Aaron Loup picks up back to back saves

July 21, 2014

Tampa Bay Rays – We were again getting close to removing the asterisk next to Jake McGee’s name — it seemed like he’d finally been established as the one and only 9th inning guy in Tampa. But yesterday, Joe Maddon decided to use him in the 8th, and instead sent Grant Balfour out for the 9th. Balfour struggled, and eventually had to be pulled for Kirby Yates, who picked up his first career save. So we’re still in committee mode here, though McGee is still getting the vast majority of save chances.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Balfour | Boxberger.

Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen got the ball in the 9th inning on Sunday, but wasn’t himself, allowing several baserunners before giving way to Aaron Loup, who picked up another vulture save. Janssen, weakened by a stretch of food poisoning, wasn’t even certain that he would be available Sunday, so we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that the quick hook wasn’t representative of any lost faith from John Gibbons. Hopefully he’ll find his strength in short order.

Hierarchy remains: Janssen | McGowan | Loup.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates – Mark Melancon has pitched in three straight.
2. Danny Farquhar, Seattle Mariners – Fernando Rodney has pitched in back to back games, including a 32-pitch blown save on Sunday.
3. Dustin McGowan, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen might not be fully recovered yet, and Aaron Loup has pitched in three straight.

Zach Putnam gets two saves in two days; Joe Nathan struggling

July 20, 2014

Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen was unavailable due to a bout of food poisoning, so Aaron Loup got the call in the 9th inning, picking up his third save of the year. With Brett Cecil pitching erratically as of late (Cecil has allowed a run in four of his last nine outings), Loup is now the primary lefty in the Toronto pen.

Updated hierarchy: Janssen | McGowan | Loup.

Detroit Tigers – Joe Nathan’s first appearance out of the break wasn’t a pretty one, as he allowed 3 earned runs and took the loss. Nathan’s ratios have improved considerably since he adjusted his arm slot in mid-June — he has 16 Ks against just 3 BBs in his past 10 innings — but when hitters make contact, they’re still hitting the ball pretty hard. He continues to get a vote of confidence from Brad Ausmus, but with his ERA now at 6.23, he’s back on our Hot Seat.

Hierarchy remains: Nathan | Chamberlain | Alburquerque.
Joe Nathan to Hot Seat.

Chicago White Sox – Zach Putnam got the save on Friday, so it was Jake Petricka’s turn to try for the last three outs on Saturday. But Petricka was only able to get two of those outs, also allowing a hit and a walk before being yanked by Robin Ventura — Putnam would strike out the game’s final hitter to earn the save. With two saves in two days, and an uncomfortably quick hook on Petricka, Putnam has inched to the top of the White Sox closer-by-committee.

Updated hierarchy: Putnam | Petricka | Guerra.

Philadelphia Phillies – Ken Giles got the ball in the 8th inning last night and picked up his third hold of the season. With Giles continuing to shine in his audition, he’s a great speculative add (as mentioned here) for teams looking for saves. Jonathan Papelbon could be shipped out soon.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Giles | Bastardo.

Seattle Mariners – Charlie Furbush picked up his first save of the season on Saturday, pitching the bottom of the 12th inning. He does not factor in to the Mariners’ usual late-inning plans.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Farquhar | Medina.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Dustin McGowan/Aaron Loup, Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen’s food poisoning could keep him out another day or so.

Benoit to close after Street is traded to Angels, Putnam picks up save

July 19, 2014

San Diego Padres — Huston Street has been traded to the Angels and set-up man Joaquin Benoit will assume the 9th inning duties.  It sounds like the Padres will use a number of different guys in the set-up role, with Dale Thayer, Kevin Quakenbush and Nick Vincent, when he returns from injury, being mentioned.

Updated hierarchy: Benoit | Thayer | Quakenbush.

Chicago White Sox — Zach Putnam got the first save opportunity coming out of the All-Star break and converted for his third save of the season.  It’s hard to read too much into one game, especially with the way Robin Ventura has been using his relievers recently, but it looks like we are back to Putnam and Petricka sharing the closing duties for now.

Updated hierarchy: Petricka | Putnam | Guerra.

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels acquired former Padre closer Huston Street late Friday night, and he is expected to immediately bump Joe Smith back to a setup role.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Smith | Jepsen.

Miami Marlins — Kevin Gregg has been placed on the DL with right elbow inflammation.  The Marlins activated A.J. Ramos from the DL and he should split time with Bryan Morris in the 7th and 8th innings.

Updated hierarchy: Cishek | Morris | Ramos.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Zach Putnam, Chicago White Sox – The White Sox are still going with a committee so it could be Putnam or Petricka on any given night.
2. Grant Balfour/Brad Boxberger, Tampa Bay Rays – Jake McGee has been pitching great and getting most of the save opportunities, which means it’s a perfect time for Joe Maddon to try somebody else in his committee.

Huston Street traded to Angels

July 18, 2014

Los Angeles Angels — The Angels acquired former Padre closer Huston Street late Friday night, and he is expected to immediately bump Joe Smith back to a setup role.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Smith | Jepsen.

San Diego Padres — With the departure of Huston Street to Los Angeles, Joaquin Benoit is set to take over the ninth inning for the Padres. San Diego is still considering deals for Benoit, but the price has increased. Somebody has to be second in line, and for now we think it’s Tim Stauffer. Down the road, the Padres could turn to R.J. Alvarez, a closer prospect they picked up in the trade.

Updated hierarchy: Benoit | Thayer | Stauffer.

Jason Frasor traded to Kansas City

July 17, 2014

Texas Rangers — As we predicted, Jason Frasor was indeed traded — to Kansas City, for AAA all-star closer Spencer Patton. Neal Cotts moves back up to second in line for now, but he could also be next out the door.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Feliz | Cotts.

Kansas City Royals — Our first Royals update in 3 1/2 months doesn’t even come with a hierarchy change. New Royal Jason Frasor was the main set-up man in Arlington, but with Wade Davis dominating and Kelvin Herrera still topping 100 on the radar gun, he’ll be back in the pack in KC.

Hierarchy remains: Holland | Davis | Herrera.