Mitchell Boggs continues to struggle; Shawn Camp blows first save chance

April 15, 2013

Milwaukee Brewers – Burke Badenhop picked up a 1-out save in the 10th inning on Sunday.  Jim Henderson and Tom Gorzelanny had both already pitched.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedMIL |Henderson |Gorzelanny |Badenhop |Henderson |4/15/13

 
St. Louis Cardinals – Mitchell Boggs blew another save yesterday, one inning after Trevor Rosenthal allowed two runs to score.  Cardinals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist said Boggs “is going to keep grinding through it… and we’ll see what he’s made of,” so it sounds as if Boggs will continue to close, though he’s on an increasingly fiery Hot Seat.  One more meltdown and the Cardinals could look elsewhere — either to Rosenthal or Edward Mujica, who manager Mike Matheny spoke highly of after the game.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Boggs |Rosenthal |Mujica |Motte |4/15/13 |Motte(DL) |

 
Chicago Cubs – Shawn Camp appeared headed toward his first save of the year, retiring the first two hitters he faced in the 9th on Sunday.  But Hunter Pence hit a solo home run to tie the game, and then Camp collapsed in the 10th, allowing three additional runs.  Kyuji Fujikawa isn’t expected to miss a ton of time, but if Camp continues to falter, it could mean that the 9th-inning triage platoon starts leaning more in James Russell’s direction.  Shawn Camp to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Camp |Russell |Bowden |Fujikawa |4/15/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Andrew Bailey, Boston Red Sox – Joel Hanrahan is day to day with a hamstring injury. The Red Sox do not think he will require a trip to the DL, but it sounds as if he will miss several days, making Bailey a good add regardless.

Fujikawa to DL, Casilla picks up first save of season, Hanrahan Struggling

April 14, 2013

San Francisco Giants – As predicted in the vulture save watch, Santiago Casilla picked up the save yesterday. Sergio Romo is still the closer but the Giants have always tried to limit his usage so Casilla could continue to see some save opportunities on days when Romo is rested. No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedSF |Romo |Casilla |Lopez |Romo |4/14/13

 
Boston Red Sox – Joel Hanrahan has not been pitching well to start the season.  He came on in the 9th yesterday with the score tied and walked the first two batters before being replaced by Uehara.  Managaer John Farrell said after the game that Hanrahan will remain the closer, but that could change quickly.  Andrew Bailey has been pitching extremely well in the 8th inning and could easily slide into the closers role if Hanrahan does not turn it around.  Joel Hanrahan to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Hanrahan |Bailey |Uehara |Hanrahan |4/14/13

 
Colorado Rockies – Rex Brothers continues to pitch well out of the Rockies bullpen.  He pitched a scoreless 9th last night with the Rockies up 4 to lower his ERA to 1.42 on the season.  Hierarchy change: Rex Brothers to set-up, Matt Belisle to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Brothers |Belisle |Betancourt |4/14/13

 
Houston Astros – Jose Veras blew his first save opportunity of the season last night.  He is still the closer, but remains on the Hot Seat as he has not pitched very well so far this season.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Cruz |Ambriz |Veras |4/14/13

 
Chicago Cubs – Kyuji Fujikawa has been placed on the disabled list with a muscle sprain in his right forearm.  The injury is not particularly serious and Fujikawa is expected back in a few weeks, but until then, Shawn Camp and James Russell will share 9th inning duties.  Carlos Marmol is not expected to be involved in the platoon.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to Closer, James Russell to Set-up, Michael Bowden to 2nd in line, Kyuji Fujikawa to DL.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Camp |Russell |Bowden |Fujikawa |4/14/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. James Russell, Chicago Cubs –  Shawn Camp and James Russell will be sharing the closer role.
2. Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates – Jason Grilli has pitched back to back nights, throwing over 40 pitches in the process.

 
 
 
 
Shawn Camp and James Russell to share closer role in Fujikawa’s absence
 
 
April 14, 2013
Chicago Cubs – Kyuji Fujikawa has been placed on the disabled list with a muscle sprain in his right forearm.  The injury is not particularly serious and Fujikawa is expected back in a few weeks, but until then, Shawn Camp and James Russell will share 9th inning duties.  Carlos Marmol is not expected to be involved in the platoon.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to Closer, James Russell to Set-up, Michael Bowden to 2nd in line, Kyuji Fujikawa to DL.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Camp |Russell |Bowden |Fujikawa |4/14/13 |Fujikawa(DL)|
 
 
 
 
Wilton Lopez’s struggles continue; Joaquin Benoit’s usage worth watching
 
 
April 13, 2013
Toronto Blue Jays – Aaron Loup picked up a three-inning save on Friday.  Loup has pitched well to start the season, but doesn’t factor in to the Blue Jays late inning hierarchy just yet.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Santos |Oliver |Santos |4/13/13
 
Colorado Rockies – Former Astros closer Wilton Lopez continued his awful start to the season, allowing two more runs in the 7th inning to push his ERA to 12.46.  Rex Brothers got the win after throwing a clean 8th and has been pitching alongside Matt Belisle in high-leverage spots for the Rockies thus far.  Hierarchy change: Rex Brothers to 2nd in line, replacing Wilton Lopez.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Brothers |Betancourt |4/13/13
 
Detroit Tigers – Jim Leyland said earlier this week that Joaquin Benoit would be his 9th inning man in most situations, though added a few caveats, namely that Benoit needed to stay fresh to be effective, so would only sometimes pitch on back-to-back days and definitely could never go three in a row.  Like with all things related to Leyland and the Detroit closer situation, we figured we’d believe it when we saw it.  However, last night in an extra inning game on the road, Benoit was warming for a potential save opportunity late in the game, and is now worth stashing, especially if you have Phil Coke and want to monopolize Tigers saves.  If Benoit gets the next save opp, he’ll likely pass Coke as the Detroit reliever you most want to own, if you only have room for one.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedDET |Coke |Benoit |Alburquerque|Rondon |4/13/13
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Santiago Casilla, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.
2. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres – Huston Street has pitched in back to back games and thrown 40 pitches, including a blown save last night.
 
 
 
 
Rhiner Cruz pitching well in Houston; Kenley Jansen picks up save
 
 
April 12, 2013
Cincinnati Reds – After not pitching for the first week of the season, the Reds finally put Sean Marshall on the DL earlier this week.  Sam LeCure has been pitching in some important spots thus far, and has started the season having allowed only 1 run in 5 innings.  Hierarchy change: Sam LeCure to 2nd in line, Sean Marshall to DL. 
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Broxton |LeCure |Broxton |4/12/13 |Marshall(DL) |
 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Brandon League had the night off after a 30-pitch outing on Wednesday, so Kenley Jansen got the save last night.  League’s job is not in jeopardy at the moment.  No hierarchy change.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedLAD |League |Jansen |Belisario |Jansen |4/12/13
 
Houston Astros – Josh Fields was placed on the DL earlier this week, adding more uncertainty to the least-defined bullpen in baseball.  The Astros are yet to have a save opportunity, so little is known outside of closer Jose Veras.  Rhiner Cruz pitched the 8th inning ahead of Veras in a blowout a few days ago, and he’s had the best start of any Astros reliever, with a 1.69 ERA in five appearances.  Hierarchy change: Rhiner Cruz to Set-up, Hector Ambriz to 2nd in line, Josh Fields to DL.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2014 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Veras |Cruz |Ambriz |Veras |4/12/13
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals – Rafael Soriano has pitched in three straight.