Kenley Jansen’s season in jeopardy; Ronald Belisario to inherit closer role

August 30, 2012

Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario picked up the save on Wednesday, throwing 1.2 innings with the Dodgers up by two runs.  After the game, the Dodgers revealed that Kenley Jansen is battling a heart condition that kept him out for a month last year.  Seemingly out of nowhere, his season is in jeopardy.  Belisario should close, but behind him, there are few sure things.  Deadline acquisition Brandon League is the best bet to move in to the set-up role.  Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to Closer, Brandon League to Set-up, Jamey Wright to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Belisario |League |Wright |Jansen |8/30/12 |Jansen(INJ) |

Giants closer-by-committee still going strong

August 29, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo picked up his 7th save of the season last night, pitching a clean 9th inning.  Jeremy Affeldt was on paternity leave, but the closer role is a full platoon either way, with Affeldt, Romo, and Javier Lopez all sharing save chances.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Affeldt |Romo |Lopez |Wilson |8/25/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees – Both Rafael Soriano and David Robertson have pitched in three straight and four of the last five.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Another save for Luke Gregerson suggests likely platoon in San Diego

August 28, 2012

Colorado Rockies – Matt Belisle picked up his second save of the season on Monday.  He finished off the top of the 8th inning in a 3-run game, then stayed on for the ninth after the Rockies scored 7 runs in the interim.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Brothers |Betancourt |8/28/12

 
San Diego Padres – Dale Thayer returned from paternity leave yesterday, but he was used in the 8th inning, while Luke Gregerson picked up the save in the 9th.  Gregerson has been on fire, having not allowed a run since July 3.  He’s now likely sharing opportunities with Thayer until Huston Street returns.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Layne |Street |8/28/12 |Street(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – It appears that the Padres will be splitting opportunities between Dale Thayer and Luke Gregerson until Huston Street returns.
2. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.

Luke Gregerson, Josh Lindblom, Mark Melancon, Shawn Camp all pick up random saves

August 27, 2012

San Diego Padres – With Dale Thayer still on paternity leave, Luke Gregerson picked up a save in his absence.  Thayer returns today and will resume closing until Huston Street is healthy.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSD |Thayer |Gregerson |Layne |Street |8/27/12 |Street(DL) |

 
Philadelphia Phillies – Josh Lindblom picked up a 1.2 inning save on Sunday, as Jonathan Papelbon had the day off after pitching three in a row.  Antonio Bastardo has been the 8th inning man lately, so this may have been a match-up play– four of the five hitters Lindblom faced were righties.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedPHI |Papelbon |Bastardo |Lindblom |Papelbon |8/27/12

 
Boston Red Sox – With both Andrew Bailey and Vicente Padilla unavailable, the Red Sox went to Mark Melancon in the 9th inning on Sunday.  Craig Breslow has been pitching better than anyone else in the Boston bullpen lately, but the Red Sox appear to prefer Melancon’s experience in the closer role.  While there won’t be many nights where both Bailey and Padilla (and the suspended Alfredo Aceves) are unavailable, Melancon could see more late-inning work going forward.  Hierarchy change: Mark Melancon to 2nd in line, replacing Craig Breslow.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Melancon |Bailey |8/27/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

 
Chicago Cubs – Shawn Camp pitched the 8th inning with the Cubs up by 2 runs, and ended up earning the save when the game was rained out in the bottom of the 8th.  Camp will continue to be the 8th inning man moving forward, as he was tonight.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Marmol |Camp |Russell |Marmol |8/27/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.

Andrew Bailey takes over as closer with Alfredo Aceves suspended

August 26, 2012

Oakland A’s – Sean Doolittle pitched the 8th inning ahead of Grant Balfour on Saturday, striking out 2 in a perfect inning for his 9th hold of the year.  The A’s have gone back and forth between Doolittle and Jerry Blevins over the past month or so, using whoever is pitching better as their go-to lefty.  Lately, that’s been Doolittle, who over his last 7 innings pitched has allowed 0 runs while striking out 13.  Hierarchy change: Sean Doolittle to 2nd in line, replacing Jerry Blevins.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedOAK |Balfour |Cook |Doolittle |Cook |8/26/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has been suspended for three games for conduct detrimental to the team.  At the moment, it is unclear whether he was suspended for his expletive-laden media comment after his last blown save, or due to an explosive meeting he had with Bobby Valentine after being bypassed for the save yesterday.  Either way, this might be it for the mercurial righty, as Bailey, barring any slip-ups, should take the job and run with it from here.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Bailey to Closer, Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Craig Breslow to 2nd in line, Alfredo Aceves suspended.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Bailey |Padilla |Breslow |Bailey |8/25/12 |Aceves(SUSP)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three straight games.
2. Craig Breslow, Boston Red Sox – Both Andrew Bailey and Vicente Padilla have pitched in three straight.
3. Jared Burton, Minnesota Twins – The Twins are employing a committee, and while Glen Perkins remains the best bet for saves overall, Jared Burton could get an opportunity whenever match-ups are right.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – With the Giants in full committee mode, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could get a save on any night.