What the hell is going on in Houston?

May 30, 2014

Oakland A’s – With $10 million invested, the A’s really want Jim Johnson to succeed — or at least be a usable reliever. But after giving up 2 runs in the 7th inning of a close game on Thursday afternoon, Johnson’s ERA sits at 6.55. The A’s season is exactly 1/3 over, so we’ve reached the point where a small sample size is no longer an excuse, and with the rest of the bullpen essentially dominating, Johnson is unlikely to sniff a save opportunity again for a long time.

Updated hierarchy: Doolittle | Gregerson | Abad.

Houston Astros – One million points to the person who picked up Josh Fields right after he was called up from AAA on May 14. When the one-time closer was sent down, his ERA was an even 12.00. Since returning? 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 13 K. Fields got the win last night, pitching two clean innings before giving way to closer Chad Qualls, who now has an 11.1-inning scoreless streak of his own. Tony Sipp, meanwhile, who was signed off the scrap heap, still has a 0.00 ERA through 9.2 absolutely dominant innings (1 H, 1 BB, 13 Ks). That adds up to a 29 scoreless innings for the top three Astros relievers. What the hell is going on here?

Updated hierarchy: Qualls | Sipp | Fields.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Frasor, Texas Rangers – Joakim Soria has pitched in three straight.
2. Joba Chamberlain, Detroit Tigers – Joe Nathan has pitched in three straight.

Belisario back to old ways; Familia secures save

May 29, 2014

Chicago White Sox — After finally picking up a drama-free save on Tuesday, Ronald Belisario blew Wednesday’s save chance before salvaging a win after the Sox broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom half of the ninth. Manager Robin Ventura didn’t say anything after the game, but this was Belisario’s third blown save in six chances, so the current closer remains firmly in the hot seat. At least Ronald is having fun though.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Webb | Petricka.

New York Mets — As predicted in Wednesday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jeurys Familia picked up his first career save in a five-out, one-hit outing on Wednesday. To add to the fun, manager Terry Collins said that he will “have to” consider giving Familia some save opps going forward. Despite Collins’ praise, Jenrry Mejia has thrown 9.1 scoreless innings since his move to the bullpen and appears to have locked up the ninth inning. However, if Mejia struggles or is unavailable, Familia is now certainly secure as the handcuff.

Hierarchy remains: Mejia | Familia | Matsuzaka.

Cleveland Indians — Both Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen struggled at Chicago on Wednesday night, with Allen giving up a go-ahead run in the eighth inning before Shaw took the loss in the ninth. Thursday brings a much-needed day off for the Tribe, but it will be interesting to see who Francona turns to in the late innings this weekend.

Hierarchy remains: Allen | Shaw | Axford.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Frasor, Texas Rangers — Joakim Soria has pitched on back-to-back days and in three of the last four.

Vic Black is lurking in Queens

May 28, 2014

New York Mets — After Jenrry Mejia took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon and proclaimed he was “very comfortable” with the closer role, Terry Collins tested that resolve with a two-inning, 37-pitch slog against the Pirates. Mejia earned the save and, no doubt, a day off. Vic Black made his return appearance in the sixth with the score tied, escaping a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout of ex-Met Ike Davis. Black stayed on for the seventh and earned the win, and is poised to move into our hierarchy whenever Terry Collins decides to utilize Dice-K elsewhere.

Hierarchy remains: Mejia | Familia | Matsuzaka.

Chicago White Sox — Jake Petricka pitched the seventh and eighth innings of a one-run game, then Ronald Belisario delivered a clean ninth for a pleasantly undramatic White Sox save.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Webb | Petricka.

Pittsburgh Pirates — Jason Grilli struck out the side in the eighth on Tuesday with the Pirates trailing, after Clint Hurdle explained that he has no timeline for Grilli’s official return to the closer role. Although Mark Melancon might get the next save opportunity, Hurdle won’t hold off long, saying, “I do like my bullpen best with Grilli closing.”

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Melancon | Watson.

Baltimore Orioles — In a tight game with the Brewers on Tuesday, Baltimore used Ryan Webb in the seventh, Darren O’Day and Brian Matusz in the eighth (the latter as a LOOGY), and Zach Britton (working on his third straight day) in the ninth. A swinging bunt resulted in Britton’s first blown save, and he should expect some rest tomorrow.

Hierarchy remains: Britton | O’Day | Webb.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets — See above.
2. Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee Brewers — K-Rod has now pitched on three straight days, and Will Smith threw 22 pitches on Tuesday.
3. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates — Grilli isn’t all the way back yet.
4. Ryan Webb/Brian Matusz, Baltimore Orioles — Zach Britton and Darren O’Day are both tired and could be unavailable.
5. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels — Ernesto Frieri has pitched on three of the last four days.

Scott Downs picks up rare save; Jose Valverde released

May 27, 2014

New York Mets — They say that if you love something, you should let it go; apparently, the Mets have a thing for mediocre relievers on the high side of 35. On the heels of turning Kyle Farnsworth into Inigo Montoya, New York axed Jose Valverde on Monday for giving up four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Even after his successful spot start on Sunday, Dice-K still appears to be the next guy up in the bullpen — but if Vic Black, freshly recalled from AAA, can improve his command, the Mets might be able to leave thirtysomethings behind them for good.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Matsuzaka.

Los Angeles Dodgers — After Hyun-Jin Ryu lost his perfect game and shutout in the eighth inning, Brian Wilson entered and loaded the bases while yielding two inherited runs. Kenley Jansen bailed everyone out with a four-out save, but the rest of the Dodgers’ bullpen has become a series of question marks. Wilson has allowed an astonishing 36 baserunners in 16.2 innings, and Chris Perez’s ERA over the last three weeks is 17.35. On the whole, LA relievers are 4-12 with a 1.42 WHIP. Brandon League and J.P. Howell have been pitching the best, if only by default, but Howell is limited by his status as the only non-Paul Maholm lefty in the pen. We think Wilson’s last outing has dropped him below these two, but in this bullpen right now, nothing is certain.

Updated hierarchy: Jansen | League | Howell.

Chicago White Sox — After Zach Putnam loaded the bases with a four-run lead in the eighth, Scott Downs came in and retired his fellow lefty, pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy. Downs stayed on to pitch the ninth and earn his first save of the year. As the only lefty in the White Sox pen, Downs is likely to see continued use in a matchup role.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Webb | Petricka.

Pittsburgh Pirates — As predicted in Monday’s Vulture Save Watch, Mark Melancon earned another save on Monday as Jason Grilli is eased back into the closer role.

Hierarchy remains: Grilli | Melancon | Watson.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Adam Warren, New York Yankees — David Robertson has pitched on three of the last four days.
2. Will Smith, Milwaukee Brewers — K-Rod has pitched on two straight days, including a 21-pitch blown save on Monday.

Joel Peralta struggling; Jose Valverde somehow still relevant

May 26, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays – Joel Peralta has had his problems with the long ball this year, but despite Jake McGee’s dominance, Peralta has consistently been the 8th inning guy all year long.  However, McGee owners had reasons to feel optimistic yesterday, as Peralta, for the first time, was summoned in the 7th, rather than the 8th.  He gave up his fifth home run of the season — a 2-run shot to Jonny Gomes — and saw his ERA climb to 5.24.  Though we’re not ready to deem McGee the heir apparent just yet, any small shift in the Rays pen is worth mentioning, given Grant Balfour’s struggles.

Hierarchy remains: Balfour | Peralta | McGee.

New York Mets – When Terry Collins started talking about Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia in the back of the New York bullpen, we thought he’d turned a corner and was finally going to commit to the good young arms that had been developed in the Mets farm system. And while we can at least be grateful that Mejia has stuck, it seems Collins is still going to use Jose Valverde — arguably the worst pitcher in the Mets’ pen — as Mejia’s backup. On Friday, Collins said that Valverde would be his closer since Mejia was unavailable, and followed it up by saying the same thing between games during Sunday’s doubleheader. Weirdly, he still went to Mejia in game two on Sunday after saying he wouldn’t, but Papa Grande now appears to be the handcuff.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Valverde | Familia.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jose Valverde, New York Mets – Jenrry Mejia pitched in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader.
2. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched three innings over the last two games, throwing 52 total pitches.
3. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon could still get the 9th inning while Jason Grilli reacclimates to Major League hitting.
4. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Based on usage so far, Zach Britton looks like the guy, but Darren O’Day could still get a 9th inning call if match ups are right.