So, Kevin Gregg is apparently a thing now

April 27, 2013

Chicago Cubs – Shouldn’t-be closer Carlos Marmol was unavailable on Friday night, so this was finally a chance for James Russell to award his fantasy owners’ patience and potentially earn his first save of the season.  And then Dale Sveum decided to pitch him in the 7th inning, whereupon he threw two pitches, got one out, and was yanked.  Kevin Gregg, signed off the street a week ago after being cut from two teams in the past 8 months, was the guy who got the call in the 9th.  Sveum still isn’t committing to any one reliever in Kyuji Fujikawa’s absence, so if you’re a crazy person, maybe you want to pick up Kevin Gregg or something.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Gregg to Set-up, James Russell to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Gregg |Russell |Fujikawa |4/27/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
Texas Rangers – Tanner Scheppers pitched the 8th inning last night, earning his 5th hold of the season.  The young righty has yet to allow a single run this season through 12.2 innings and has become the most likely candidate for saves on nights when Joe Nathan is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Tanner Schepper to Set-up, Robbie Ross to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Scheppers |Ross |Nathan |4/27/13

 
Seattle Mariners – Charlie Furbush is showing his potential this season, racking up strikeouts at an impressive rate (14 in just 8 innings so far), but he’s also been a bit wild, having walked nearly a batter per inning.  He isn’t seeing many high-leverage situations as of late — he pitched in the 7th inning of a game the Mariners were losing last night — while Carter Capps has picked up two 8th inning holds in Stephen Pryor’s absence.  Hierarchy change: Carter Capps to Set-up, Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |Capps |Furbush |Wilhelmsen |4/27/13 |Pryor(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Matt Thornton/Jesse Crain, Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed has pitched in three straight.  Depending on match-ups, Matt Thornton or Jesse Crain could get the call in the 9th tonight.
2. David Robertson, New York Yankees – Mariano Rivera has pitched in two straight and three of the last four, including a 26-pitch outing last night.

Tony Watson picks up 2-inning save; Joba Chamberlain coming around

April 26, 2013

Pittsburgh Pirates – With both Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon getting a day off, Tony Watson picked up a 2-inning save on Thursday.  Barring injuries, Watson won’t get too many opportunities like this one.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedPIT |Grilli |Melancon |Watson |Grilli |4/26/13

 
New York Yankees – After a rough start to the season, Joba Chamberlain has now put together six straight scoreless outings, spanning 5.2 innings.  He earned his second hold of the season yesterday, pitching the 7th inning ahead of David Robertson and Mariano Rivera.  Hierarchy change: Joba Chamberlain to 2nd in line, replacing Boone Logan.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Rivera |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |4/26/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. James Russell/Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol has pitched in three of the last four games, totaling 67 pitches over 3.2 innings.

John Axford looming in Milwaukee; JJ Putz hasn’t lost his job… yet

April 25, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks – Matt Reynolds got his 2nd extra-inning save in as many nights on Wednesday, but JJ Putz hasn’t lost the closer job yet despite a bad start to the season; last night, he was just unavailable due to being overworked.  Also of note in Arizona is the resurgence of Heath Bell, who started the season badly but has now pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in his last six outings, racking up 11 strikeouts (with 0 walks) in the process.  He pitched the 8th inning of a tie game last night.  Hierarchy change: Heath Bell to 2nd in line, replacing Brad Ziegler.  JJ Putz to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Bell |Putz |4/25/13

 
Milwaukee Brewers – After an April 9th meltdown that cost him his job and sent his ERA to 24.30, John Axford has been turning things around.  With six straight scoreless outings in which he threw a total of 5.1 innings and only allowed to baserunners, Ron Roenicke said yesterday that it wouldn’t take much for him to return Axford to the closer role.  With that comment, suddenly, the reliable Jim Henderson is now looking over his shoulder, and the Ax Man is on the verge of returning to his old role.  Hierarchy change: John Axford to Set-up, Tom Gorzelanny to 2nd in line.  Jim Henderson to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Axford |Gorzelanny |Henderson |4/25/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in three straight.
2. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
3. Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey has pitched in four of the last five.

Valverde and Marmol, no strangers to the hot seat

April 24, 2013

Detroit Tigers – After a short stint in the minors, Jose Valverde has been called up to the big leagues and will close starting today.  Joaquin Benoit will return to his familiar 8th inning role. Three innings of class-A ball might have been enough to wow Jim Leyland, but in our book, Valverde starts out on the Hot Seat. Hierarchy change: Jose Valverde to Closer, Joaquin Benoit to Set-up, Phil Coke to 2nd in line.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Rondon |4/24/13

 
Los Angeles Angels — With Kevin Jepsen on the disabled list with a strained triceps, Scott Downs has been pitching the eighth inning in front of Ernesto Frieri. Downs blew a save last night, the result of an error, but Dane De La Rosa earned the win with two perfect innings of work.  Hierarchy change: Kevin Jepsen to DL, Scott Downs to Set-Up, Dane De La Rosa to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |De La Rosa |Frieri |4/24/13 |Madson(INJ) |Jepsen (DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs — With a runner on second and lefty slugger Joey Votto at the plate with one out in a tight ninth inning, Dale Sveum inexplicably passed over James Russell and put his faith in Votto’s 15 at bats against . . . Carlos Marmol. “Those numbers don’t lie,” Sveum later explained, incorrectly. Marmol gave up a single, the Reds tied the game, and (as predicted, somehow) Kevin Gregg picked up the vulture save. When will the sample size of Sveum’s bullpen mismanagement grow too large to ignore? Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Russell |Camp |Fujikawa |4/24/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
New York Mets – In both of Bobby Parnell’s saves this year, Scott Rice proved a competent 8th inning bridge. After Brandon Lyon’s debacle in the 7th inning of last night’s loss, we believe Rice will hold on to that position.  Hierarchy change: Scott Rice to Set-up, Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedNYM |Parnell |Rice |Lyon |Parnell |4/24/13 |Francis(INJ)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Shawn Camp/James Russell, Chicago Cubs – Carlos Marmol has had two straight long outings and Kevin Gregg remains Kevin Gregg.
2. Sean Burnett, Los Angeles Angels — The top three Angel relievers have each pitched in three straight games, leaving the lefty as the most trustworthy option.