Grant Balfour, of course, with a seven-out save

June 12, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays — Huh. In a one-run game, Joe Maddon summoned Juan Carlos Oviedo in the sixth, watched him get one out and hit a batter in the seventh, brought in Cesar Ramos as a LOOGY, and then let deposed closer Grant Balfour finish the inning. When the Rays scored two in the bottom of the seventh, Maddon sensed an opportunity to help the embattled Australian regain some confidence — so out he came to pitch a perfect eighth. And though Joel Peralta was up and warming prior to the ninth inning, it was Balfour who finished the game, earning a surprising 2.1-inning save. After the game, Maddon explained that the closer committee is still in effect, but it seems he’d like the Goose Gossage of New South Wales back in the role as soon as possible.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | Balfour | McGee.

Texas Rangers — Tanner Scheppers came off the disabled list, made four appearances in six days, and promptly returned to the DL Wednesday — this time for a “prolonged shutdown period.” This is Texas’s 20th disabled list move of the season, which means that their next procedure with Dr. James Andrews is free.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Frasor | Cotts.

Minnesota Twins — Casey Fien picked up an unusual save by coming in for the last out of the eighth with two on in a four-run game, then finishing the ninth up five. He relieved Jared Burton, who has been surprisingly bad this season, with as many earned runs as strikeouts. Lefty Brian Duensing’s peripherals are only slightly better, but his ERA is half that of Burton, and he’s been getting some seventh-inning love lately.

Updated hierarchy: Perkins | Fien | Duensing.

New York Mets — Vic Black appears to have nosed ahead of Carlos Torres in the New York bullpen.

Updated hierarchy: Mejia | Familia | Black.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon threw 28 pitches Tuesday and 17 pitches Wednesday.

Juan Carlos Oviedo might be next in line for Tampa

June 11, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays — It’s fun to talk about, but until the team finally wins a game, the Tampa closer committee will remain a matter for philosophers, theologians, and Seminole medicine men. Juan Carlos Oviedo might get the first shot at breaking the curse tomorrow, since Joel Peralta was used Tuesday in a high-leverage spot in the eighth, and Jake McGee followed him with a 20-pitch ninth. If that happens, we can’t rule out the possibility that Oviedo takes the job and runs with it, perhaps earning up to one save per month for the flailing Rays. Watch out for Kirby Yates as a dark horse candidate too; he’s been a lights-out closer for the AAA Durham Bulls.

Hierarchy remains: Peralta | McGee | Oviedo.

Miami Marlins — Since arriving in a trade from Pittsburgh on June 1, Bryan Morris has been immediately thrust into higher-leverage spots for the Marlins, including four eighth-inning appearances in the last five days. His ascent will allow Mike Redmond to use Mike Dunn in more of a matchup role.

Updated hierarchy: Cishek | Ramos | Morris.

New York Yankees — Shawn Kelley will be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday, but Joe Girardi will be careful with him for a while, avoiding use in back-to-back games. Dellin Betances and Adam Warren have been exemplary in Kelley’s absence.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Betances | Warren.

Atlanta Braves — Jordan Walden returned from the DL today after a month away, and we were all set to move him right into the Braves’ hierarchy — that is, until he entered Tuesday’s game with a four-run lead in the eighth and immediately issued three straight walks. Thanks to Shae Simmons, the Braves yielded only one run. Walden hasn’t historically struggled with control, but we’ll still wait to see what his next game holds before making the move.

Hierarchy remains: Kimbrel | Simmons | Carpenter.

Chicago Cubs — $4 million mistake Jose Veras was released today. Cubs fans, he can’t hurt you now. The bad man is gone.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Juan Carlos Oviedo, Tampa Bay Rays — As noted above, if the Rays don’t give Joel Peralta the save opportunity Wednesday, it will likely go to Oviedo.
2. David Carpenter, Atlanta Braves — Craig Kimbrel struck out the side Tuesday with 11 pitches and 11 strikes, but it was his fourth night of work in the last five days. Shae Simmons has a similar usage pattern, leaving Carpenter as the best-rested option.
3. Luke Gregerson, Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle threw 28 pitches in a two-inning outing.

Zach Putnam, Shae Simmons ascend to 8th inning roles

June 10, 2014

Chicago White Sox – Zach Putnam got the final two outs of the 8th inning on Monday, marking the fourth straight time that he’d bridged the gap to Ronald Belisario.  The 26-year-old righty doesn’t have the best ratios in the world (19 Ks vs 9 BBs in 24.1 innings), but he keeps the ball in the ballpark and it’s hard to find fault with his 1.48 ERA.  Though Belisario continues to make his owners a bit nervous, Putnam and Jake Petricka (1.59 ERA) have turned into a solid late-inning duo for Chicago.

Updated hierarchy: Belisario | Putnam | Petricka.

Atlanta Braves – It’s been quite an ascension for young Shae Simmons, who in two weeks has gone from AA to the 8th inning in Atlanta.  Simmons now has six big league appearances, a 0.00 ERA, four 8th-inning holds (including his most recent effort, a spotless inning in a 3-1 game on Monday), and a save on a night when Craig Kimbrel was unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Simmons | Carpenter.

Arizona Diamondbacks – J.J. Putz returned from the DL on Monday, pitching a scoreless inning in his first outing back.  The Diamondbacks, who are flush with matchup guys but have a dearth of relievers who can get both lefties and righties out, will likely ease Putz back into higher-leverage work.

Updated hierarchy: Reed | Ziegler | Putz.

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays will go with a closer-by-committee for the time being, announced Joe Maddon on Sunday.  Grant Balfour will be part of that committee, but as mentioned in our Sunday morning Daily, we like Joel Peralta to get the next save chance, with Jake McGee and Juan Carlos Oviedo also involved.  Balfour will have to work his way back to the 9th inning, which seems unlikely given his terrible ratios thus far.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | McGee | Oviedo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in four straight.
2. Jake McGee/Juan Carlos Oviedo, Tampa Bay Rays – Welcome to the Vulture Save Watch, Tampa committee.

Grant Balfour out as closer; Rays to use committee

June 9, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays will go with a closer-by-committee for the time being, announced Joe Maddon this morning.  Grant Balfour will be part of that committee, but as mentioned in our previous update, we like Joel Peralta to get the next save chance, with Jake McGee and Juan Carlos Oviedo also involved.  Balfour will have to work his way back to the 9th inning, which seems unlikely given his terrible ratios thus far.

Updated hierarchy: Peralta | McGee | Oviedo.

Grant Balfour on the verge of losing closer gig

June 9, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays – Grant Balfour gave up five more runs on Sunday and now has a 6.46 ERA. Joe Maddon wouldn’t say if Balfour had finally lost the job that he should’ve lost a long time ago, but it seems silly to keep running him out there. Until we see evidence that Balfour has lost the job, all we can do is speculate, but the three candidates to take over the job right now are Joel Peralta, Jake McGee, and Juan Carlos Oviedo. Oviedo (the former Leo Nunez) had a better chance at the job before allowing a run in three consecutive outings last week. McGee clearly has the best stuff, averaging more than a strikeout per inning and currently rocking a 1.59 ERA, but just three days ago, he was pitching in the 6th inning. That leaves the veteran Peralta, who despite a rough start to the season, has continued to pitch the 8th inning and has managed to hold the opposition scoreless in 13 of his last 14 outings. Stressing that we don’t have any hints from inside the clubhouse about what happens next, we still think Peralta has a narrow lead in the race to replace Balfour.

Hierarchy remains: Balfour | Peralta | McGee.

Arizona Diamondbacks – With Addison Reed battling a tired arm, Brad Ziegler picked up a shaky save in his place. Ziegler might make for a speculative add, as tired arms are occasionally the sign of something worse.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Ziegler | Perez.

Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter returned from the DL on Sunday. He’s got a ways to go before he reclaims the closer role, as both Zach Britton and Darren O’Day are sporting sub-1.00 ERAs. But Hunter’s past experience does slot him in 3rd place behind his two otherworldly colleagues. If they both struggle, he could get the job back.

Updated hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Hunter.

Philadelphia Phillies – Mike Adams was placed on the DL with a sore rotator cuff. Justin De Fratus, who is working on a 9-inning scoreless streak, moves up to take his place, but keep an eye on Ken Giles, who was just brought up to take Adams’s place. Giles has electric stuff, and could one day be the Philadelphia closer. With their season in the tank, the Phillies might give him a lengthy audition in the bigs.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Bastardo | De Fratus.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joe Smith, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in three straight.
2. Oliver Perez/Evan Marshall, Arizona Diamondbacks – Addison Reed is battling a tired arm and may need another day off, while Brad Ziegler has pitched in five of the last six games.
3. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games and three of four.