Junichi Tazawa likely to get another crack at closing; K-Rod might not relinquish job

June 21, 2013

Milwaukee Brewers – With an 8th-inning blown save last night, Jim Henderson is adding some intrigue into the closer debate in Milwaukee.  Since returning from the DL, he’s pitched five innings, allowing three runs and two home runs, while Francisco Rodriguez has strung together six straight scoreless appearances to lower his season ERA to 0.68.  Given their respective numbers, it’s no longer a guarantee that Henderson gets the job back once K-Rod gets to 300 saves.  Also last night, John Axford pitched the 9th inning in a tie game, and has been used in higher-leverage spots than Brandon Kintzler as of late.  Hierarchy change: John Axford to 2nd in line, replacing Brandon Kintzler.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MILJim HendersonFrancisco RodriguezJohn AxfordJim Henderson6/21/13

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Detroit Tigers – Before yesterday’s game, Jim Leyland said that Joaquin Benoit would be his closer for “tonight,” but the Tigers skipper continued to refuse to name any one player as the go-to stopper (Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is fine with this, by the way).  This looks like a full out platoon now, with Jose Valverde, Drew Smyly, Benoit, and possibly Phil Coke all involved.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitDrew SmylyBruce Rondon6/21/13

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Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Watson picked up a two-inning save on Thursday.  Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, and Justin Wilson had all received pretty heavy workloads this week, and all three were given the night off.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
PITJason GrilliMark MelanconJustin WilsonJason Grilli6/21/13

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Boston Red Sox — After yet another blown save by Andrew Bailey, John Farrell finally announced that he was ready to try another option at closer. Although Farrell says that they will discuss the identity of the replacement “internally,” we again believe that the Sox will turn to Junichi Tazawa, while keeping 38-year-old Koji Uehara — whose workload Farrell has limited — in a setup role. Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-Up, Andrew Miller to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BOSJunichi TazawaKoji UeharaAndrew MillerJunichi Tazawa6/20/13

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Kevin Jepsen, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gone three straight.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod continues his quest for save #300.
3. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – The VSW is likely to be littered with Tigers until their platoon shakes out.  Tonight’s save opp, if there is one, will go to Valverde or Benoit, while Drew Smyly needs a day or two off after throwing 39 pitches last night.

Andrew Bailey axed from closer role; Tazawa likeliest to benefit

June 20, 2013

Boston Red Sox — After yet another blown save by Andrew Bailey, John Farrell finally announced that he was ready to try another option at closer. Although Farrell says that they will discuss the identity of the replacement “internally,” we again believe that the Sox will turn to Junichi Tazawa, while keeping 38-year-old Koji Uehara — whose workload Farrell has limited — in a setup role. Hierarchy change: Junichi Tazawa to Closer, Koji Uehara to Set-Up, Andrew Miller to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BOSJunichi TazawaKoji UeharaAndrew MillerJunichi Tazawa6/20/13

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Jose Valverde reaching end of his rope; Kelvin Herrera’s struggles continue

June 20, 2013

Kansas City Royals – Kelvin Herrera took an ugly loss on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, he was sent out to pitch the 7th inning of a game the Royals were losing.  He didn’t have a great outing then, either, giving up a run on a hit and a walk.  Until Herrera straightens himself out, Aaron Crow will likely get any save opportunities on days when Greg Holland is unavailable.  Hierarchy change: Aaron Crow to Set-up, Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
KCGreg HollandAaron CrowKelvin HerreraGreg Holland6/20/13

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Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde hadn’t pitched in several days, so he got some work on Wednesday in a game the Tigers were losing.  The results weren’t pretty, as Valverde surrendered four runs.  Jim Leyland didn’t completely throw him under the bus after the game, saying that Valverde doesn’t thrive in non-save situations.  But with Joaquin Benoit and Drew Smyly picking up the last two saves for the Tigers, and with Valverde approaching several performance bonuses, he remains on the hottest of Hot Seats.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitDrew SmylyBruce Rondon6/20/13

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Cleveland Indians – Chris Perez was originally scheduled to be activated on Friday, but has been getting knocked around in his rehab appearances, and now the Indians are saying Perez needs a few more days to get sharp.  Vinnie Pestano might get an extra save or two as a result.  No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CLEVinnie PestanoJoe SmithCody AllenChris Perez6/20/13
Chris Perez (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jeremy Affeldt, San Francisco Giants – Sergio Romo has pitched in three straight.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod picked up save #299 last night.  He’ll keep getting save chances until he gets to 300.

Long balls send Bailey to the Hot Seat; Tommy Hunter pitching well in Baltimore

June 19, 2013

Boston Red Sox — Felix Doubront pitched beautifully through eight innings (including retiring the last 17 men in a row), and John Farrell brought in Andrew Bailey for the ninth. Two pitches later, the game was tied, courtesy of the third home run allowed by Bailey in four games. A Jonny Gomes walk-off in the bottom of the ninth eased the pain, but after the game, Farrell admitted that Bailey is on thin ice: “He’s our closer, but there’s work to do.” Andrew Bailey to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BOSAndrew BaileyJunichi TazawaKoji UeharaAndrew Bailey6/19/13

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Baltimore Orioles — Tuesday night marked the third straight eighth-inning appearance for Tommy Hunter; in two of those games, Buck Showalter used Darren O’Day earlier, including with a four-run lead in the 6th on Tuesday. Both men are pitching very well, but Hunter has nosed ahead. Hierarchy change: Tommy Hunter to Set-up, Darren O’Day to 2nd in line.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BALJim JohnsonTommy HunterDarren O’DayJim Johnson6/19/13

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Seattle Mariners — After Eric Wedge used Oliver Perez with a one-run lead in the 7th inning, Tom Wilhelmsen came out for the eighth and immediately surrendered a tying home run to Albert Pujols. When the M’s took the lead back in the top of the 10th, Wedge was able to stick to his original plan of using Yoervis Medina to get the save. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
SEAOliver PerezTom WilhelmsenYoervis MedinaTom Wilhelmsen6/19/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Joaquin Benoit could get a save anytime Jim Leyland prefers him to Jose Valverde in a matchup.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers – Ron Roenicke has promised to give K-Rod the chance to reach 300 career saves, and he’s still stuck at 298.
3. Carter Capps, Seattle Mariners — Anything can happen in the Seattle bullpen these days.

Heath Bell hits the Hot Seat; Tom Wilhelmsen needed in Seattle

June 18, 2013

Seattle Mariners — Carter Capps was summoned in the sixth inning with the Mariners trailing by two. By the time he and Charlie Furbush were done spinning their craft, Seattle was down by nine. Eric Wedge has consistently said that Tom Wilhelmsen’s “mental break” from closing will be short-lived; add that to Monday’s debacle and Wedge’s use of Yoervis Medina in the ninth on Saturday, and you have a recipe for wholesale changes in the Seattle pen. Hierarchy change: Tom Wilhelmsen to Set-up, Yoervis Medina to 2nd in line.

CloserSet-Up2nd in line2014 CloserUpdated
SEA.Oliver Perez.Tom Wilhelmsen.Yoervis Medina.Tom Wilhelmsen.6/18/13
Stephen Pryor (DL)

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Arizona Diamondbacks — Heath Bell was the losing pitcher on Monday night; the game marked the third straight appearance in which Bell allowed at least one run. Heath Bell to Hot Seat.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ARIHeath BellDavid HernandezBrad ZieglerJJ Putz6/18/13
JJ Putz (DL)

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Detroit Tigers — Drew Smyly retired all nine men he faced last night, earning an impressive three-inning save that both inserts him into the Tigers’ closer debate and illustrates why he’s unlikely to be seriously considered. After the game, Jim Leyland reiterated that he will use a “mix and match” approach to future save opportunities, which could involve everyone but starter Rick Porcello. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
DETJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitDrew SmylyBruce Rondon6/18/13

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Cincinnati Reds — After Johnny Cueto’s successful return from the disabled list on Sunday, Dusty Baker and the Reds had to decide what to do with their sixth starter, talented young lefty Tony Cingrani. On Monday, Baker announced they would move Cingrani to the bullpen — a move the Reds may look into patenting — and he promptly got two high-leverage outs in a tight eighth inning. Cingrani is too valuable a starter to use in relief over the long term, but given the injuries to Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall, his presence in the bullpen will be a welcome one as long as it lasts. No hierarchy change.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
CINAroldis ChapmanSam LeCureJ.J. HooverJonathan Broxton6/18/13
Jonathan Broxton (DL)

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VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luke Gregerson, San Diego Padres — Huston Street has pitched in three straight games since his return from the disabled list.
2. Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers — Ron Roenicke has promised to give K-Rod the chance to reach 300 career saves, and he’s still stuck at 298.
3. Joaquin Benoit/Phil Coke, Detroit Tigers — Joaquin Benoit or Phil Coke could get a save anytime that Jim Leyland prefer them to Jose Valverde in a matchup. Drew Smyly is out of the picture after a three-inning outing.
4. Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals — Greg Holland has thrown 40 pitches over the last two games.