Dale Thayer shaky; random saves for Axford, Luetge, Lopez

August 22, 2012

Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford earned a one-out save on Tuesday, as the Brewers used three relievers- Axford, Jim Henderson, and Manny Parra- to get through the 9th inning.  Milwaukee’s big messy committee forges on, with Henderson still the most likely to get the save on any given night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Loe |Axford |8/22/12

 
Seattle Mariners – Lucas Luetge got out of a jam in the 8th inning on Tuesday, then stayed on for the 9th in a four-run game.  Luetge earned his 2nd save of the season because there were several runners on when he was summoned in the 8th– Tom Wilhelmsen’s job remains extremely safe.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |Luetge |Wilhelmsen |8/22/12

 
San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer blew the save last night, and has now allowed runs in 2 of his 4 appearances since Huston Street hit the disabled list.  If he blows another game, the Padres might give Luke Gregerson a shot at closing until Street returns.  Dale Thayer to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Brach |Street |8/22/12 |Street(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up his second save in as many days, as the Giants again used him and Sergio Romo to get through the 9th.  Jeremy Affeldt was warming in the bullpen and likely would’ve been summoned had Lopez not induced a double play to end the game.  With the Giants still using a committee, any one of these three could get a save on any given night, though Affeldt remains the best bet.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/22/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched in three straight games.
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.

Giants continue to use committee; Charlie Furbush climbing in Seattle

August 21, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Charlie Furbush, who came off the DL last week, pitched the 7th inning in a tie game on Monday, then stayed on for the 8th after the Mariners took the lead.  Seattle has struggled to find a consistent 8th inning man ahead of Tom Wilhelmsen, but Furbush could become that guy.  When healthy, he’s been very solid, posting a 2.03 ERA and 0.78 WHIP.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to Set-up, Lucas Luetge to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |Luetge |Wilhelmsen |8/21/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez picked up a one-out save on Monday after Sergio Romo got the first two outs in the 9th.  The Giants continue to use a closer-by-committee, with Jeremy Affeldt still the most likely candidate to get a save on any given night.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/21/12 |Wilson(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 overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Jeremy Affeldt on shaky ground; Scott Downs returns from DL

August 19, 2012

New York Mets – Over his last 21 appearances- a 15-inning stretch- Jon Rauch has only given up one earned run.  He finished off the 8th inning last night, and coupled with his two bail-out saves of Frank Francisco earlier this week, he’s moved past Bobby Parnell on the Mets depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Jon Rauch to Set-up, Bobby Parnell to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Parnell |Francisco |8/19/12

 
San Francisco Giants – After Jeremy Affeldt gave up 2 runs while only recording 2 outs in the 9th inning on Saturday, he was yanked in favor of Clay Hensley, who got the last out for his 3rd save of the season.  Hensley doesn’t factor in to the usual late-inning plans for San Francisco, but with the Giants already using a committee of Affeldt, Sergio Romo, and Javier Lopez, this outing is enough to potentially cost Affeldt future save chances.  Jeremy Affeldt to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/19/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs was activated from the DL on Saturday.  Downs, who has 9 saves on the season, should return to his old set-up role and may occasionally see a save chance as he did before.  Hierarchy change: Scott Downs to Set-up, Kevin Jepsen to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Jepsen |Frieri |8/19/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Ryan Cook, Oakland A’s – Grant Balfour has pitched in three straight games.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back-to-back games.  The Reds have been trying to protect his arm and have only used him in three straight twice all season.
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.

Santiago Casilla out as closer in San Francisco, Jeremy Affeldt to lead committee

August 8, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Jeremy Affeldt just picked up his 3rd save of the season and is a good bet to continue getting save chances for the Giants.  Bruce Bochy said that the acquisition of Jose Mijares allowed him to move Affeldt into a full-fledged committee with Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez.  Casilla will not be part of the mix, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.  Romo is still being held out of back-to-back action for the most part as he recovers from several long-term injuries and Lopez is more of a LOOGY type who will be situational at best.  That leaves Affeldt, who has been steady and solid for the Giants all season.  Hierarchy change: Jeremy Affeldt to Closer, Sergio Romo to Set-up, Javier Lopez to 2nd in line. 

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

 
Milwaukee Brewers – Jim Henderson picked up his first big league save on Tuesday night, pitching a 1-2-3 inning.  John Axford had thrown 29 pitches the night before, but the outing for Henderson was also well-deserved– the 29-year-old rookie now has a 1.50 ERA.  Axford is still the best bet to emerge from the Brewers’ closer-by-committee, but Tuesday’s outing is a precursor for a more regular high-leverage role for Henderson.  Hierarchy change: Jim Henderson to Set-up, Francisco Rodriguez to 2nd in line.

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

 
Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek has been rock solid of late, and has gotten all but one of the save chances for the Marlins since the demotion of Heath Bell.  Bell, however, has also pitched well recently, and was used to finish off the 8th inning ahead of Cishek on Tuesday.  Hierarchy change: Heath Bell to Set-up, Mike Dunn to 2nd in line.

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

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has pitched two nights in a row, throwing a total of pitches, and has pitched in five of the last six.
2. Vinnie Pestano, Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez blew his second consecutive save on Tuesday, and has now thrown 61 pitches over the past three days.  His job is not in jeopardy yet, but he could get a day off to clear his head.
3. Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – Both Huston Street and Luke Gregerson have pitched in three straight, and in four of the last five.
4. 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.

Jeremy Affeldt now leading a closer-by-committee in San Francisco

August 7, 2012
San Francisco Giants – Jeremy Affeldt just picked up his 3rd save of the season, and is a good bet to continue getting save chances for the Giants.  Bruce Bochy said that the acquisition of Jose Mijares allowed him to move Affeldt into a full-fledged committee with Casilla, Romo, and Javier Lopez.  Casilla has been struggling with a blister on his right hand and has been unavailable on occasion lately, Romo is still being held out of back-to-back action for the most part as he recovers from several long-term injuries, and Lopez is more of a LOOGY type who will be situational at best.  That leaves Affeldt, who has been steady and solid for the Giants all season.  Hierarchy change: Jeremy Affeldt to Closer, Santiago Casilla to Set-up, Sergio Romo to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Casilla |Romo |Wilson |8/7/12 |Wilson(DL) |