Aceves continues to fall for Boston, League and Pestano pick up their first saves of the year.

September 2, 2012

Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves was used for 3 innings of mop-up duty last night, and seems to have fallen farther on Bobby Valentine’s depth chart. While the Red Sox bullpen is volatile, Aceves has been relegated to a less important role.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Alfredo Aceves to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Aceves |Bailey |9/2/12

 

Cleveland Indians – Vinny Pestano pitched for 1 out in the 8th, and stayed on to close the game. Chris Perez was unavailable because he just had a child, and should resume closing duties when he comes back.  No Hierarchy Changes.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |Smith |C.Perez |9/2/12

 

Chicago White Sox – Addison Reed pitched the 8th inning with the White Sox trailing 4-0, but he had not pitched since August 25. He is in no danger of losing his job, and was just getting some work in between save opportunities.  No Hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Myers |Thornton |Reed |9/2/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – As predicted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Brandon League picked up the save while Belisario was recovering from a 26 pitch outing the night before. No Hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Belisario |League |Guerrier |Jansen |9/2/12 |Jansen(INJ) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH

1. Heath Bell, Miami Marlins – Steve Cisek has pitched in 2 straght, including a 29 pitch outing yesterday that resulted in a blown save.
2.  Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde has pitched in 2 straight, throwing a total of 32 pitches. 
3. Mitch Boggs, Edward Mujica, St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Motte has pitched in 2 straight, throwing 32 pitches total, Boggs would normally close in his stead, but he has also pitched the last 2, opening the door for a possible super-vulture save from Mujica. 
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Romo got the save last night, but the committee continues, and Lopez could steal a save any day.

Gregerson Closing in Street’s Place; Guerrier Returns to Bullpen for Dodgers

September 1, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Matt Guerrier returned from the 60-day DL on Friday, allowing one run and taking the loss after he entered a tie game in the 11th inning. Guerrier had not pitched since April 18. He will move back into the 7th-inning role that he held before his injury. Hierarchy change: Matt Guerrier to 2nd in line, replacing Jamey Wright.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Belisario |League |Guerrier |Jansen |9/1/12 |Jansen(INJ) |

 
San Diego Padres – Luke Gregerson collected his third consecutive save on Saturday, just a few hours after Huston Street suffered a setback in his rehab.  Dale Thayer got the first two save chances after Street’s injury, but Gregerson has picked up the last three, and should continue to see chances until Street returns.  Hierarchy change: Luke Gregerson to Closer, Dale Thayer to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Gregerson |Thayer |Layne |Street |8/31/12 |Street(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren Oliver, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen has pitched in three straight, and four of the last five.
2. Brandon League, Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched two innings on Friday night, throwing 26 pitches.
3. Dale Thayer, San Diego Padres – While Luke Gregerson has been the go-to guy when the Padres lead in the ninth, Dale Thayer could get a save opportunity until Huston Street returns.
4. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
5. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Luke Gregerson now closing in Huston Street’s place

August 31, 2012

San Diego Padres – Luke Gregerson collected his third consecutive save on Saturday, just a few hours after Huston Street suffered a setback in his rehab.  Dale Thayer got the first two save chances after Street’s injury, but Gregerson has picked up the last three, and should continue to see chances until Street returns.  Hierarchy change: Luke Gregerson to Closer, Dale Thayer to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Gregerson |Thayer |Layne |Street |8/31/12 |Street(DL) |

Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez splitting chances in San Francisco

August 31, 2012

Kansas City Royals – With Greg Holland getting the night off after two high-leverage saves in a row, the Royals went to flamethrower Kelvin Herrera for the save.  Herrera allowed two runners to reach, but got the job done and lowered his ERA to 2.49 on the year.  He’ll likely be the man the Royals turn to if Holland needs any time off in the future.  Hierarchy change: Kelvin Herrera to Set-up, Aaron Crow to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Holland |Herrera |Crow |Holland |8/31/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
San Francisco Giants – After Santiago Casilla was demoted, Jeremy Affeldt received the first two save opportunities.  With the ability to pitch to both lefties and righties (as opposed to Javier Lopez) and with the ability to pitch in multiple games in a row without injury concerns (as opposed to Sergio Romo), Affeldt looked like the best bet to seize the majority of the San Francisco committee’s saves.  But since blowing his second save chance, he hasn’t gotten another look.  Meanwhile, Lopez has nabbed four saves and Sergio Romo has picked up three, including one last night.  While Lopez is leading the committee in saves since Casilla’s demotion, most of them have been a bit fluky, as he’s induced several double plays to end games while other relievers were warming.  Romo will likely get the most chances from here on out.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Javier Lopez to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Affeldt |Wilson |8/31/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren Oliver, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen has pitched in two straight, and three of the last four.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Jeremy Affeldt getting no love in San Francisco’s closer by committee

August 31, 2012

San Francisco Giants – After Santiago Casilla was demoted, Jeremy Affeldt received the first two save opportunities.  With the ability to pitch to both lefties and righties (as opposed to Javier Lopez) and with the ability to pitch in multiple games in a row without injury concerns (as opposed to Sergio Romo), Affeldt looked like the best bet to seize the majority of the San Francisco committee’s saves.  But since blowing his second save chance, he hasn’t gotten another look.  Meanwhile, Lopez has nabbed four saves and Sergio Romo has picked up three, including one last night.  While Lopez is leading the committee in saves since Casilla’s demotion, most of them have been a bit fluky, as he’s induced several double plays to end games while other relievers were warming.  Romo will likely get the most chances from here on out.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Romo to Closer, Javier Lopez to Set-up, Jeremy Affeldt to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Affeldt |Wilson |8/31/12 |Wilson(DL) |