Glen Perkins and Jared Burton to share closer role in Minnesota; Bobby Parnell inherits job in New York

June 25, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman surrendered a walkoff HR on Sunday, and has now given 8 runs in his last 6.1 innings.  Chapman still has spectacular season-long numbers, but if he blows another save, Dusty Baker could go back to Sean Marshall, who has a 0.79 ERA in June and has given up just 1 run in his last 17 appearances.  Aroldis Chapman to Hot Seat.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |6/25/12

 
San Francisco Giants – For the second night in a row, Santiago Casilla couldn’t get out of the 9th inning.  On Sunday, he allowed a 3-run walkoff HR, and he’s now given up 5 runs in his last 1.2 innings.  Casilla has been solid all season, but the Giants have a spectacular set-up man in Sergio Romo, who could easily be plugged into the role if Casilla continues to struggle.  Santiago Casilla to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
New York Mets – Frank Francisco was placed on the DL on Sunday with a left oblique strain, and Terry Collins said that Bobby Parnell will get save chances until Francisco returns. Jon Rauch could see save opps if Parnell struggles. Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Closer, Jon Rauch to Set-up, Tim Byrdak to 2nd in line, Frank Francisco to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rauch |Byrdak |Francisco |6/25/12 |Francisc(DL)|

 
Minnesota Twins – Matt Capps appears headed for the DL after returning early to Minnesota for an MRI.  Ron Gardenhire said that until Capps’s return, Glen Perkins and Jared Burton would share opportunities based on match ups.  Burton got the call on Sunday, picking up his first save of the season, but Perkins is more likely to see the majority of chances over the next few weeks.  Hierarchy change: Glen Perkins to Closer, Jared Burton to Set-up, Alex Burnett to 2nd in line, Matt Capps to DL. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIN |Perkins |Burton |Burnett |Capps |6/25/12 |Capps(INJ) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde’s injury isn’t particularly serious, but he will be out through the weekend.  Joaquin Benoit will get save chances until he returns.
2. Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in three consecutive games.
3. Jesse Crain/Matt Thornton, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed has pitched in three consecutive, and the White Sox could play matchups tonight to determine who gets the save chance.
4. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins is most likely to nab a save in Matt Capps’s absence, but Jared Burton could also get an occasional chance.

Clay Hensley bails out Santiago Casilla for second save of the season

June 24, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Clay Hensley picked up a one-out save after Santiago Casilla couldn’t close the door for the Giants on Saturday.  Casilla has been solid all season, with only one official blown, and his job will not be in jeopardy unless he has a few more poor outings.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/24/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde’s injury isn’t particularly serious, but he will be out through the weekend.  Joaquin Benoit will get save chances until he returns.

Eric O’Flaherty thriving in set-up role; Sergio Romo getting bulk of opportunities with Casilla out

June 7, 2012

Atlanta Braves – Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 8th inning ahead of Craig Kimbrel on Wednesday, the fourth such time he has been used in that role in the past nine days.  Jonny Venters struggled in May, posting a 6.55 ERA for the month.  O’Flaherty’s WHIP (1.50) is still ugly, but he has not given up an earned run since May 7, a span of 11 consecutive appearance.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to Set-up, Jonny Venters to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |O'Flaherty |Venters |Kimbrel |6/7/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his third save in the past five days, as Santiago Casilla’s injury has been a little more severe than the Giants initially thought.  While he is still on the active roster– Bruce Bochy said before Wednesday’s game that Casilla could play in the event of an emergency– he’s now missed five straight days of action.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/7/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has thrown 3 innings and 49 pitches over the last two days.
2. Ronald Belisario, Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenley Jansen has pitched in three straight, and four of the last five.
3. Sergio Romo/Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Jeremy Affeldt could nab a save.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but he’s not being used like a traditional closer yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.

Jeremy Affeldt nabs a save; Jon Rauch struggles, may be hurt

June 5, 2012

New York Mets – Jon Rauch took the loss on Monday, surrendering a 2-run HR to Allen Craig, and after the game headed to the hospital for an elbow examination.  At minimum, he’s again fallen behind Bobby Parnell on the Mets depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Bobby Parnell to Set-up, Jon Rauch to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Parnell |Rauch |Francisco |6/5/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched the 8th inning in a tie game on Monday, eventually earning the win after the Dodgers broke through against Jonathon Papelbon.  Belisario (1.26 ERA) continues his quick ascent in the Dodgers’ pen, as he is now the primary set-up man for Kenley Jansen.  Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Set-up, Josh Lindblom to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Jansen |Belisario |Lindblom |Jansen |6/5/12

 
San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla was held out again on Monday, and Jeremy Affeldt recorded a 2-inning save in his stead.  Affeldt and Clay Hensley have similar ERAs and strikeout ratios, but Affeldt currently has the edge on the San Francisco depth chart.  Casilla, as noted earlier, will not need a DL stint and remains day-to-day.  Hierarchy change: Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line, replacing Clay Hensley. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Affeldt |Wilson |6/5/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen has pitched 4.2 innings over the past three days, throwing 56 pitches in the process.
2. Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins – Matt Capps has pitched in three consecutive games.
3. Mitchell Boggs, St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Motte has pitched in two games in a row, including a multi-inning effort yesterday.
4. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but his usage over the past two days- he’s pitched in the 8th and then the 7th inning in games the Cubs were trailing- shows he’s not being used like a traditional closer yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.
5. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could nab a save. Jeremy Affeldt pitched two innings yesterday and may need the night off tonight.

Wilton Lopez quietly moving up in Astros pen; Santiago Casilla still ailing

June 4, 2012

Houston Astros – Wilton Lopez has quickly and quietly ascended in the Houston bullpen, and pitched the 8th inning ahead of Brett Myers on Sunday.  Fernando Rodriguez’s usage has been sporadic, and he has fallen behind Lopez and Brandon Lyon in the Astros pen.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Set-up, replacing Fernando Rodriguez. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Myers |Lopez |Lyon |Myers |6/4/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched another scoreless inning on Sunday, a day after pitching the 8th inning ahead of Kenley Jansen.  Belisario, with a 1.35 ERA, has surpassed Javy Guerra on the Dodgers depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line, replacing Javy Guerra. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Jansen |Lindblom |Belisario |Jansen |6/4/12

 
San Francisco Giants – The Giants are playing it safe with Santiago Casilla.  Bruce Bochy said could potentially have pitched over the weekend, but on Sunday, he was held out for a 2nd straight game.  As predicted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Sergio Romo was the man to benefit, and he picked up his second consecutive save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Hensley |Wilson |6/4/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – For the second time in three games, Kelvin Herrera pitched the 7th inning for the Royals, earning a hold ahead of Greg Holland and Jonathon Broxton.  In 29 innings, Herrera now has a 3.10 ERA with 25 Ks and 4 BBs.  Hierarchy change: Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line, replacing Aaron Crow.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Herrera |Broxton |6/4/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
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, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but his usage on Sunday- he pitched in the 8th inning with the Cubs trailing- shows he’s not being used like a traditional closer just yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could nab a save.