Ernesto Frieri closing for Angels; Rafael Dolis struggling

May 24, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals – Mark Rzepczynski pitched the 8th inning ahead of Jason Motte on Wednesday night, and the lefty has proven the ability to pitch to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line, replacing Fernando Salas.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Rzepczynski |Motte |5/24/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jose Arredondo pitched 1.1 innings on Wednesday, bridging the gap to closer Aroldis Chapman.  Logan Ondrusek has struggled as of late (7.04 ERA in May) and Dusty Baker has been looking to Arredondo more as his late-innings righty.  Hierarchy change: Jose Arredondo to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Arredondo |Madson |5/24/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis gave up three runs in a non-save situation on Wednesday.  Dolis, whose stats look uglier every day (24.2 IPs, 4.74 ERA, 10 Ks/13 BBs), could be removed from the role if he continues to struggle, particularly if the Cubs want to give Carlos Marmol another crack at the job when he returns.  Rafael Dolis to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/24/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Adam Ottavino pitched the 7th inning in a close game on Wednesday, and now has 6 scoreless innings with 9 Ks since being called up.  Hierarchy change: Adam Ottavino to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Reynolds. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Ottavino |Betancourt |5/24/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia said he would still like to use Scott Downs in the 9th on occasion, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the majority of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/24/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall/Jose Arredondo, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.  The Reds could give him a night off and play match-ups in the ninth.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in two straight and four of the last six, while Scott Downs has only pitched twice in that span.  Downs could get the save opportunity tonight, particularly if facing a lefty-heavy lineup.

Boggs filling set-up role for Cards; Luis Perez moving up in Toronto pen

April 24, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals — For the second straight night, and third in the last four, Mitchell Boggs pitched the 8th in a tight game; he has clearly passed Fernando Salas as the Cards’ top set-up option. Hierarchy change: Mitchell Boggs to Set-up, Fernando Salas to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Salas |Motte |4/24/12

 
Toronto Blue Jays — Casey Janssen hasn’t pitched since he blew a save on April 14, and Jason Frasor has been idle since a 3-run outing on April 19. In the meantime, Luis Perez and Darren Oliver have been getting more work, including high-leverage outings by Perez on April 20 and last night. With Sergio Santos out, the bullpen situation in Toronto remains quite fluid.  Hierarchy change: Luis Perez to Set-up, Jason Frasor to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Cordero |Perez |Frasor |Santos |4/24/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
Houston Astros — Brandon Lyon has been slipping behind Fernando Rodriguez on the Astros’ depth chart, a fact that was made clearer last night when Brad Mills called upon Lyon to pitch the sixth inning, down three runs.  Hierarchy change: Fernando Rodriguez to Set-up, Brandon Lyon to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Myers |F.Rodriguez |Lyon |Myers |4/24/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Frasor, Toronto Blue Jays — Francisco Cordero has now pitched on two straight nights, and in three of the last four games. If the Blue Jays need to protect a close lead against the Orioles again on Tuesday, John Farrell will almost certainly go in another direction.
2. Fernando Salas,  St. Louis Cardinals — Jason Motte threw 31 pitches before blowing the save last night against the Cubs, and Mitchell Boggs has been getting regular work in the set-up role. Salas is positioned well to steal a save.

Late inning roles for Miguel Batista, Mitchell Boggs

April 11, 2012

New York Mets- The Mets had an uneventful game, bullpen-wise, on Tuesday.  However, earlier this week, Terry Collins surprisingly indicated that Miguel Batista would be his 9th inning man on any days when Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch are unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Miguel Batista to 2nd in line, replacing Ramon Ramirez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Francisco |Rauch |Batista |Francisco |4/11/12

 
Milwaukee Brewers- Francisco Rodriguez was called on for the save last night because– as was noted in yesterday’s vulture save watch– John Axford had thrown 53 pitches over the previous two games.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Axford |Rodriguez |Veras |Axford |4/11/12

 
St. Louis Cardinals- Mitchell Boggs pitched two perfect innings of relief on Tuesday and has established himself as a reliable late-inning replacement for the ailing Scott Linebrink.  Hierarchy change: Mitchell Boggs to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Linebrink. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Salas |Boggs |Motte |4/11/12

 
Kansas City Royals- Aaron Crow picked up the save last night in a rain-shortened game that only went 7 1/2 innings.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Crow |Broxton |4/11/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
David Robertson/Rafael Soriano, New York Yankees-  Mariano Rivera has pitched on consecutive days and could get the night off.  David Robertson could get the call, but he has also pitched two days in a row, opening the door for a possible Rafael Soriano save opp.
Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals- Davey Johnson is going back and forth between Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez, and Lidge pitched last night in a 4-run game.  He didn’t record a save, so it still could be his “turn,” but with Rodriguez idle yesterday, the Nats will probably go with him tonight.

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St. Louis Cardinals, Marc Rzepczynski up, Kyle McClellan down

St. Louis Cardinals- Summoned in a tie game in the 8th, Kyle McClellan gave up 3 runs and got the lost last night.  McClellan has had a tough couple weeks and the Cardinals have been looking to Marc Rzepczynski, who they acquired from the Blue Jays last month, later in games.  Hierarchy change: Marc Rzepczynski to 2nd in line, replacing Kyle McClellan.

St. Louis Cardinals, Jason Motte blows it, Fernando Salas too

St. Louis Cardinals- Jason Motte won the closer’s job in early September after an incredible string of 33 consecutive outings without allowing an earned run.  But he’s been shaky of late, and walked 3 of the 5 batters he faced last night, contributing to the Cardinals 9th inning collapse.  Fernando Salas couldn’t salvage the damage, but the Cardinals may go back to their original closer in the season’s final week.  Jason Motte to Hot Seat.

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