Ernesto Frieri closing for Angels; Rafael Dolis struggling

May 24, 2012

St. Louis Cardinals – Mark Rzepczynski pitched the 8th inning ahead of Jason Motte on Wednesday night, and the lefty has proven the ability to pitch to both righties and lefties.  Hierarchy change: Mark Rzepczynski to 2nd in line, replacing Fernando Salas.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSTL |Motte |Boggs |Rzepczynski |Motte |5/24/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Jose Arredondo pitched 1.1 innings on Wednesday, bridging the gap to closer Aroldis Chapman.  Logan Ondrusek has struggled as of late (7.04 ERA in May) and Dusty Baker has been looking to Arredondo more as his late-innings righty.  Hierarchy change: Jose Arredondo to 2nd in line, replacing Logan Ondrusek. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Arredondo |Madson |5/24/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Rafael Dolis gave up three runs in a non-save situation on Wednesday.  Dolis, whose stats look uglier every day (24.2 IPs, 4.74 ERA, 10 Ks/13 BBs), could be removed from the role if he continues to struggle, particularly if the Cubs want to give Carlos Marmol another crack at the job when he returns.  Rafael Dolis to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/24/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Adam Ottavino pitched the 7th inning in a close game on Wednesday, and now has 6 scoreless innings with 9 Ks since being called up.  Hierarchy change: Adam Ottavino to 2nd in line, replacing Matt Reynolds. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Ottavino |Betancourt |5/24/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia said he would still like to use Scott Downs in the 9th on occasion, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the majority of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/24/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Sean Marshall/Jose Arredondo, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight and four of the last five.  The Reds could give him a night off and play match-ups in the ninth.
2. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has pitched in two straight and four of the last six, while Scott Downs has only pitched twice in that span.  Downs could get the save opportunity tonight, particularly if facing a lefty-heavy lineup.

Ernesto Frieri is the Angels’ new closer

Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri struck three men out in the 11th inning, nailing down his first career save.  Frieri has been nothing short of dazzling (8.2 IPs, 0 ERs, 0 hits, 19 Ks) since being acquired from the Padres.  While Mike Scioscia has said the Angels would “mix and match” in the 9th inning, Frieri’s dominance means he’ll get the bulk– if not all– of the opportunities going forward.  Hierarchy change: Ernesto Frieri to Closer, Scott Downs to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |5/23/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard share closer role in Washington; JJ Putz to Hot Seat

May 23, 2012

Washington Nationals – Davey Johnson said before Tuesday’s game that he was moving Henry Rodriguez to a “less demanding” role, and that he’d use a closer-by-committee for the 9th inning.  Johnson said he was going to keep Tyler Clippard as his high-leverage set-up guy, but Johnson ended up giving the first save opportunity to the righty, who expressed a strong desire to close before the game.  ”I want it bad,” he said.  With two saves in the past week and a little experience in the role last year, Sean Burnett (0.71 ERA) still has the inside track to get the most opportunities, and Craig Stammen could also in the mix.  But the next save opportunity will be key; if Clippard is the 9th-inning man again, then it’s probable that Johnson has taken his words to heart, and the long-time set-up man could be the new closer going forward.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Closer, Tyler Clippard to Set-up, Craig Stammen to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Burnett |Clippard |Stammen |Storen |5/23/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
Colorado Rockies – Rex Brothers, who closed for a short time last year but has struggled throughout 2012, was sent to the minors on Tuesday.  Matt Belisle (2.86 ERA, 17 Ks/2 BBs) is the most likely candidate for 8th inning work.  Hierarchy change: Matt Belisle to Set-up, Matt Reynolds to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCOL |Betancourt |Belisle |Reynolds |Betancourt |5/23/12

 
Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz blew his third save of the season on Tuesday, raising his ERA to an ugly 7.20.  David Hernandez (2.25 ERA, 29 Ks in 20 IPs) proved to be a solid fill-in closer last year and would get the first chance to close if the D’Backs look elsewhere.  JJ Putz to Hot Seat. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedARI |Putz |Hernandez |Shaw |Putz |5/23/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tyler Clippard/Craig Stammen, Washington Nationals – As noted above, Sean Burnett is the favorite to get the most opportunities in Washington’s closer by committee, but Tyler Clippard or Craig Stammen could snag a save on any night.
2. Edward Mujica/Steve Cishek, Miami Marlins – Heath Bell has pitched three days in a row, and in four of the last five.
3. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz blew a save in a 26-pitch outing on Tuesday.  While he won’t lose the job yet, he could get the day off today.
4. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Over the past two days, Santiago Casilla has thrown 3 innings and 43 pitches and could get the night off.

Sean Burnett leading candidate to close in Washington

Washington Nationals – Davey Johnson said before Tuesday’s game that he was moving Henry Rodriguez to a “less demanding” role.  While Tyler Clippard expressed that he badly wants the chance to close, Johnson told Washington Post reporter Adam Kilgore that he still liked Clippard as a high-leverage set-up guy, and that he would base the 9th inning on match-ups and whoever was healthy.  With two saves in the past week, Sean Burnett has the inside track, with Craig Stammen also in the mix along with Clippard.  Hierarchy change: Sean Burnett to Closer, Craig Stammen to Set-up, Tyler Clippard to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Burnett |Stammen |Clippard |Storen |5/22/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard could enter closer-by-committee in Washington

May 22, 2012

Washington Nationals – Henry Rodriguez had to be bailed out again on Monday, as Sean Burnett came in for the 9th inning and got the final two outs for the save.  The young righty, already on the Hot Seat, may be placed in to a committee, or worse.  ”I’m going to sleep on it, but I’m looking at other alternatives,” Davey Johnson told the Washington Post.  Johnson mentioned a possible closer-by-committee, which would likely involve Rodriguez, Burnett and Tyler Clippard.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Rodriguez |Clippard |Burnett |Storen |5/22/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall got a one-out save on Monday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Aroldis Chapman had pitched in four of the last five, and had the night off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/22/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Franklin Morales, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves and Vicente Padilla have both pitched three games in a row, and four of the last five.