Ronald Belisario out as closer for White Sox

June 27, 2014

Chicago White Sox – Ronald Belisario could only get 1 out in the 9th inning on Friday night and after the game, Robin Ventura finally pulled the plug on the laboring righty.  The only person mentioned specifically as being “in the mix” for save opportunities is Jake Petricka — the man who bailed Belisario out on Friday.  We like Zach Putnam’s ratios a lot better, while Javy Guerra has the most experience, and Daniel Webb has carried the “future closer” tag for a while.  But actually converting a save carries a lot of weight, so we’ll stick Petricka in the lead until we hear more.

Updated hierarchy: Petricka | Putnam | Guerra.

Joe Smith tightening his grip on Angels’ closer gig

June 27, 2014

Los Angeles Angels – That Joe Smith is one shrewd sidearmer. After inheriting three of Ernesto Frieri’s baserunners with two out in a 5-run 9th inning last night, Smith cleverly allowed a double to the first hitter he faced, plating all three runs and raising Frieri’s ERA to 6.39. Then he looked into the dugout and he laughed and he laughed (probably), before striking out Kendrys Morales to pick up the save. With Frieri’s continued implosion, Smith’s hold on the closer role is strengthening, with his main competition now coming from Kevin Jepsen and youngster Mike Morin, the latter of whom has a 1.37 ERA in 25 appearances.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Jepsen | Frieri.

Houston Astros – Yeah, okay, he had an 8.10 ERA with the Cubs in a memorably awful two months earlier this year, but it wasn’t that long ago that Jose Veras was literally the only reliable reliever in the Houston bullpen. The Astros, who signed him to a minor league deal a few weeks back, just called Veras back to the bigs, where he’ll slide into the hierarchy based on experience alone. In our hierarchy and in the real life bullpen, Veras replaces Kyle Farnsworth (who, interestingly, was also holding a spot in both places based on experience alone), who was sent to the minors to make room.

Updated hierarchy: Qualls | Sipp | Veras.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back to back games, and has thrown 81 pitches across four outings this week.

Kevin Gregg? Kevin Gregg. And Twitter hates Brian Wilson’s beard

June 26, 2014

Miami Marlins — We can’t hide from this anymore. Kevin Gregg, fresh from coaching Little League, is relevant again in Miami. Wednesday night, he pitched a perfect eighth in a one-run game, an enormous, bespectacled bridge to Steve Cishek. His vast (if checkered) closing experience, combined with Mike Redmond’s obvious willingness to use him in big spots, will make him the next guy up when necessary.

Updated hierarchy: Cishek | Gregg | Ramos.

Los Angeles Dodgers — As predicted in Wednesday’s Vulture Save Watch, Kenley Jansen got the night off and Brian Wilson picked up his first save in 26 months, oblivious to the endless litany of catty tweets he inspired.

Hierarchy remains: Jansen | Wilson | League.

Los Angeles Angels — Although the Angels scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Joe Smith had been warming in preparation for a second straight save. That news pales in comparison to the true accomplishment in Anaheim on Wednesday night.

Hierarchy remains: Smith | Jepsen | Frieri.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal threw a whopping 41 pitches on Wednesday night.

Ronald Belisario gets vote of confidence; Angels going full-on committee

June 25, 2014

Chicago White Sox — Robin Ventura announced on Tuesday that he was sticking with Ronald Belisario as the White Sox closer despite his troubles — which include 11 earned runs over 11 IP in his 13 appearances in the role. Although Belisario’s peripherals strongly suggest that he’s pitched better than his stats, general manager Rick Hahn made a point of telling the Chicago Tribune that Ventura is free to be “more flexible” in his approach to the ninth, mentioning Zach Putnam, Javy Guerra, and Daniel Webb as options.

Hierarchy remains: Belisario | Putnam | Petricka.

Los Angeles Angels — Mike Scioscia is serious about this committee thing; the last three LA save chances have gone to Cam Bedrosian, Kevin Jepsen, and now Joe Smith. Putative closer Ernesto Frieri worked a clean eighth. We’re keeping things as they have been until we hear something more solid from the Angels brass.

Hierarchy remains: Frieri | Smith | Jepsen.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Watson/Justin Wilson, Pittsburgh Pirates — Mark Melancon struggled through a 25-pitch save on Tuesday night and has pitched on three of four days. Watson has had a similar workload, but Wilson hasn’t pitched since last Friday.
2. Brian Wilson, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has pitched on four of the last five days.
3. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals — Rafael Soriano has pitched on four of the last five (and six of the last eight) days, and Tyler Clippard has gone in three straight.