Clippard and Storen to split saves, Street off DL

September 22, 2012

Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard blew the save last night and has now allowed runs in 5 of his past 8 outings.  Manager Davey Johnson has said that he will split the closer role between Clippard and Drew Storen the rest of the season.  “I have confidence in both of them closing,” Johnson said.  Tyler Clippard to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Storen |Burnett |Storen |9/22/12

 
San Diego Padres – Huston Street was activated from the DL on Friday and should resume his closing duties.  Hierarchy change: Huston Street to Closer, Luke Gregerson to Set-up, Dale Thayer to 2nd in Line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Street |Gregerson |Thayer |Street |9/22/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Kenlsey Jansen pitched the 7th inning in a tie game last night.  Manager Don Matthingly said that he would like to ease Jansen back into the closer role.  Brandon League picked up the save in extras and could see a couple more save opps before Jansen is back to closing.   Hierarchy change:  Kenley Jansen to Set-up, Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |League |Jansen |Belisario |Jansen |9/22/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has thrown 61 pitches over the last 3 days.
2. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals – Greg Holland has pitched 3 days in a row.
3. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman might be a few more days away from returning.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alburquerque could be key for Tigers down the stretch

September 21, 2012

Detroit Tigers – Al Alburquerque was extraordinary for the Tigers last season, but a stress fracture in his throwing elbow required offseason surgery, sidelining him for much of this year. In the four outings since his recall on September 2, Alburquerque has allowed only one hit against nine strikeouts; this includes a sparkling 2.1 innings yesterday against Oakland. His return will ease any Tiger concern about Octavio Dotel’s recent struggles. Hierarchy change: Al Alburquerque to 2nd in line, replacing Octavio Dotel.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Alburquerque|Valverde |9/21/12

 
San Diego Padres – Given a one-run lead, Luke Gregerson put two men on to start the ninth — so Bud Black played the platoon advantage for the rest of the inning, using five different pitchers who loaded the bases with no outs, only to escape unscathed. Anthony Bass was the last man standing, striking out Aaron Hill for his first career save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Gregerson |Thayer |Layne |Street |9/21/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Cincinnati Reds – As predicted, the Reds gave Jonathan Broxton the night off — but it was Alfredo Simon who picked up the save in Aroldis Chapman’s continued absence. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |9/21/12

 
Washington Nationals – After pitching in both ends of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Tyler Clippard was rested on Thursday in favor of Drew Storen. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Storen |Burnett |Storen |9/21/12

 
New York Yankees – The Yankees did indeed rest Rafael Soriano, but it was David Robertson who collected the save in his absence, striking out the side. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Robertson |Chamberlain |Robertson |9/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jim Henderson, Milwaukee Brewers – John Axford has thrown 42 pitches in the last two days.
2. Fernando Salas, St. Louis Cardinals – Jason Motte has pitched in three straight games and on five of the last six days; Mitchell Boggs and Edward Mujica have also seen heavy recent use.
3. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman might be a few more days away from returning.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.
5. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Andrew Bailey blew a save on Thursday in a brutal 28-pitch outing. His job is safe, but he might need a day off.

Aroldis Chapman “feels good,” but won’t be back right away

September 20, 2012

Cincinnati Reds – Another night, another save for Jonathan Broxton. Aroldis Chapman told reporters that his fatigued shoulder “feels good,” but also said he could need two or three more sessions in the bullpen to regain his command. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |9/20/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees – Rafael Soriano earned two saves yesterday, and David Robertson had a difficult game.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – Glen Perkins has been busy lately and Burton had last night off.
3. Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman is still out and Jonathan Broxton has thrown on three of the last four days.
4. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Steve Cishek gets shelled; Matt Thornton rising

September 19, 2012

Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek got knocked around on Tuesday night, eventually getting yanked after allowing three runs and only recording one out.  Cishek’s ERA is now 9.95 for the month of August, pushing his season-long ERA up to nearly 3, which is probably where it should’ve been anyway, given his crummy WHIP (1.34).  After Tuesday’s outing, he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Heath Bell, who the Marlins would probably like to see win the job back going into next season.  Steve Cishek to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedMIA |Cishek |Bell |Dunn |Bell |9/19/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan Broxton picked up his third NL save in Aroldis Chapman’s absence on Tuesday.  Chapman is throwing a bullpen session today and could resume closing shortly, but Broxton is worth holding on to in case the Reds shut the hard-throwing lefty down until the playoffs.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |Marshall |Madson |9/19/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Matt Thornton pitched a clean 8th inning, then stayed on to face the first hitter of the 9th before giving way to Addison Reed, who recorded the final two outs.  Thornton and Brett Myers are jockeying for the 8th inning role, but as a lefty, Thornton is probably more likely to pick up a random save here and there, given Robin Ventura’s recent tendency to play match-ups all the way through the 9th.  Hierarchy change: Matt Thornton to Set-up, Brett Myers to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Myers |Reed |9/19/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Heath Bell, Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek got knocked around last night, and has pitched in four of the last five.  He might get the day off today.
2. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman’s fatigued arm means Jonathan Broxton should see the majority of Cincinnati save chances over the next week or so.
3. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.

Giants gaining confidence again in Santiago Casilla

September 18, 2012

San Francisco Giants – On Monday, Santiago Casilla finished the 7th inning, pitched a clean 8th, then got the first out of the 9th with the Giants up by 1 run.  With Jeremy Affeldt going through some serious struggles over the past month or so, Casilla has been getting more usage in high-leverage situations.  Hierarchy change: Santiago Casilla to 2nd in line, replacing Jeremy Affeldt.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Lopez |Casilla |Wilson |9/18/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
1. Jonathan Broxton, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman’s fatigued arm means Jonathan Broxton should see the majority of Cincinnati save chances over the next week or so.
2. Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo continue to share the 9th inning role for the Giants.