Chad Qualls is struggling in Miami; Luke Hochevar picks up a save

August 9, 2013

Miami Marlins — Chad Qualls was awful for the third straight game, loading the bases without getting any outs. Mike Dunn relieved him and has been much more effective lately. Hierarchy change: Mike Dunn to Set-up, Chad Qualls to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MIASteve CishekMike DunnChad QuallsSteve Cishek8/9/13

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Kansas City Royals — Luke Hochevar got the last out of the eighth and stayed on for the ninth after the Royals scored two, earning a four-out save. Hochevar’s numbers are excellent, but the Kansas City bullpen is packed. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
KCGreg HollandAaron CrowKelvin HerreraGreg Holland8/9/13

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Josh Fields has rough outing; Jonathan Broxton returns

August 8, 2013

Houston Astros – Just a week and a half ago, Jose Cisnero was almost everyone’s pick to close for Houston after the trade of Jose Veras.  Now, after another rough outing yesterday, Cisnero is headed to the minors.  Also in Astros news, Josh Fields followed up a dominant first save chance with a hideous second appearance, as he gave up 3 runs in the 9th inning to the Astros.  Though he was never officially the full time closer, last night’s drubbing will make it less likely that he gets the next save chance.  If he does get passed over next time, Chia-Jen Lo is the next best candidate; he’s got a 0.00 ERA through 4 innings.  Hierarchy change: Josh Zeid to 2nd in line, replacing Jose Cisnero.  Josh Fields to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsChia-Jen LoJosh ZeidJosh Fields8/8/13

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Cincinnati Reds – Jonathan Broxton was activated from the DL yesterday.  Given his past closing experience, he’ll likely be considered for any saves when Aroldis Chapman is unavailable, but he’ll have to show something formidable to unseat J.J. Hoover from the set-up role, as Hoover has now thrown 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings.  Hierarchy change: Jonathan Broxton to 2nd in line, replacing Manny Parra.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanJ.J. HooverJonathan BroxtonJonathan Broxton8/7/13

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LaTroy Hawkins and Josh Fields are first in line; Ernesto Frieri awful again

August 7, 2013

Houston Astros — On Tuesday night, Jose Cisnero entered the game with two on and one out in the sixth inning, his team trailing by three — a vitally important spot in the game. Unfortunately for Cisnero and the Astros, he immediately surrendered a three-run homer, then scattered three walks and a solo shot among three retired batters. The Astros are still closing by committee, but we have to acknowledge that Josh Fields has the best shot at the next save opportunity, with Chia-Jen Lo also moving in front of the struggling Cisnero. Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to Closer, Chia-Jen Lo to Set-up, Jose Cisnero to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJosh FieldsChia-Jen LoJose CisneroJosh Fields8/7/13

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New York Mets — Although LaTroy Hawkins is best-positioned to pick up saves in Bobby Parnell’s absence, Terry Collins plans to use a committee of sorts, which will apparently include every reliever on the team except Scott Atchison. The lefty most likely to pick up a matchup-based save is Scott Rice. Hierarchy change: Scott Rice to 2nd in line, replacing Scott Atchison.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYMLaTroy HawkinsDavid AardsmaScott RiceBobby Parnell8/7/13
Bobby Parnell (DL)

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Los Angeles Angels — Ernesto Frieri’s struggles continue, this time to the tune of four straight two-out singles that turned a two-run deficit into a five-run hole. The Hot Seat in Anaheim blazes on, with 2-13 Joe Blanton somehow the Angels’ most effective reliever over the past two weeks. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri8/7/13

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Cincinnati Reds — While J.J. Hoover has picked up three high-leverage eighth-inning holds over the past nine days, Sam LeCure has been consistently used with the team behind, including in a four-run, five-hit debacle on Sunday. Hierarchy change: J.J. Hoover to Set-up, replacing Sam LeCure.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanJ.J. HooverManny ParraJonathan Broxton8/7/13
Jonathan Broxton (DL)

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Seattle Mariners — Tom Wilhelmsen was sent down to AAA Tacoma on Tuesday, and should no longer be considered the favorite to close in Seattle next season. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEADanny FarquharOliver PerezYoervis MedinaDanny Farquhar8/7/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Justin De Fratus, Philadelphia Phillies — Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three of four games, and threw 30 pitches on Tuesday, in a three-run outing complicated by a Domonic Brown error.
2. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers — Jim Henderson got a four-out save on Tuesday and Brandon Kintzler has thrown on three straight days.

LaTroy Hawkins gets first save in Bobby Parnell’s absence

August 6, 2013

New York Mets – With Bobby Parnell on the DL, the first Mets save went to LaTroy Hawkins, who pitched a scoreless 9th.  David Aardsma got a save opp over the weekend, but blew it, and gave up the go-ahead run in extra innings the following night, so given Hawkins’s success tonight, the ageless righty is the best bet for the bulk of saves in the Mets bullpen.  Hierarchy change: LaTroy Hawkins to Closer, David Aardsma to Set-up.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYMLaTroy HawkinsDavid AardsmaScott AtchisonBobby Parnell8/6/13
Bobby Parnell (DL)

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Your Astros closer of the day: Josh Fields

August 6, 2013

Houston Astros — Houston’s bullpen situation isn’t getting any clearer. Monday night, Bo Porter played matchups in the ninth, using Wesley Wright to start the eighth, then summoning Josh Fields to face Mike Napoli with two outs. Fields, who was selected from Boston this offseason in the Rule 5 draft, struck out Napoli, then stuck around for the ninth; all he did there was strike out the side for his first career save. Although some on Twitter are ready to anoint him the new closer, we suspect this is just what an actual closer-by-committee approach looks like — note that Fields has a 6.00+ ERA, has allowed baserunners in six straight appearances, and pitched the eighth down a run on Sunday. Four strikeouts in four at-bats is quite a statement, though, and if Porter wants to return to a more conventional ninth-inning approach, Fields has a strong case. Hierarchy change: Josh Fields to Set-up, Chia-Jen Lo to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroJosh FieldsChia-Jen LoJose Cisnero8/6/13

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Philadelphia Phillies — Antonio Bastardo was handed a 50-game suspension on Monday for his connection to performance-enhancing drugs. Justin De Fratus has been effective since mid-July, not allowing a run in his last six appearances — and the Phils will need him, with Mike Adams out until 2014 after shoulder surgery. Hierarchy change: Justin De Fratus to Set-up, replacing Antonio Bastardo.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
PHIJonathan PapelbonJustin De FratusJacob DiekmanJonathan Papelbon8/6/13

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Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen got the night off, so Paco Rodriguez nailed down a strong two-inning vulture save in a tight game. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenPaco RodriguezRonald BelisarioKenley Jansen8/6/13

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Atlanta Braves — Jordan Walden did indeed grab a vulture save Monday with Craig Kimbrel unavailable. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenLuis AvilanCraig Kimbrel8/6/13

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Los Angeles Angels — Long-injured Ryan Madson got only as far as one single-A rehab appearance this year; it appears that this will be his second straight season out of the majors after the Angels released him on Monday. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri8/6/13

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Seattle Mariners — A triceps injury will shut down Stephen Pryor for the remainder of the year. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEADanny FarquharOliver PerezYoervis MedinaTom Wilhelmsen8/6/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez and Joe Smith have each pitched in three straight games.