Tom Wilhelmsen out as closer as Mariners opt for a return to a committee

August 2, 2013

Seattle Mariners – Prior to Friday’s game, Robby Thompson said that he’d go to a closer-by-committee, mentioning lefties Charlie Furbush and Oliver Perez, and righties Yoervis Medina and Danny Farquhar.  Friday’s game offered no clues into who gets first crack, as the Mariners lost and used only Brandon Maurer in relief, but over the last several weeks, Furbush has been, unquestionably, the 8th inning guy.  The set-up man doesn’t always ascend to the role, though, and Perez and Medina are the relievers who have gotten odd save opps earlier this season; they could jump him in the hierarchy as a result, particularly since Thompson is an interim manager, and may not want to give someone new (Furbush) a chance.  Farquhar, meanwhile, has been brilliant lately, but we rank him fourth among the potential options in Seattle.  Hierarchy change: Oliver Perez to Closer, Yoervis Medina to Set-up, Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line.  

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEAOliver PerezYoervis MedinaCharlie FurbushTom Wilhelmsen8/2/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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Seattle bullpen melts down; Sergio Santos finally returns

August 2, 2013

Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen led the Seattle bullpen to one of the most epic collapses of the season thus far, as he, Oliver Perez, and Yoervis Medina combined to allow six runs in the 9th inning in an 8-7 loss to the Red Sox.  The three relievers combined to retire only one hitter in the walkoff loss.  Wilhelmsen allowed four baserunners without recording an out, and then after a bizarre sequence that saw interim manager Robby Thompson summon the wrong reliever by accident, Perez and Medina wrapped up the futility clinic by combining to allow four more hits and a walk.  The only real beneficiary here was Charlie Furbush, who had an stellar-by-comparison 8th inning, where he allowed just one run on a hit and a walk.  Wilhelmsen, whose ratios have been terrible all year (47.1 IP, 35 Ks, 26 BBs), won’t hold on to his job with another outing or two like this.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to Set-up, Oliver Perez to 2nd in line.  Tom Wilhelmsen to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEATom WilhelmsenCharlie FurbushOliver PerezTom Wilhelmsen8/2/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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Toronto Blue Jays – Sergio Santos finally returned to the big leagues on Thursday after spending most of the season on the disabled list.  He’ll pitching middle relief at first, but given his contract and experience, the Blue Jays will likely elevate him to a set up role if he pitches well.  That’s no guarantee of course, as Santos was pretty awful during his rehab stint, posting a 6.17 ERA in 12 appearances.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSteve DelabarBrett CecilSergio Santos8/2/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. LaTroy Hawkins, New York Mets – Bobby Parnell has had a stiff neck for the last several days. He said yesterday that he expected to be available tonight, but if he can’t go, LaTroy Hawkins is the best bet for a save opp.

Brett Cecil and Mike Dunn pick up saves; Jose Cisnero still the favorite in Houston

August 1, 2013

Houston Astros – The Astros have played two games since dealing Jose Veras, and neither has netted them a save situation, but the clues that have been presented continue to suggest that Jose Cisnero gets the first crack at the closer role, despite Bo Porter’s insistence that he’s using a committee.  Yesterday, Cisnero pitched the 9th in a blowout, picking up a strikeout while allowing 2 hits and no runs.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroTravis BlackleyJosh ZeidJose Cisnero8/1/13

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Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek got the night off on Wednesday, and Mike Dunn picked up a 4-out save in his absence.  Dunn and Chad Qualls will continue to share the 8th inning role.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MIASteve CishekChad QuallsMike DunnSteve Cishek8/1/13

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Toronto Blue Jays – Brett Cecil picked up a 10th inning save on Wednesday, after Casey Janssen and Steve Delabar had already pitched.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSteve DelabarBrett CecilSergio Santos8/1/13
Sergio Santos (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez has pitched in three straight and five of six and is nearly certain to get the night off tonight.
2. Junichi Tazawa, Boston Red Sox – Koji Uehara threw two innings in an extra-inning game last night.

Ernesto Frieri is getting worse; a parting gift from Kevin Gregg

July 31, 2013

Los Angeles Angels — In a wild game characterized by awful relief by both teams, Ernesto Frieri blew another save. Frieri has retired only 6 of the last 20 batters he’s faced, and although Dane de la Rosa and Kevin Jepsen were even worse last night, Frieri’s seat is getting hot enough for Mike Scioscia to discuss the possibility of playing matchups in the ninth going forward. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri7/31/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

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Houston Astros — Bo Porter, who is 2 1/2 years younger than Mariano Rivera, is telling us that any of his seven relievers could be used at any point after the sixth inning. We remain convinced that Travis Blackley and Jose Cisnero have the inside track. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroTravis BlackleyJosh ZeidJose Cisnero7/31/13

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Chicago Cubs – Kevin Gregg’s final showcase appearance before the trade deadline ended in disaster; he loaded the bases and gave up a two-run single to blow what could be his final save opportunity as a Cub. Frog, meet scorpion. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHCKevin GreggPedro StropBlake ParkerPedro Strop7/31/13

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Milwaukee Brewers — John Axford entered Tuesday afternoon’s game in the fifth inning after Yovani Gallardo left with hamstring tightness; just another reason to doubt that this is really a platoon situation. Axford has allowed four runs and eight hits in his last three appearances (1.2 IP). No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MILJim HendersonJohn AxfordBrandon KintzlerJim Henderson7/31/13

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Los Angeles Dodgers — Bearded weirdo Brian Wilson was signed to a minor-league contract, reportedly worth a cool $1 million, plus performance bonuses. After a few weeks in the minors, he’ll get a shot at the big club, where he’s expected to take on a set-up role, hopelessly confuse many older Beach Boys fans, and ultimately become the first active major league player to marry Lady Gaga during a regulation game (in a non-strike season). No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LADKenley JansenPaco RodriguezRonald BelisarioKenley Jansen7/31/13

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Toronto Blue Jays — The impressive Steve Delabar struck out the side in the eighth inning on nine pitches, a feat accomplished only 50 times before in baseball history. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSteve DelabarBrett CecilSergio Santos7/31/13
Sergio Santos (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Kevin Gregg has pitched in four of five games, he threw 34 pitches on Tuesday, and he’ll probably be on another team by tomorrow night anyway.
2. John Axford/Burke Badenhop, Milwaukee Brewers — Jim Henderson got two saves on Tuesday (42 total pitches), and the Milwaukee bullpen has been overtaxed lately. If Ron Roenicke still trusts Axford, he’ll use him in a Wednesday save opportunity. If not, he might be forced to use Henderson or Badenhop.
3. LaTroy Hawkins, New York Mets — Bobby Parnell has pitched in three straight.
4. Chad Qualls, Miami Marlins — Steve Cishek pitched two innings and picked up the loss on Tuesday, and he needed 39 pitches to do it.
5. Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — Chris Perez has pitched on four of the last five days, although he’s thrown only 41 pitches over that time.
6. Paco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen has also thrown in four of five games.

Trade deadline moves abound: Veras, Downs, and Crain on the move

July 30, 2013

Los Angeles Angels — Scott Downs was traded to Atlanta on Monday, and Ernesto Frieri had his second terrible outing in his last three appearances, blowing the save and catching the loss. If Frieri keeps this up, Dane de la Rosa and Kevin Jepsen would be Mike Scioscia’s next options to close. Jepsen has a longer track record with the team, but de la Rosa has been picking up some important holds — he pitched the eighth on Monday, while Jepsen has often come in with the team trailing. Keep an eye on this fluid situation if you’re relying on Frieri. Hierarchy change: Dane de la Rosa to Set-up, Ernesto Frieri to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
LAAErnesto FrieriDane de la RosaKevin JepsenErnesto Frieri7/30/13
Ryan Madson (DL)

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Houston Astros — In the aftermath of the Jose Veras trade, we suspected the Astros might return to the mediocre Hector Ambriz to protect their vanishingly rare late-inning leads. Houston had other ideas, however, optioning Ambriz to Oklahoma City and recalling two relievers no one has ever heard of: Chia-Jen Lo and Josh Zeid. The seventh-inning role is in flux and could be filled by any of several lousy options: Josh Fields and his sparkling 6.35 ERA, lefty Wesley Wright, who boasts a 1.46 WHIP, or even Lo, who was pitching in the low-A New York-Penn League just five weeks ago. We think Zeid, who had a 10.92 K/9 ratio and 13 saves in 15 opportunities at AAA, is the best of the bunch. Faint praise. Hierarchy change: Josh Zeid to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Ambriz.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
HOUJose CisneroTravis BlackleyJosh ZeidJose Cisnero7/30/13

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Detroit Tigers — The Tigers acquired Jose Veras from Houston, and are likely to use him and Drew Smyly interchangeably in the seventh and eighth innings, based on how the matchups fall. Veras’s attractive contract terms also make him the new favorite to close for Detroit in 2014. Hierarchy change: Jose Veras to Set-Up, Drew Smyly to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJoaquin BenoitJose Veras Drew SmylyJose Veras7/30/13

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Tampa Bay Rays — The Rays took a gamble on Jesse Crain; if he’s able to return from his injury with the same form he exhibited earlier in the season, he’ll be in the thick of the bullpen mix with Joel Peralta and Jake McGee down the stretch. Hierarchy change: Jesse Crain to 2nd in line (DL).

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TBFernando RodneyJoel PeraltaJake McGeeFernando Rodney7/30/13
Jesse Crain (DL)

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Atlanta Braves — As we expected, Jordan Walden got a vulture save opportunity on Monday, but blew it, giving Scott Downs a vulture win in his first appearance as a Brave. Although Downs was serving in a set-up role for the Angels, we don’t see him challenging the existing hierarchy in Atlanta, at least at this point. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenLuis AvilanCraig Kimbrel7/30/13

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Chicago White Sox — Injured All-Star righthander Jesse Crain was traded to the Rays on Monday. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CHWAddison ReedMatt LindstromNate JonesAddison Reed7/30/13

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