Marmol bumbles through another save opportunity; Valverde a Tiger again

April 5, 2013

Chicago Cubs — Dale Sveum stuck by Carlos Marmol after the embattled closer barely escaped a ninth inning that featured three singles wrapped around a walk. “He was OK. It didn’t seem that way, but it wasn’t too bad . . .  We know things can get interesting with him.” When Sveum tires of “interesting” approaches to protecting late leads, Kyuji Fujikawa and his 200+ saves await.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Fujikawa |Camp |Marmol |4/5/13

 
Cincinnati Reds — Aroldis Chapman picked up his first save of the year, and Sean Marshall, who has been kept out this season due to shoulder soreness, announced that he expected to be back for Friday night’s game against the Nationals.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Broxton |4/5/13

 
Detroit Tigers — In another threat to the Tigers’ fragile bullpen-by-committee setup, the team signed freshly shaven free agent Jose Valverde to a minor-league contract on Thursday. He’ll start out in extended spring training, then travel to Triple-A Toledo, and can opt out of the deal if he’s not in the majors by May 5. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/5/13

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sergio Santos, Toronto Blue Jays — Casey Janssen has pitched in two consecutive games.
2. Mike Adams, Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon has thrown on two straight days.

John Axford struggling; Phil Coke gets two straight opportunities

April 4, 2013

Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford got rocked in a non-save situation on Wednesday, entering the game in the 9th inning with the Brewers down by a run and allowing three runs.  He’s now given up three home runs in just 1.2 innings this season, prompting Ron Roenicke to observe: “(His velocity) was way down.  We’ll talk to him and see how he’s doing.”  John Axford to Hot Seat.

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

 
Cleveland Indians – Joe Smith picked up the save for the Indians in the 11th inning last night.  Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano had already pitched.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCLE |C.Perez |Pestano |Smith |C.Perez |4/4/13

 
Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Watson came on to finish the 7th inning for the Pirates on Wednesday, then stayed on to pitch the 8th, logging a perfect 1.1 innings and picking up his first save of the year.  Due to his past experience, Mark Melancon is likely the guy the Pirates will use on days where Jason Grilli is unavailable, but Watson may get some 8th inning action as well.  Hierarchy change: Tony Watson to 2nd in line, replacing Jared Hughes.

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

 
Detroit Tigers – We’re two games into the season, and Phil Coke has gotten both save opportunities for the Tigers.  He blew the save, retiring the first man before allowing two hits.  Additionally, the batters he faced were two lefties and a switch hitter, so Jim Leyland could still very easily be playing matchups, and it could just have fallen on Coke on the first two games of the season.  But if you’re only going to own one Tigers reliever, he’s the guy; Joaquin Benoit and Al Alburquerque are also worth stashing, if you have the room.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to Closer, Joaquin Benoit to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/3/13

 

Phil Coke: Your sort-of Tigers closer

April 3, 2013

Detroit Tigers – We’re two games into the season, and Phil Coke has gotten both save opportunities for the Tigers, entering the game today with 1 out in the 9th inning.  He blew the save, retiring the first man before allowing two hits.  Additionally, the batters he faced were two lefties and a switch hitter, so Jim Leyland could still very easily be playing matchups, and it could just have fallen on Coke on the first two games of the season.  But if you’re only going to own one Tigers reliever, he’s the guy; Joaquin Benoit and Al Alburquerque are also worth stashing, if you have the room.  Hierarchy change: Phil Coke to Closer, Joaquin Benoit to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/3/13

Josh Fields is one to watch in the Astros bullpen

April 3, 2013

Houston Astros – The Astros got their first look at their (non-Bedard) bullpen in a loss to the Rangers last night, and it wasn’t pretty, as five relievers combined to give up six runs in three innings.  The only reliever to perform well was Josh Fields, who struck out the only batter he faced.  Fields, a former first round pick, is coming off a solid spring, where he posted a 2.53 ERA over 10.2 innings.  Lefthander Wesley Wright, meanwhile, is one of the team’s more experienced relievers, but will likely be used as a matchup guy regardless.  Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to 2nd in line, replacing Wesley Wright.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Ambriz |Fields |Veras |4/3/13

Carlos Marmol already on the verge of losing his job

April 2, 2013

Chicago Cubs – It took all of one game for reporters to start questioning Carlos Marmol’s role as the Cubs’ stopper.  After taking over in the 9th inning, Marmol allowed three baserunners while only retiring one hitter before he was yanked for James Russell.  Kyuji Fujikawa eventually got the one-out save.  After the game, Dale Sveum said that Marmol was still his closer, though the quick hook shows just how little confidence the Cubs’ skipper has in the erratic righty.  Fujikawa, a closer in Japan, is the best option to replace Marmol if the struggles continue.  Hierarchy change: Kyuji Fujikawa to Set-up, Shawn Camp to 2nd in line.  Carlos Marmol to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Fujikawa |Camp |Marmol |4/2/13

 
Detroit Tigers – The first save of the Detroit season went to Phil Coke, who retired the final two batters of the game.  Joaquin Benoit had started the 8th and 9th innings, both of which were led off by righties, and Coke came on to face a lefty in the 9th.  Al Alburquerque pitched the 7th.  After the game, Jim Leyland said: “Today, it was Alburquerque, Benoit and Coke, and the next game, it might be Darin Downs, Villarreal and Dotel. That’s just the way it’s going to be. It’s nothing different from what we’ve been talking about all along.”  Though Leyland’s comment suggests there is still no single reliever who will be getting the bulk of the saves in Detroit, the three relievers who pitched on Opening Day are still the three we like best.  No hierarchy change. 

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

 
Atlanta Braves – Jonny Venters was placed on the disabled list to start the season, and reports emerged over the weekend that he was heading to visit Dr. James Andrews, which is never a good sign.  Eric O’Flaherty pitched the 7th inning in the Braves’ opening day win.  Hierarchy change: Eric O’Flaherty to 2nd in line, replacing Jonny Venters.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedATL |Kimbrel |Walden |O'Flaherty |Kimbrel |4/2/13