bailey |8/30/12

 
Oakland A’s – Ryan Cook got the last out of the 8th inning in a close game on Wednesday, then stayed on for the 9th after the A’s tacked on a few runs.  Cook has been pitching quite well as of late, but unfortunately for him, so has Grant Balfour, who will probably hold on to the role unless he starts to struggle.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Balfour |Cook |Doolittle |Cook |8/30/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up his 5th save of the season on Wednesday, inducing a double play ground out from the only hitter he faced.  The Giants are still in full platoon mode.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/30/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario picked up the save on Wednesday, throwing 1.2 innings with the Dodgers up by two runs.  After the game, the Dodgers revealed that Kenley Jansen is battling a heart condition that kept him out for a month last year.  Seemingly out of nowhere, his season is in jeopardy.  Belisario should close, but behind him, there are few sure things.  Deadline acquisition Brandon League is the best bet to move in to the set-up role.  Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Closer, Brandon League to Set-up, Jamey Wright to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Belisario |League |Wright |Jansen |8/30/12 |Jansen(INJ) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
2. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Giants closer-by-committee still going strong

August 29, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his 7th save of the season last night, pitching a clean 9th inning.  Jeremy Affeldt was on paternity leave, but the closer role is a full platoon either way, with Affeldt, Romo, and Javier Lopez all sharing save chances.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees – Both Rafael Soriano and David Robertson have pitched in three straight and four of the last five.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Andrew Bailey close to winning job; John Axford struggles again

August 25, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey picked up his first save of the season on Friday, throwing a clean 9th inning.  He’s definitely on track to win the closer job soon, but he’s not officially the man yet.  “I wish he had a little more [appearances] so I could make that determination,” Bobby Valentine told mlb.com.  Alfredo Aceves has blown three of his last five save chances, and remains on a blazing Hot Seat, but the job is still his for the time being.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Bailey |Padilla |Bailey |8/25/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Garrett Richards got the game’s final two outs on Friday, earning his first save of the year.  Richards does not factor in to the Angels usual late inning plans; Ernesto Frieri and Kevin Jepsen were unavailable, having both pitched three games in a row, and Scott Downs had already pitched.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Jepsen |Frieri |8/25/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers – Kameron Loe got the last two outs of the game after John Axford couldn’t close the door on Friday.  Axford returns to the Hot Seat with the bad outing, and the uncertainty continues in Milwaukee.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Henderson |Loe |Axford |8/25/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up his fourth save of the season on Friday.  He’s now earned three of the last four save chances for the Giants, but two of his recent saves have been less than one inning long.  Lopez won’t accumulate saves at this rate moving forward, but he’s just as likely as Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt to get the last out in the 9th at this point.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer is on paternity leave and was not with the team on Friday.  He may not return until tomorrow.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, it’s time for Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez to join Jared Burton as regular members of the vulture save watch.  Either could get a save on any night.

Alfredo Aceves has terrible outing; Giants closer role still muddled

August 24, 2012

Colorado Rockies – Matt Belisle picked up the save on Thursday, as Rafael Betancourt was given the night off after pitching in three of the previous four games.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Brothers |Betancourt |8/24/12

 
San Francisco Giants – The Giants used three relievers to get through the 9th inning on Thursday, and Sergio Romo was the last, as he picked up a two-out save after Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez had both pitched.  Affeldt had a bad outing, failing to retire either hitter he faced.  He remains on the Hot Seat, and there’s no prohibitive favorite to get saves in the Giants bullpen on any given night any more.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/24/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves had one of his worst outings of the season yesterday, surrendering 5 runs in one inning.  He now has a 4.60 ERA, and with Andrew Bailey looming, another blown save or two could cost him his job.  Alfredo Aceves to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Bailey |Padilla |Bailey |8/24/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in three consecutive games, including a marathon 43-pitch inning last night.  He’ll need at least one day off to recover.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.