Closer Monkey

April 20, 2014

Detroit Tigers – After a rough start the season, Joba Chamberlain has now gone five straight appearances without allowing a run.  He has a 11/1 K/BB ratio and has been entrusted with the set-up role in his last two outings, including yesterday, when he earned an 8th inning hold ahead of Joe Nathan.  Hierarchy change: Joba Chamberlain to Set-up, Al Alburquerque to 2nd in line.

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Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall was activated from the disabled list yesterday, and will give the Reds a strong pair of lefties in the back end of their bullpen.  Marshall probably won’t immediately jump Manny Parra, who is having the best year of his career so far, but the duo will give the Reds the opportunity to play match ups at will in the late innings, with Sam LeCure continuing to figure in the mix for 7th and 8th inning holds.  Hierarchy change: Manny Parra to Set-up, Sean Marshall to 2nd in line.

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New York Mets – Another disastrous outing from Jose Valverde, in which he stymied a potential Mets comeback by allowing a 3-run HR, has Terry Collins thinking about making a change at closer.  If they do make a move, the best in-house option is Kyle Farnsworth, with Carlos Torres and Gonzalez Germen also potentially in the mix.  Free agent Joel Hanrahan, who the Mets recently scouted, is a possibility as well.  Jose Valverde to Hot Seat.

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San Diego Padres – Joaquin Benoit picked up the save on Saturday.  Huston Street had thrown 52 pitches over his previous two outings and was just getting the night off.  No hierarchy change.

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Houston Astros – The Houston committee continues to struggle, with Chad Qualls being the latest to blow a save in a horrific 9th inning on Saturday.  We’ve previously complained that Matt Albers hasn’t gotten any opportunities despite being the best arm in the bullpen (which he reinforced yet again with a clean 8th inning yesterday), and we have to think that after yesterday, he has at least moved ahead of Qualls in the Houston hierarchy.  Hierarchy change: Matt Albers to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

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Atlanta Braves – Jordan Walden picked up a one-out, bases-loaded save on Saturday night, bailing out an ineffective Craig Kimbrel.  Despite being the go-to guy in the 8th inning all season, David Carpenter has struggled mightily, and his ERA shot up to 6.43 after he was knocked around last night.  After Walden’s clutch performance last night, we think he’d probably be the best bet for saves if Kimbrel’s early season struggles continue.  Hierarchy change: Jordan Walden to Set-up, David Carpenter to 2nd in line.

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Chicago Cubs – It wasn’t a save chance, but the Cubs hierarchy was made very clear Saturday, when Hector Rondon pitched the 7th and 8th innings in a 4-run game, while Pedro Strop got the 9th.  Despite giving up his first run of the year today, Rondon’s ERA is more than 3 full points better than Strop’s, but it seems that Strop will be the one given first crack at saves after the demotion of Jose Veras.  Hierarchy change: Pedro Strop to Closer, Hector Rondon to Set-up.

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod continues to pitch lights out, but the closer has pitched in back to back games and three of the last four.  He might get Sunday off to recover.
2. Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s – Luke Gregerson has seen more save chances that Doolittle since Jim Johnson’s demotion but this is still looking like a committee so Doolittle could get the call based on match-ups.
3. Chad Qualls/Anthony Bass, Houston Astros – Though Matt Albers is our favorite option in the Houston bullpen, he’s likely to get the day off today after throwing 62 pitches in the last four days.