Danny Farquhar’s usage confusing; Milwaukee’s bullpen a mess

July 11, 2014

Milwaukee Brewers – Outside of closer Francisco Rodriguez, the Brewers bullpen has gone from sturdy to unwatchable over the past 30 days. The ERAs of their top three middle relievers on June 11: Will Smith, 0.91; Rob Wooten, 2.91; Brandon Kintzler, 3.38. Today? Smith, 3.24; Wooten, 4.20; Kintzler, 3.86. Smith’s decline has been especially troubling, as the lefty was among the top middle relievers in the game over the first two months of the season. But his last 8 appearances have yielded 11 ERs in just 6.2 innings, including an absolute shellacking last night (5 ERs, 0 outs recorded). As it stands now, we don’t think the Brewers would hand the ball to Smith if K-Rod needed a night off. We’re not sure who would get the chance, actually, but we’ll give the nod to Kintzler for now, as a prize for regressing the least over the past month.

Updated hierarchy: Rodriguez | Kintzler | Smith.

Seattle Mariners – Though he’s rarely been used as the 8th inning man, Lloyd McLendon tabbed Danny Farquhar as his backup closer as recently as two weeks ago. And it sure is strange see a backup closer pitching in the THIRD inning of a game, as Farquhar did last night. We’ve been perpetually befuddled by this bullpen all season, mostly because it’s been very good top to bottom — McLendon hasn’t really needed to designate specific roles for his more effective pitchers, because they’ve all been quite effective. So we’re still going to trust that Farquhar truly would be the guy to take over should something happen to Fernando Rodney. But still, you’re sending your supposed 2nd-best reliever out there in the third inning? Really? This one bears continued watching, as Yoervis Medina has continued to pitch well.

Hierarchy remains: Rodney | Farquhar | Medina.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton/Sam LeCure, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in three straight and will likely get the night off. Jonathan Broxton might be able to go, but he’s pitched in back to back games and four of five, so a Cincinnati save opp tonight could fall to Sam LeCure, or maybe Manny Parra.

Edward Mujica or Junichi Tazawa could close in Boston soon

July 10, 2014

Boston Red Sox — Trade rumors are heating up around Koji Uehara, raising the question of who would be next in line to replace him. John Farrell has mentioned that he likes to use Edward Mujica in the role with Uehara unavailable, Mujica’s 5.61 ERA and 1.49 WHIP notwithstanding. Farrell might be better served considering Junichi Tazawa or Andrew Miller — although lefty Miller could be leaving Boston soon himself.

Updated hierarchy: Uehara | Mujica | Tazawa.

Tampa Bay Rays — Time for our daily look at the bullpen you don’t want anything to do with! Use of would-be closer in the eighth inning? Check. Five pitchers called on to get the final seven outs? Check! Rookie Kirby Yates brought in at the highest-leverage moment to yield a game-winning home run? CHECK! The Rays have Thursday off, giving Joe Maddon the chance to take a fresh look at all of his bullpen options, then return to using them in baffling and inconsistent ways.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Balfour | Peralta.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Kirk Gibson insisted he hasn’t “even considered” moving Addison Reed from the closer role after his recent struggles. If he ever manages to spare some time for thought on the subject, he might recall how effective Brad Ziegler was in the role in 2013. Then again, he may just be buying time until the Arizona front office can move Reed.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Ziegler | Marshall.

Chicago White Sox — The Sox bullpen ruined a strong outing from would-be All-Star Chris Sale on Wednesday. Entering with two outs in the eighth, Jake Petricka gave up three hits and a walk without retiring a batter; after Javy Guerra got out of that jam, he came back out for the ninth and blew the save. Post-game criticism centered on Ventura’s decision to pull Sale, and with Chicago’s bullpen, that second-guessing seems pretty reasonable.

Hierarchy remains: Putnam | Petricka | Guerra.

Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek had a nightmare tenth on Wednesday night, entering with a two-run lead and giving up a single, a walk, a single, and a walk-off double. Although this is his second such meltdown in two weeks, he was working on a streak of 33 consecutive saves just a few months ago.

Hierarchy remains: Cishek | Gregg | Morris.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets — Jenrry Mejia has pitched in three of the last four games.
2. Antonio Bastardo/Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies — With Jonathan Papelbon having pitched in three straight games, Ryne Sandberg may audition young Ken Giles as a potential replacement in case of a trade.
3, Pat Neshek, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has pitched in two straight games.

Addison Reed in trouble in Arizona

July 9, 2014

Arizona Diamondbacks — Addison Reed blew his fifth save of the year — and third in his last six tries — on Tuesday night. Before Marcell Ozuna’s go-ahead home run, Reed was one strike away from cementing a victory in Vidal Nuño’s Arizona debut. Kirk Gibson, who might have a soft spot for go-ahead home runs, has remained firm in his support for Reed, but he has quality alternatives in sidearmer Brad Ziegler, Evan Marshall, and rookie Matt Stites. With the D-Backs currently sporting the worst record in baseball, another blown save might force the manager’s hand. Reed has allowed a run in 17 relief appearances and 11 save situations, each of which leads MLB.

Hierarchy remains: Reed | Ziegler | Marshall.
Addison Reed to Hot Seat.

Tampa Bay Rays — After using each of the three other members of the Tampa closer committee in turn, Joe Maddon has now called on Jake McGee in three straight save situations. McGee didn’t make it easy on Tuesday, giving up two runs in the ninth, but he got out of trouble in the end. It’s still a committee until mad genius Joe Maddon says otherwise, but McGee remains the best guy to own.

Hierarchy remains: McGee | Balfour | Peralta.

Atlanta Braves — In the week since David Carpenter was activated from the disabled list, he made precisely zero appearances, while Luis Avilan and Jordan Walden took care of the eighth inning in front of Craig Kimbrel. When Carpenter finally pitched again on Tuesday night, it was with the Braves trailing 6-0, and he gave up five hits and two runs over two line drive-heavy innings. Although the appearance raised Carpenter’s 2014 WHIP to 1.79 — percentage points higher than the 1.78 ERA he boasted in last year’s breakout season — part of the reason is a whopping .462 BABIP this year. Whether Carpenter is hurting or just unlucky, Atlanta seems likely to let him figure things out in lower-leverage spots for the time being. Shea Simmons would likely be next in line for saves behind Kimbrel and Walden.

Updated hierarchy: Kimbrel | Walden | Simmons.

Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon was the hard-luck loser in the second Cubs loss on Tuesday, victim of a misplayed pop fly and a broken-bat slice down the line. In other Cubs news, Kyuji Fujikawa and his $4 million salary made his first rehab appearance on Sunday, striking out one in a clean inning for the rookie-league Cubs of Mesa, Arizona. He has a shot at late-inning relevance later this season.

Hierarchy remains: Rondon | Ramirez | Strop.

St. Louis Cardinals — In stressing the importance of getting Trevor Rosenthal regular rest, Mike Matheny noted that All-Star Pat Neshek is the team’s backup closer, while Jason Motte — who gave up four runs in a Sunday appearance — will continue to be used outside any “designated role.”

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Neshek | Motte.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pat Neshek/Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals — Rosenthal threw 27 pitches on Tuesday and was used heavily over the weekend. Since backup closer Neshek has pitched in four of five games, Matheny may go to Motte for a save after all.
2. Joel Peralta/Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee needed 26 pitches to get his last save, and the Tampa committee system is still in effect.

Betances collects first save; Chapman back in business

July 8, 2014

New York Yankees – After throwing 21 pitches on Sunday, David Robertson got Monday night off. That paved the way for All-Star Dellin Betances to collect his first career save.

Hierarchy remains: Robertson | Betances | Warren.

Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman was warming up to enter the ninth inning on Monday night before the Reds tacked on three runs in the bottom half of the eighth. He is available after his hamstring tweak and can be expected to get the Reds’ next save opportunity.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Broxton | LeCure.

Philadelphia Phillies — Ken Giles got his first taste of set-up duty on Monday night, and he was strong in recording four outs against the heart of the Brewers’ order to preserve a 3-2 lead. The heir apparent to Jonathan Papelbon lowered his ERA to 0.77 and continued to make a case for why the Phils should trade Papelbon. While this was Giles’ first high-leverage spot, his previous nine appearances had also been against opponents’ best hitters and it won’t be long before he gets a chance to close out a game for the struggling Phillies.

Updated hierarchy: Papelbon | Bastardo | Giles.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jeurys Familia, New York Mets – Jenrry Mejia has thrown 40 pitches over the last two nights, including a blown save on Monday.

Jake Petricka neck and neck with Zach Putnam for saves in Chicago

July 7, 2014

Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman tweaked a hamstring at some point leading up to Sunday’s game, so Jonathan Broxton got the save for the Reds. Bryan Price expects Chapman to be back in short order.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Broxton | LeCure.

Texas Rangers – After throwing two scoreless innings in his return to the bigs on Friday, Neftali Feliz was solid again on Sunday, pitching the 8th inning of a losing effort. Due to his past experience in the role, he’ll likely be on the short list for save chances if Joakim Soria gets hurt or traded.

Updated hierarchy: Soria | Frasor | Feliz.

Chicago White Sox – Robin Ventura has said that he’s going to wait for someone to emerge in the White Sox closer by committee, and on Sunday, Jake Petricka did an awful lot of emerging. Mixing in a 98 mph fastball, struck out two hitters in two perfect innings, picking up his third save of the year. It’s hard to know what to make of this appearance, as Zach Putnam was unavailable and Javy Guerra was warming up in the 9th inning. Additionally, Petricka’s ratios are still kind of terrible (48.2 IPs, 36 Ks, 24 BBs). But Sunday’s outing stretched his scoreless streak to 12 consecutive innings, and he’s now neck and neck with Putnam for save chances in Chicago.

Hierarchy remains: Putnam | Petricka | Guerra.

Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil returned from the DL over the weekend, logging two scoreless appearances in the Blue Jays’ series with Oakland. He should supplant Aaron Loup as the go-to lefty in the late innings for Toronto; on Sunday, Loup came on in the 6th inning of a losing effort.

Updated hierarchy: Janssen | McGowan | Cecil.

San Francisco Giants – After his second save in two days, Bruce Bochy named Santiago Casilla the new full-time closer. Sergio Romo got knocked around again yesterday, so Jeremy Affeldt is still the handcuff for now, but he’s not likely to get saves unless Casilla is overworked.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Affeldt | Romo.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles – Zach Britton has pitched in back to back games and five of six.
2. Andrew Miller/Edward Mujica, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara has pitched in back to back games, including a 2-inning appearance on Sunday.