Jose Veras starts season on Hot Seat

April 1, 2013

Texas Rangers – Late last week, Ron Washington signaled that Robbie Ross and Michael Kirkman would be the team’s primary set-up men, moves that were reinforced over the weekend.  Josh Lindblom, who many thought would serve as a late-inning man, was sent to the minors to be stretched out as a starter, while Jason Frasor was used in the 7th inning last night with the Rangers down four runs.  Hierarchy change: Robbie Ross to Set-up, Michael Kirkman to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTEX |Nathan |Ross |Kirkman |Nathan |4/1/13

 
Houston Astros – Erik Bedard, the team’s fifth starter, picked up a 3.1-inning save last night.  Bedard isn’t expected to start for several days and may not appear out of the bullpen for the rest of the year.  However, this doesn’t mean Jose Veras’s job is safe by any means.  He struggled in Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic, and the team has said that he will have to earn his closer spot.  A few bad outings, and the Astros may look elsewhere.  Jose Veras to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Ambriz |Wright |Veras |4/1/13

 
Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit, our listed “closer” is not actually the team’s stopper, as Jim Leyland has indicated that any member of the bullpen could be the man to get the final outs.  Based on the volatility of the bullpen, however, it is safe to say that a few bad outings from Benoit (or any of the team’s other relievers) will remove him from the discussion.  Joaquin Benoit to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/1/13

Bruce Rondon sent down, Tigers to go closer-by-committee

March 28, 2013

Detroit Tigers – The Tigers have sent would-be closer Bruce Rondon to the minors after a disastrous outing on Wednesday.  The Detroit Free Press believes the Tigers will go with a closer-by-committee that includes Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque and Octavio Dotel.  Of these four, Dotel has the most experience, Alburquerque the most potential, Benoit was the most reliable man last year, and Coke got the most opportunities down the stretch.  Best guess is that Coke and Benoit will split opportunities for the time being.  Hierarchy change: Joaquin Benoit to Closer, Phil Coke to Set-up, Al Alburquerque to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Benoit |Coke |Alburquerque|Rondon |3/20/13

Mitchell Boggs to close during Motte’s absence; Gibbons gives nod to Janssen

March 25, 2013

St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Motte will start the season on the DL.  The Cardinals closer felt his forearm tighten up after his most recent appearance, and the Cardinals announced over the weekend that they were shutting him down for at least a week due to a mild flexor strain.  Mitchell Boggs will close in his absence.  Hierarchy change: Mitchell Boggs to Closer, Edward Mujica to Set-up, Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line; Jason Motte injured.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |Updated
STL |Boggs |Mujica |Rzepczynski |Motte |3/25/13

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Blue Jays manager John Gibbons seems to think that Casey Janssen will be ready to open the season come April 2.  Janssen himself is far less certain.  Either way, though, Gibbons told the Toronto Sun that Janssen was definitely his closer, even if he wasn’t ready for the season.  So if Sergio Santos gets a few save opportunities, they won’t last long, as Janssen will inherit the job whenever he does return.  Hierarchy change: Casey Janssen to Closer, Sergio Santos to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Santos |Oliver |Santos |3/25/13

Aroldis Chapman is the closer in Cincinnati

March 24, 2013

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have announced that Aroldis Chapman will be their closer.  Chapman said earlier in the spring that he’d prefer to close, and apparently Dusty Baker wanted to keep him in the bullpen.  With both player and coach in the same corner, the higher-ups in the Reds organization that wanted Chapman to start eventually backed down, allowing the young Cuban to return to his 9th inning role.  Jonathan Broxton’s value takes a huge hit.  Hierarchy change: Aroldis Chapman to Closer,a Jonathan Broxton to Set-up, Sean Marshsall to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Broxton |3/24/13

 

Sergio Santos probably the Opening Day closer in Toronto

March 20, 2013

Los Angeles Angels – Ryan Madson, who the Angels hoped would be ready for the start of the season, suffered a setback in his rehabilitation last Thursday.  Ernesto Frieri will close games until Madson gets healthy, at which point the Angels will have to decide with reliever is better suited for the 9th.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Jepsen |Downs |Frieri |3/20/13 |Madson(INJ) |

 
Cincinnati Reds – All spring, it seemed that Aroldis Chapman would become a starting pitcher, but recently Chapman has been saying that he’d prefer to close, and he has Dusty Baker in his corner.  The Reds front office has been pushing for Chapman to move to the rotation, so his status remains up in the air as the Cincinnati decision-makers argue amongst themselves.  Jonathan Broxton remains the only option to close if Chapman’s destination is the rotation.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Broxton |Marshall |Arredondo |Broxton |3/20/13

 
Detroit Tigers – The Tigers have still not declared a closer, though Bruce Rondon remains the favorite.  Others who could have an opportunity to close include Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke, or Al Alburquerque, but each carries a question mark.  Jim Leyland said earlier this spring that he wasn’t sure that Benoit had the ability to bounce back in the way the position requires.  Coke, who picked up a handful of saves late last season, remains a possibility, but is the only lefty in the back end of the bullpen and may be better suited as a match-up guy.  Alburquerque has had trouble staying healthy.  Rondon, meanwhile, has pitched better as of late, and probably has a 50/50 shot of being named the full-time closer at this point.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Rondon |Benoit |Coke |Rondon |3/20/13

 
Toronto Blue Jays – With Casey Janssen’s rehab going slower than expected, Sergio Santos will most likely start the season as the closer in Toronto.  Santos was signed before last season with the expectation that he would close for the Blue Jays, so if he pitches well in the early going, he could hold on to the job for good.  Hierarchy change: Sergio Santos to Closer, Casey Janssen to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Santos |Janssen |Oliver |Santos |3/20/13