Aroldis Chapman is Reds new closer; Jose Valverde expected back Tuesday

Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde is still day-to-day with a sore back and Joaquin Benoit recorded a shaky save in his place on Sunday.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedDET |Valverde |Benoit |Coke |Valverde |5/21/12

 
Seattle Mariners – The Mariners summoned Charlie Furbush in the 7th inning on Sunday, whereupon he pitched a clean inning with 2 Ks.  The lefty, a former starting pitcher, has shown the ability to pitch out of the bullpen to both lefties and righties.  Hierarchy change: Charlie Furbush to 2nd in line, replacing Steve Delabar.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Furbush |League |5/21/12

 
Cincinnati Reds – Dusty Baker said before Sunday’s game that Aroldis Chapman was his new closer, then sent him out for the 9th inning against the Yankees where the hard-throwing lefty recorded his first save.  Logan Ondrusek and Sean Marshall will share eighth-inning duties.  Hierarchy change: Aroldis Chapman to Closer, Sean Marshall to Set-up. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/21/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Logan Ondrusek/Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in two straight games and four of the last five, throwing 76 pitches over that span.  Dusty Baker said he will play matchups in the event that Chapman is unavailable, with Logan Ondrusek facing righties and Sean Marshall facing lefties.
2. Vicente Padilla, Boston Red Sox – Alfredo Aceves has pitched in two straight and three of the last four, throwing 54 pitches over that span.

Sean Marshall officially loses job, Aroldis Chapman is new closer

Cincinnati Reds – Dusty Baker told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that Aroldis Chapman will be his new closer going forward.  Chapman won’t close today, as he’s pitched in three of the last four games, but he’s now the man in Cincinnati going forward.  Hierarchy change: Aroldis Chapman to Closer, Sean Marshall to Set-up.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |5/20/12

Aroldis Chapman on verge of closing for Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds – Sean Marshall had to be bailed out again yesterday, as Jose Arredondo was summoned to record the game’s final two outs.  After the game, Dusty Baker told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he was considering giving the closer job to Aroldis Chapman.  ”Who knows – maybe graduation time is here?” Baker said of Chapman.  ”We’re got to discuss it, talk about it.”  Even if Marshall keeps the job, he’ll remain on a blazing Hot Seat, but the Reds clearly could look elsewhere sooner rather than later.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Marshall |Chapman |Ondrusek |Madson |5/20/12

 
Houston Astros – Brandon Lyon, who is completely healthy for the first time in a while, has been solid all month, lowering his ERA to 1.76.  With Fernando Rodriguez unavailable, Lyon pitched the 8th inning yesterday, setting up for Brett Myers.  Hierarchy change: Brandon Lyon to 2nd in line, replacing Wilton Lopez.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Myers |Rodriguez |Lyon |Myers |5/20/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Luis Ayala, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson threw 21 pitches in his outing yesterday, his fourth game out of the last five.  Pedro Strop has also pitched in four of the last five, including the last three games in a row.

Angels begin platoon, Ernesto Frieri on verge of winning job

May 19, 2012

Los Angeles Angels – On Friday, Scott Downs pitched the 8th inning in a 2-run game, and Ernesto Frieri came out for the 9th.  By then, the Angels had tacked on 3 additional runs, so it wasn’t a save opportunity, but Mike Scioscia told the Orange County Registerafter the game that the 9th inning role was in flux. “We’re going to mix and match a little bit,” Scioscia said. “It’s really just a matchup situation. It might change tomorrow.”  Based on their usage and Scioscia’s comments, Frieri appears to be on the verge of winning the permanent job.  Scott Downs to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Downs |Frieri |Walden |Walden |5/19/12 |Hawkins(INJ)|

 
Baltimore Orioles – Pedro Strop picked up a save in the 11th inning on Friday.  As noted in yesterday’s Vulture Save Watch, Jim Johnson had pitched three nights in a row and had a day off.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBAL |Johnson |Strop |Ayala |Johnson |5/19/12

 
Chicago White Sox – Nate Jones pitched the 8th inning in a one-run game on Friday.  While Robin Ventura still hasn’t declared that he’s moving away from the closer-by-committee he first established a few weeks ago, Addison Reed has been the only one getting save chances.  Meanwhile, Hector Santiago has been relegated to an early innings/mop-up role, while Jones and his 99 mph fastball have been called on in some tight spots.  Hierarchy change: Nate Jones to 2nd in line, replacing Hector Santiago.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHW |Reed |Thornton |Jones |Reed |5/19/12

 
Chicago Cubs – Kerry Wood retired on Friday.  Shawn Camp (2.70 ERA) will take his place as the right-handed set-up man in the Cubs bullpen.  Hierarchy change: Shawn Camp to 2nd in line, replacing Kerry Wood. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCHC |Dolis |Russell |Camp |Marmol |5/19/12 |Marmol(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Joaquin Benoit, Detroit Tigers – Jose Valverde, day-to-day with a strained back, was expected to return for the weekend series, but Jim Leyland said Friday that he was still ailing, and that Joaquin Benoit would get save chances in his absence.
2. Mike Adams, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in four consecutive games.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla has pitched in two consecutive games, and in four of the last five.
4. David Hernandez, Arizona Diamondbacks – JJ Putz has pitched in back to back games, and in three of the last four.

Brandon League on shaky ground; Jason Frasor ascending

May 18, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Brandon League blew his third save of the season on Thursday.  While his ERA remains at a respectable 3.12, his peripherals (1.44 WHIP, 10 Ks, 10 BBs) are troubling, and the Mariners could look elsewhere if League’s struggles continue.  Brandon League to Hot Seat.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |League |Wilhelmsen |Delabar |League |5/18/12

 
Boston Red Sox – Vicente Padilla has three holds this week, and has pitched just ahead of Alfredo Aceves in all three games.  Hierarchy change: Vicente Padilla to Set-up, Franklin Morales to 2nd in line. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Morales |Bailey |5/18/12 |Bailey(DL) |

 
Toronto Blue Jays – Jason Frasor picked up his second hold of the week on Thursday, and has been used regularly in high leverage spots.  Francisco Cordero has been held out of close games as the Jays aim to rebuild his confidence.  Hierarchy change: Jason Frasor to Set-up, Francisco Cordero to 2nd in line.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedTOR |Janssen |Frasor |Cordero |Santos |5/18/12 |Santos (DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Adams/Alexi Ogando, Texas Rangers – Joe Nathan has pitched in three consecutive games.
2. Pedro Strop, Baltimore Orioles – Jim Johnson has pitched in three consecutive games.